Two decades through every market this industry has produced.
I started in the mortgage industry in the early 2000s, and the learning curve was steep. I came up through an era that included the biggest housing boom in American history, the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, and the complete rebuilding of mortgage lending standards that followed. I have seen every market condition, every rate environment, and every regulatory shift this industry has produced in over two decades.
That experience shapes how I work with every client today. I am not guessing which loan program fits your situation — I have placed thousands of borrowers into the right product across every type of market. And when the answer is not obvious, I have the depth of knowledge to find creative, compliant solutions that less experienced originators simply would not know to look for.
I have been honored to be recognized as a Scotsman Guide Top 1% Mortgage Originator year over year — a distinction based on verified loan volume, not marketing claims. But the number I care about more is the 2,400-plus families I have helped. Many of them came back for their second, third, or fourth loan. Some have sent their children to me when it was time for them to buy their first home. That kind of trust is earned over years, and it is the foundation of everything we do at The Starks Team.
Why I Chose to Be a Mortgage Broker
Early in my career, I worked inside the traditional lending system — where you offer your employer's products, at your employer's rates, under your employer's guidelines. It did not take long to realize that system does not always serve the client. A borrower would walk in with a perfectly reasonable financial picture, but my employer's guidelines said no. Not because the borrower could not afford the loan — because the institution's internal risk appetite did not accommodate their profile.
As a broker, I eliminated that limitation. When you work with me, I shop your loan across dozens of wholesale lenders — each with different rate sheets, credit overlays, and program specialties. If Lender A says no, Lender B may say yes at competitive terms. If Lender C offers the best rate but Lender D has lower fees, I show you both and let you decide.
This model means I am never selling you one bank's products. I am matching your financial profile to the entire mortgage market and bringing back the best option. That objectivity is why the broker channel has grown to represent a significant and increasing share of all mortgage originations — borrowers are realizing they deserve more than one option.
