Few things speak to Nashville’s emergence as a world-class destination more than honky-tonks, ice hockey, and red-hot real estate. It’s difficult to experience the Lower Broad vibe or the pulse of the greater community without the influence of those unshakable pillars. But how many people around town, longtime residents and newcomers alike, can say their lives are inherently ingrained in all three?
Mike Steplowski is one of those individuals with that unique perspective. Though not a native, he’s been here long enough to be a local. And music, rinks, and housing markets are essential to his life. His journey to Middle Tennessee began like so many others. “I’m originally from Bowie, MD, and moved here in 1997 to pursue a career in music,” he says. “Some buddies and I were in a barbershop quartet in high school that evolved into a country band. We came here to chase the dream and had some success, but ultimately, things never took off. Still, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.”
Part of that reason is that this is where he met Tricia Reed, the woman who would become his wife. “She’s from Mount Juliet, and we met on a blind date in 1999. When I drove out here for the first time, there was a Cracker Barrel, a Waffle House, and a Mapco. I remember thinking, ‘Where in the world am I?’” They married in 2000, with his music career in the rearview mirror, they moved back to Maryland, and Mike began working in the mortgage lending industry in 2007. Two years later, they moved back to Middle Tennessee and, with three young children in tow, settled in Mount Juliet, Tricia’s hometown.
“When I returned to TN, I went to work for a mortgage company in Wilson County and stayed there until 2012,” says Steplowski. “At the time, I thought that to grow my business. I needed to be closer to the Davidson and Williamson County markets. So, I decided to drive an hour each way to an office in Brentwood.” But the commute grew tiresome, and with opportunity all around him, it became less practical. In 2017 he opened a branch with Success Mortgage Partners, Inc. in Mount Juliet. “I have to admit that opening my own mortgage branch was scary, but it was the best decision I could have made,” he says.
In addition to being more closely connected to the community, the decision led to an improved lifestyle. Mike and Tricia were able to spend more time with their children, now ages 21, 20, and 15, who are involved in music and arts. Tricia, who had worked with Mike since 2010, left the team last year so she could homeschool their youngest child.
Mike now had the time to return to his lifelong obsession with ice hockey. “Hockey has been a big part of my life,” he says. “I started playing in middle school, and my teenage years were spent at the rink every weekend. I grew up watching the Washington Capitals and have been a huge fan of the Nashville Predators since attending their first home game in 1998.” A high school injury sidetracked his career, but with multiple leagues around town, he returned to the ice three years ago. Currently, he plays in two leagues and plays about 75 games a year.
Off the ice, Steplowski says he “absolutely loves Mount Juliet. It’s a great place. The kids grew up here and had an incredible experience. It’s an amazing place to raise a family. He also says that, despite the uptick in rates, the area’s growth shows no signs of slowing down. “There are loan officers and direct lenders in other parts of the country that are feeling it more, and we’re not immune to it,” he says. “But there’s still a demand for mortgages in Mount Juliet.”
For additional information about Success Mortgage Partners, call 615.656.8500 or visit SuccessMortgagePartners.com.
