Today we’d like to introduce you to Colm FitzGerald.
Hi Colm, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in Ireland and moved to San Pedro with my family in 1987. By 1995 we had moved up to Fillmore, a small agricultural town in Ventura County. After college, I lived in Europe for a couple of years before returning to Ventura County. Back in California, I ran a cleaning a business which I sold in 2014. From there, I started a supplements webshop and did consulting work for a European software firm.
But I had always been fascinated by real estate. A close friend had been in the mortgage business for a while and was doing very well. He worked hard but had a flexible schedule and spent a lot of time with his family. After some research, I decided to jump right in. Mortgage lending is a very challenging business that changes constantly. That being said, I get to help people buy a home; a life-changing event. I love helping people achieve their dreams of homeownership and financial growth through real estate.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been anything but smooth! The housing industry moves in cycles so there are big highs and big lows. 2022 was very challenging due to mortgage rates being so high. While it hasn’t been easy, a market like this forces you to think creatively and forces you to get down to the nitty-gritty work that you might avoid in an easier market. 2023 is looking similar but I’m ready to meet the challenge head-on. People need someone to help them navigate the stresses and confusion of a home purchase. My commitment is to keep myself up to date on industry changes (there are a lot!), find my clients the best mortgage for their situation and save them as much money as I can.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a licensed mortgage loan officer. That means I take mortgage applications and work with clients to get them pre-approved for a home purchase. From there, I work with realtors, title/escrow, and other professionals to finalize the purchase of a particular property. There are many moving parts and there’s no one size fits all mortgage; every client is different!
Working with first-time homebuyers is my passion. I love guiding people through that process of getting pre-approved and then helping them get the keys to their first home.
What sets me apart, I believe, is that I truly care about people. The home-buying process is stressful. I want them to feel comfortable and to feel that I’m in their corner. To trust that I’m doing my job to make sure they get the best loan product and the service they deserve.
I’m also very accessible. If we’re working to close your loan and you have a question at 8pm on a Sunday, I’ll answer the phone.
How do you define success?
Peace of mind. Success for me all starts with having peace of mind. I don’t care if it makes me more money. If it comes with too much stress, I’m not interested. Stress is the enemy!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dignifiedhomeloans.com/ColmFitzGerald.html
- Instagram: mortgage_faq
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colm-fitzgerald/
- Youtube: @mortgageFAQ
