Justin Lee has been crunching numbers so that they work in his clients’ favor since he started working in the mortgage industry.
“I like to help people but I also enjoy working with numbers so, for me, mortgages are a good blend of both,” says Lee. “It feels good helping the customer get to the finish line and into the home they want.”
As Vice President of Mortgage Lending in the Brentwood office of Chicago-based Guaranteed Rate, Lee leads his own team of underwriters and assistants as they serve clients by drawing upon the resources of one of the nation’s largest retail mortgage
lenders.
Lee grew up in Saudi Arabia as both of his parents were engineers for an American-owned oil company. “I loved growing up in Saudi,” he says. “Our subdivision was designed like something you’d see in California with a hodgepodge of Americans, Canadians and Brits living there.” Lee and his family would return to the states for about a month each summer to visit family in Alabama and Tennessee. He says the desert heat of the Arabian Peninsula is less taxing than the muggy conditions of the Southeastern United States.
He returned permanently in 1999 to attend boarding school at McCallie in Chattanooga. After graduation he attended UT-Knoxville for a year before transferring to Belmont where he earned a degree in economics and business in 2007. He’s been in the
mortgage business ever since. “I got into it at a young age, and I was always 20 years younger than everyone, though
not anymore!” he jokes. “Time flies.”
SAME-DAY MORTGAGE
The name says it all. Accredited W2 borrowers can apply and qualify for a mortgage on the same day. The online application automatically pulls the credit report, then it goes to Justin for structuring before he sends it to an underwriter for approval. This product works well for just about anyone, including first-time home buyers looking for a conventional loan.
JUMBO MORTGAGE
A jumbo mortgage is a financing structure that is typically used to purchase larger properties or luxury homes in high-end real estate markets. These loans exceed the limits set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and therefore, can’t be guaranteed or securitized by government-backed enterprises like Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Justin can shop over a dozen options to secure the best rate for his clients. Jumbo loans work well for affluent self-employed people who need more creative loan options.
TRADITIONAL LOANS
Justin Lee and Guaranteed Rate continue to offer traditional FHA, VA and conventional loans as demand remains strong for these products. “There are still a lot of people who put a lot of money down for a traditional loan,” says Lee. Anyone who has good credit
and is below the normal loan limit of $726,200 is a good candidate for traditional or conventional loans.
INVESTMENT HOMES AND SECOND PROPERTIES
Lee’s analytical skills align well with higher-end clients and business owners who are in the market for investment properties and second homes. “A lot of people are buying second homes, especially in Florida, and I’m licensed throughout the Southeast,” says Lee. “These clients have individual scenarios that vary widely from most mortgage customers. Not every loan officer has the experience to analyze that type of cash flow and to put together a loan that meets their needs.”
