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We are so excited for TOM Talk Episode Ten! Our President, Michael Kuentz, interviews one of our expert Loan Advisors – Joe Savala. Watch below. We hope you’ll share these videos with your friends and tune in to learn more about our company and employees!

Transcript (Speakers: Michael Kuentz – President, Joe Savala – Loan Advisor) COMING SOON

Here at Trinity Oaks Mortgage, our mission is to help you find your way Home! When dealing with your home financing, we are not only working with one of your largest personal financial investments; we also are handling one of your biggest dreams. Since we work with matters so close to the heart, we serve you from ours. Contact one of our loan advisors today – click here.

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Youtube.

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We are so excited for TOM Talk Episode Nine! Our President, Michael Kuentz, interviews one of our expert Bilingual Loan Advisors – Catalina Irizarry. Watch below – transcript added for ADA. We hope you’ll share these videos with your friends and tune in to learn more about our company and employees!

Transcript (Speakers: Michael Kuentz – President, Catalina Irizarry – Bilingual Loan Advisor)

Words on screen; TOM TALK – POWERED BY TRINITY OAKS MORTGAGE

Michael Kuentz: So the question is donde te ves dentro de cinco anos? (Translation: So the question is, where do you see yourself in five years?)

Catalina Irizarry: Bueno, dentro de cinco anos en esta compania me veo Segundo los pasas de military branch me encataria se una manager de un branch algundia. Pero eso poco a poco. Primero ahora estoy conociendo, aprendendo. Pero aje quiero haga un futuro. (Translation: Well, in five years in this company, I see myself second to the military branch passes. I would love to be a manager of a branch somewhere. But that little by little. First, now I am knowing, learning. But here, I want to make a future.)

Words on screen; TOM TALK – Let’s talk with… Catalina Irizarry

Michael Kuentz: Hey, TOM family. Thank you so much for joining us for another edition of TOM Talk. It’s been a little while since we’ve had an opportunity to talk, but I’m so blessed to be joined by Catalina today. Catalina is one of our loan officers out in our Frisco branch. And if you have not had the opportunity to meet this young lady, I strongly encourage you to do so. She is a joy to be around. And just you know, just, she has a heart for this business, a heart for the Lord, and we’re blessed to have her on this team. So Catalina, welcome to TOM Talk.

Catalina Irizarry: Amen. Thank you. Thank you, Mike, for having me. It’s an honor to be here with you guys.

Michael Kuentz: Of course. Yeah. So I know what you do. But tell us what is it you do here and how long have you been with it?

Catalina Irizarry: Well, I’m, I’m on loan advice, a bilingual loan advisor here, the Frisco branch. And I’ve been with the company only for four months. This is actually my fourth month. So, and I’ve been, I’m learning a lot of things and meeting a lot of people and it’s just, I just love what I do. I love, I love to serve people, and that’s, that’s what we focus on.

Michael Kuentz: Yeah. Well, I could tell that you know, Catalina and I had a chance to take the Frisco branch to lunch a couple of months back, I guess it’s been now maybe a few months and I had the chance to get to know her a little bit and she has a warm and inviting personality, and I think she’s going to do some amazing things in this business. And so you’re in month four, but I can tell you that you’ve got a lot of great runway ahead of you. So I’m excited for you. So tell me how you got started in this business.

Catalina Irizarry: Well before joining the military, I was a commercial property manager down in Florida, and I’ve always been fascinated by the real estate market. So I felt God was calling me back to it. So I started like kind of doing some research on what the requirements were to be a loan officer. And one day I was having lunch with a good friend and I was sharing with him, you know this calling to go back to work. And all of a sudden he said it, talk to me about a faith-based amazing mortgage company that he works for. And I was just, I just, at that moment, I just felt I wanted to be part of it and then I just asked him, can you please get me an interview with the Frisco Branch Manager? Even though it wasn’t holding a license at that time, I just really wanted to talk to the manager. And just to make the story short. I went from my interview two weeks before taking the license test. I passed the test and I got hired. So it seems to God’s plans and timings are always perfect.

Michael Kuentz: I’ve said that a thousand times and I’ll say it a hundred thousand more, you know, God’s timing is perfect. And that is a God story. What you just told. You know, we, our timing is so imperfect, but His is so perfect. And the fact that you had the interview, you took the test, you got hired. That is a perfect plan. And I got to tell you, passing that test is quite an accomplishment in itself, so well done. And then now it’s about starting to build that business, right. It’s starting to get to build those relationships. So let’s fast forward a little bit. Let’s go deep, deep, deep into the future. And I’m going to ask you a question. How would you like to be remembered?

Catalina Irizarry: I would like to be remembered as a person that like always likes to serve others, as someone that listens to people’s needs and went that extra mile to fulfill those needs. I want my clients to say Catalina not only sold me an interest rate or a loan, she listened to me. She advised. And she helped me achieve the dream of homeownership. That’s how I would like to be remembered.

Michael Kuentz: That’s good. Well, cause that’s it. And I, believe that you know, the mortgage business can be very transactional and that is not what we’re about at Trinity Oaks Mortgage. Catalina, you personify by your answer exactly what we are, and that is we’re you know, we’re life-giving people. That’s what we want to do. We want to provide a life-giving opportunity for people to help them realize some of their own financial goals and in most cases their biggest financial goals. So it’s great. It’s great that your heart’s in that place. Thank you. So how has – now I know this, but the world doesn’t know this. Well, I’m sure some people do, but how has your previous military experience helped you in the mortgage industry? And thank you for your service.

Catalina Irizarry: Thank you, Michael. I think teamwork is one of the fundamental skills in the military. And since I got to join the Frisco team a few months ago there were all these great ideas coming from our Sales Concierge, George. He wanted to find a way for the community up here, up north to know who Trinity Oaks Mortgage was. So so I immediately say, okay, let’s do it. We’re a team. So we just started gathering our ideas, and getting everything, you know, all the ideas together. And that’s when we started engaging in social media, we started creating videos. And just trying to keep like on social media, like posting like daily stuff pictures, things like that. And that we just wanted the community to know who Trinity Oaks Mortgage is and that is what we are doing right now. And I believe every loan officer has their own clients, but we really all work together with the same mission in vision. and there are not individuals in the Trinity Oaks Frisco, but I think there’s a team and that’s who we are and what we have in, in our brnch.

Michael Kuentz: Well, I feel that. I’ve visited your page and I’ve seen the great work and yes, I have seen George’s touch on it, so that’s good. I love what Frisco’s building. I really do. Brent’s leadership and the team that he’s building and you guys. You guys are a family within the broad family. And it’s great to see because you are, uh, you’re planting the seeds and that’s the most important thing is you’re getting your name out there. You’re planting the seeds. And Trinity Oaks is going to be a staple in the Frisco market. I’m sure of it. So, so do you have a mentor?

Catalina Irizarry: I do. I think, I think for many of us, our great leader Brent Freeman is our mentor. It is truly a blessing to be part of his team. Uh, but I think, uh, I have to say that here in the Frisco branch, we all try to mentor each other. We all have different skills, different strengths. We have former teachers, we have former real estate agents, bankers, army veterans. So, we really work together to accomplish the mission of helping people find their way Home. And we always make ourselves available for each other. No matter the time of day. Brent is truly a blessing for all the wise, but we, we kind of help each other out.

Michael Kuentz: Yeah. You lean on each other. That’s good because, you know, no matter God blesses us with different skillsets and, uh, uh, it’s nice to be able to pull all of those blessings together and all those skillsets together because the end product is a good one. Uh, so that’s great. Now, Brent is certainly one of my favorites. I can’t tell you, I wish we could clone him because he, uh, does so much for, he does so much for the broad business. Uh, but I know he’s helping you all collectively grow every day. So it’s great to, uh, great to hear that. So, success is always something we like to talk about, right. Every, you know, there’s, it’s easy to talk about the good things, but what about maybe your biggest failure and what did you learn from your biggest failure?

Catalina Irizarry: Well, I think we all have had many failures in life. But one, my biggest failure was, I think hoping to start an IT career right after I got out of the military. I’ve always been fascinated by technology computers. So I completed my associate’s and bachelors degree in such a short period of time in computer technology. And I was just going to interview after interviews and applying for jobs and I never got hired in an IT job. So that was a failure for me. But, you know, Isaiah 55:8 says “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” And so I learned to put all my plans into God’s hands, I learned that even when we don’t understand why things are not happening our way, we have to know there’s a bigger plan for us. And we have to let God be God and let Him fulfill His plans in my life. I mean, I honestly think that his plan was to get me into the mortgage industry, uh, to join this amazing company, not only to work, uh, selling loans, uh, but also to be able to serve and impact people with my faith in Christ.

Michael Kuentz: That’s good. Yes. So here’s the good news though, about your, your quest for technology and to be in that side of the business, guess what mortgage is fast becoming? And they’ve always taught mortgage has always talked about being a technology industry, but I firmly believe that where this business continues to go to, uh, is a very tech-centric, tech-savvy type business. Yeah. I don’t think it will ever necessarily replace relationships. I think that’s something that, uh, independent mortgage bankers, like Trinity Oaks Mortgage have a competitive advantage around because we have great people like you being able to build relationships, but you utilize the technology that, that exists out there to make that customer experience so much better. So I think the roots that you were planting will serve you very well because you understand how technology must play a part in this financial decision. So, and I can’t wait cause I’m so excited about the things we’re doing here to create a better customer experience, because we’re going to be able to meet customers no matter where they are. If they’re a baby boomer, if they’re a millennial, it doesn’t matter. We’re going to find a buying experience. That, uh, that background’s going to serve you?

Catalina Irizarry: I got a few customers, a few clients, not from the Dallas area. I have a customer who’s closing next month. He’s in Killeen, he’s on active duty. And when I first talked to him, he was like, okay. So do I have to go to Dallas to do all the paperwork for that application? I was like, no, we have an app. You can upload everything to the app. See the status of your loan. Like there is a lot of technology that is in our hands. And at the same time, I’ve had, uh, people that they don’t want to know anything about technology. It’s just, okay, now I’ll just meet you. We’ll meet be halfway. You gave me the paperwork, but we’ll make copies. That’s not an issue, you know, but when we have to take advantage of that technology,

Michael Kuentz: No, that’s great. Yeah. Meet them where they are. That’s what we are here to do. We’re here to meet them where they are. All right. So I got, uh, one final question and I’m going to do my very best and asking this question, and then I want you to do what you do best in terms of meeting our bilingual customers. So the question is donde te ves dentro de cinco anos? (Translation: Where do you see yourself in five years?)

Catalina Irizarry: Bueno, Dentro de cinco anos en esta compania me veo Segundo los pasas de military branch me encataria se una manager de un branch algundia. Pero eso poco a poco. Primero ahora estoy conociendo, aprendendo. Pero aje quiero gar un futuro. (Translation: Well, in five years in this company I see myself second to the military branch passes I would love to be a manager of a branch somewhere. But that little by little. First, now I am knowing, learning. But here I want to create a future.)

Michael Kuentz: We want to help you grow and develop into that. And we want to help you continue to learn and, and educate yourself through this business. We’re just so blessed to have you, uh, I know everybody on the other end of this today is blessed to hear your story. And so, Catalina, we appreciate you so much. Thank you for being a part of our team.

Catalina Irizarry: Muchas gracias ustedes. Thank you very much.

Michael Kuentz: Thank you. Have a great day.

Catalina Irizarry: You too.

Michael Kuentz: Bye

Catalina Irizarry: Bye.

Words on screen; TOM TALK – Thanks for watching!

Words on screen; TOM TALK – Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

END OF TRANSCRIPT

Here at Trinity Oaks Mortgage, our mission is to help you find your way Home! When dealing with your home financing, we are not only working with one of your largest personal financial investments; we also are handling one of your biggest dreams. Since we work with matters so close to the heart, we serve you from ours. Contact one of our loan advisors today – click here.

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Youtube.

The post TOM Talk Episode Nine appeared first on Trinity Oaks Mortgage.

We are so excited for TOM Talk Episode Eight! Our President, Michael Kuentz interviews one of our expert Loan Advisors – Sharon Kane. Watch below – transcript added for ADA. We hope you’ll share these videos with your friends and tune in to learn more about our company and employees!

Transcript (Speakers: Michael Kuentz – President, Sharon Kane – Loan Advisor)

Words on screen; TOM TALK – POWERED BY TRINITY OAKS MORTGAGE

Michael Kuentz: Yeah. They say to forgive is to set a prisoner free and then discover that the prisoner was you.

Sharon Kane: Yeah.

Michael Kuentz: It is a freeing and it, you know, it doesn’t mean you forget you, you that’s not it, but to forgive is, is something that is so. Freeing and a release from you in a weight lifted. And so I’m so glad you discovered that. I think it’s all, it’s a great reminder for us all and that daily, we should be forgiving those around us.

Words on screen; TOM TALK – Let’s talk with… Sharon Kane

Michael Kuentz: Hey, TOM family, welcome to another edition of TOM Talk. You know, we’re excited. To be able to welcome Sharon Kane into the TOM Talk seat this week. It’s exciting because yeah, I haven’t had the chance to personally meet Sharon. And so to be able to talk to Sharon like this through Teams it feels really good. It’s been a, been a long time since we’ve talked. So Sharon, welcome to the TOM Talk.

Sharon Kane: Well, thank you for having me truly.

Michael Kuentz: Yeah, of course. Well, so let’s do some of the quick tactical questions. What do you do for us? How long have you been here and where do you reside in the state of Texas?

Sharon Kane: So, first answer is I’m a loan advisor. Which, those in the industry would wonder what a loan advisor is in comparison to a loan officer. And to me, I think there’s a drastic difference.

Michael Kuentz: Tell us. Yeah, please.

Sharon Kane: Gosh, a loan advisor as a counselor is a partner with the client. And the thing that I love about Trinity Oaks is we bring them into the fold of the family. I mean, we literally guide them as if they were a family member and as if it were something that we would want for ourselves. Right. I mean, it’s just, it’s all about. Cause we, we know, we know we all know others in the industry and the pace is so fast and many times the client is forgotten and they become another number right in the process.

The biggest thing that, and I’m, gosh, I know for a fact I work with the best people in the industry. I know it. I know it, I know it.. Yeah, I really do. Whether it’s my fellow brothers and sisters, or it’s the processors or the underwriters, because we, when there’s a calling and there’s a special need on a file or a client, everybody rallies it’s with heart. And many times, because of that, I have realtors. I have clients calling for family members that, you know, and just need us to take it over and fix it and get them Home, you know, it’s just.

Michael Kuentz: Terrific.

Sharon Kane: It’s something that’s just amazing. You know, it’s just, it’s a gift.

Michael Kuentz: It is. And I’m so glad you brought that distinction because Loan Advising versus just simply being a Loan Officer. And this is that we’re not trying to be disparaging towards the titling of these things, but I think we, within our industry, are moving into a new world where we’re helping people create wealth. And when you help people create wealth you’re not just simply a transactional person anymore. You are, you are advising. You’re a part of the future of their wealth creation. And so I think that is it’s paramount that we really draw that distinction. But through the process, like you talked about make them feel like they’re a part of something new and different and special because number one, we want them to come back to us the next time they think about home financing or the next time that they want to refer somebody. But we want to be that counselor, that special advisor throughout the process to where it makes it seamless and less stressful. So that’s good.

Sharon Kane: Most definitely because many come, whether it’s just filling out the initial application or they’ve been to somebody else regardless, there is a fear factor and an anxiety factor, and I don’t care who they are. They could be the fifth time home buying. It’s just, there is so much fear-based there will it all go through? Will it, you know, whether it’s a new build or a refinance or, you know, existing home, regardless of the process, there is a fear-based and we are the calm in that, we are the calm when they’re at the dinner table and they start to think about things and worry. They reach out because we’re not eight to five, we’re there as a partner.

Michael Kuentz: That’s good. Yeah. And you know, you talk about the stress when you have a supply and demand issue. Like we have right now in our marketplace and you’ve got, you know, Not just 10,000 over asking the 25 and 50 and upwards of a hundred thousand dollars. In some cases over asking, it can be extremely stressful for that pre-qualified buyer. That’s trying to go out on the market. And make a winning offer on a home, right?

Sharon Kane: Oh my gosh, absolutely. It’s painful. And some just don’t have that equity to offer that much. So they have to go down the road and it just, yes, it’s heartbreaking, but that’s where we’re the encouragers because God has a plan and that perfect home is there for them. They have to just be patient. And if it happens and I could give you a list of people that it’s happened to. So it’s all in believing God has a plan and he will deliver.

Michael Kuentz: Amen on that. So you’ve been with us for how long now?

Sharon Kane: I’m excited to say one year and five months as of yesterday!

Michael Kuentz: Congratulations. That’s awesome. Okay. Where do you live?

Sharon Kane: So I’m outside, I’m in the Austin area, but I service all of Texas. I mean, I was just in Houston and I was in Dallas. Yeah, it doesn’t matter.

Michael Kuentz: You do some loans up in Colorado as well.

Sharon Kane: I do, I do. And I actually have one at the end of the month that I’m flying in for. So, Oh, my first time, home buyers and nurtured them every step of the way don’t spend, don’t spend, you know, it’s young couples, so we’re, they’re calling me, but we really want this couch. Wait

Michael Kuentz: Just wait.

Sharon Kane: Wait. I know you said that but it’s only, I know, but it’ll look prettier when you’re closed because you won’t have enough. So, you know, it’s all about that. Just getting them there

Michael Kuentz: That’s awesome.

Sharon Kane: I love what we do. I mean, it’s just the thrill of the fight sometimes. Then we get them there.

Michael Kuentz: What a difference-maker to that. You’re going to be on an airplane to go see them. And I can, I could probably answer this next question, but what makes you feel inspired or like your best self?

Sharon Kane: You could, because hands down it’s God the gift of giving, but you know what, Michael, it’s not just, it’s not just loans. And I, I know I echo a lot of my brothers and sisters within TOM because we all think the same way. I don’t care if we’re at the grocery store and someone needs help. There is not something more soul-fulfilling than helping. The gift of being able to help. Right. I mean, it just is, I don’t know. It just, to me, it hits me the soul and that we get we’re on the giving side and we get the gifts.

Michael Kuentz: Yeah.

Sharon Kane: And return. I mean, it’s just, it’s magic.

Michael Kuentz: Yeah. You know, it’s interesting. Cause I love how you put that. It, you know, our mission is to reach people for Christ and give to the kingdom, whether you do a loan with us or not mission is to reach people for Christ and give to the kingdom. And I think that is what makes it special. I hear more and more stories around the company. About people that may or may not do a loan with us. And in some cases they can’t do a loan with us. Cause they’re there, they’re not at that qualification stage, but somehow we’ve helped them. Or maybe people we just pass on the street, but I hear a special story. That’s the story is when we want to raise up, because our mission is further than a transaction. It’s further than just a home it’s, it’s truly helping them find their way to their eternal home. And that’s a big fundamental difference in our heart and how we serve people.

Sharon Kane: Yes, that’s, that’s absolutely huge. Huge.

Michael Kuentz: So I could probably answer this question. What drew you to start working for Trinity Oaks Mortgage?

Sharon Kane: Well, you know what I have to say? It was just an incredibly pinnacle time. It just, it happened overnight. I don’t know that, but I was starting to feel with my current company and I come from corporate America. So I know how it works on the world is big enough for all the mortgage companies. And but the company I was working for was actually changing their structure. And to me, it was not in the favor of the client. So that’s where I felt, gosh, I’m not fulfilling my heart’s desire, which is to truly make an impact and help. And that’s when I just happened to talk to somebody, a branch manager that was working for TOM that actually called me and said cause she too had worked for the prior company and said, gosh, you know, I know blah, blah.

So I, you know, I thought about and started asking questions. And then when I went, Oh my gosh, faith-based. Yeah, that was divine intervention, even though, you know, there was another company that, you know, I just didn’t, I didn’t even look back. I was so confused it’s to the point. I mean, you’re going to think this is silly, many did, but I hit the President’s Club with my prior company and I left like literally a day before the trip to The Bahamas and all this stuff, but I didn’t even look back that didn’t matter to me what matters. I mean, what fills the soul at the end of the day is that, so yeah, there, I have not looked back. I have not regretted a second of it. I mean, I just love it.

Michael Kuentz: That’s good stuff, hearing that you burned the boats is that say, you know, there’s a book that I, I try to go back and read every few years, it’s called Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. And it talks about there’s. The second chapter of the book is a, is a chapter on faith and, and certainly, you know, faith in our, and our Lord and Savior, but also faith in yourself as making the decision to be able to say, This is where my path is now. It’s no longer here. So thank you for being a part of TOM, because that, you know, you truly burned the boats to be here. So we appreciate that. And I hope to see you on President’s Club for next year. I’m sure you got the video and all that.

Sharon Kane: I did.

Michael Kuentz: So we look forward to having you on that trip once you hit the qualification. So. What is the best compliment you have ever received?

Sharon Kane: So mom, mom, mom, and you’re going to think that’s silly, but you know, not only just from my kids, let me call mom, wait, I’m going to call mom, wait, I’m going to call, you know, I have three adult kids and you know, that’s a compliment because usually, they know everything right.

Michael Kuentz: Right.

Sharon Kane: But aside from that, what, even in the industry, I became the mortgage mom. I mean, at a very early time and you know, my. Career. And there were people calling me mortgage mom, and I’m like, I’m not old enough to be your mother, but I also didn’t want to be in a box so those that were older than me. I said, you know, I know you’ve heard I’m called the mortgage mom, but I mom your file. I mother your file. I won’t mother, you, you know.

Michael Kuentz: That’s good.

Sharon Kane: But I said, all it means is that I’m going to nurture this every step of the way. I’ll keep it posted, et cetera. And it was so funny because I’ve been called, you know, mortgage mom, my My God gifted mom. I, you know that and yesterday a new one came up because of course, it’s how pinnacle mother’s day. And a new one came up my second mama, which I thought, and that was a client that closed last month, you know, so I thought.

Michael Kuentz: Oh, how touching.

Sharon Kane: But yeah, so I tried to not go into a box of mortgage mom because I don’t want to exclude those that wouldn’t fit that, but many do come as you know, for, for the mortgage mom.

Michael Kuentz: Wow. So and. Happy post Mother’s Day to you. I hope you have a great day yesterday. And we celebrate moms. The sacrifice that moms make is something that dads couldn’t hold a candle to not to say that dads aren’t important, but moms truly are the nurturing, loving, toughest people. I know. So thank you for being a mom. We appreciate you.

Sharon Kane: It’s an honor to be a mom.

Michael Kuentz: Absolutely. So what’s the most important thing that you’ve learned in your life? You know, something that what was your life like before learning it? And then what is your life like now after learning it?

Sharon Kane: Really the most profound is forgiveness. And that is probably the most difficult, you know, there’s so many measurables of forgiveness, right. If there was a very devastating time in my life and my young adult life and, you know, I just, yeah, I was having trouble forgiving but knew that for my soul. And that God wanted me to forgive. And it just, it’s amazing how God did step in, but I was struggling with it. I will tell you I was struggling terribly with it. And what was amazing back then when I was in the corporate world and I was flying a bit. I’m telling ya the most emit it was divine intervention because every time, I mean, it had to have been three different flights all within this period of time that I kept going “Father in heaven, show me, you know, the way, show me a path where I can be at peace with this.”And. Right two-seater plane, you know, charter flights or whatever, you know, just connecting flights. And there’s a pastor of one denomination. There’s, you know, I mean, it was just one after another three different denominations and then they strike up the conversation and I went into it and boy, it was like, okay if there’s not a bigger sign and I was just at peace. So you can see that from that, I took it into a very complex piece, but a piece meaning P I E C E, which moved to peace of heart. And while many think that in, in forgiving that you can’t forgive the other person or, you know, everybody has their different pieces, but I was able to forgive that other person, not that I’m condoning that behavior or anything along those lines, but I was able to forgive and continue on, you know, and soul fulfilled.

Michael Kuentz: Yeah, they say to forgive. Is to set a prisoner free and then discover that the prisoner was you.

Sharon Kane: Yeah.

Michael Kuentz: It is a freeing and it, you know, it doesn’t mean you forget you, you, that’s not it, but to forgive is, is something that is so. Freeing and a release from you in a weight lifted. And so I’m so glad you discovered that. I think it’s all, it’s a great reminder for us all and that daily, we should be forgiving those around us.

Sharon Kane: So, and see, that’s the key, my goal. Once you learn it on the big thing, little things that forgiveness truly prevails. You just start to go. Ah, I forgive them. You can tell they’re in a bad mood or whatever the case may be, whether it’s at the car wash, you know, regardless, wherever it is.

Michael Kuentz: It’s good. It’s wisdom. Well, Sharon, I have thoroughly enjoyed this time with you. And I hope and pray that you continue to do great things for us here and that if there’s anything we can do for you, you know where we’re at, but it was so good getting to know you. And most importantly team, I hope you have enjoyed getting to know Sharon. So, Sharon, have a great day. Happy post-Mothers Day to you, and I wish you all the best.

Sharon Kane: Thank you. A pleasure, Michael. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule. I know. Appreciate it. Bye now.

Michael Kuentz: Bye.

Words on screen; TOM TALK – Thanks for watching!

Words on screen; TOM TALK – Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

END OF TRANSCRIPT

Here at Trinity Oaks Mortgage we love being your lender! When dealing with your home financing, we are not only working with one of your largest personal financial investments; we also are handling one of your biggest dreams. Since we work with matters so close to the heart, we serve you from ours. Contact one of our loan advisors today – click here.

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Youtube.

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When you choose Debt Consolidation Refinance, it involves paying off high-interest debt for a loan with a lower interest rate. Consolidating debt allows you to save on interest payments in the long term. Costs can add up quickly if you owe a lot of high-interest debt, and it can become unbearable. For many, the apparent path is debt consolidation.

Currently, mortgage rates are at an all-time low, and a debt consolidation refinance could be a smart way to save money. Prior to making a decision on debt consolidation, it’s essential to realize all that is at play and learn these five benefits. It’s crucial to discern what’s involved with these strategies because securing high-interest debt against your home can be risky, so weigh all the pros and cons before determining.

How does debt consolidation work?

High-interest debt commonly originates from unsecured financing sources, like personal loans and credit cards. “Unsecured” means the lender contains no surety to regain losses if you run out on the debt. (Unlike a mortgage, which is “secured” by a tangible item; your home.) It’s easy to get in way over your head with many high-interest payments being sent to numerous lenders every month. Debt Consolidation Refinance is a straightforward way if you have predictable income and want to have affordable monthly payments.

The goal of a Debt Consolidation Refinance

The main goal of any debt consolidation strategy is to have more manageable monthly costs. For most homeowners, the lowest-cost source of money is their primary mortgage. Homeowners wanting to consolidate debt often use a cash-out refinance. Debt consolidation involves closing on a new home loan worth more than your current mortgage amount. The additional loan amount is cashed out at your closing.

Then, you use the cashed-out money to pay off your current high-interest debt, leaving you with one single debt to pay off: your mortgage. With this route, you’re conclusively paying off costly unsecured debts by means of a lower-interest mortgage loan. Funds received during a cash-out refinance can be used to pay off other significant obligations, like medical bills or student loans.

If your top goal is to become debt-free faster, then the highest-interest debts should take priority. The added benefit is that today’s mortgage interest rates are at near historic lows. So there’s a good chance you can lower your current mortgage rate and save on home loan interest as well as the interest on your other debts. Don’t forget that refinancing comes with closing costs, just like with your original mortgage.

Requirements of a Debt Consolidation Refinance

In order to consolidate debt using a mortgage refinance, you must qualify for the new loan. Requirements vary depending on your current loan type and the type of cash-out refinance you are applying for.

First, you will need enough equity to pay off the existing debts. You’ll typically need more than 20% equity to qualify for a debt consolidation mortgage. Most lenders want you to leave at least 20% of your home equity untouched when using a cash-out refinance. For instance, 30-40% equity is required to cash out 10-20% in cash.

You will additionally need to meet minimum credit score requirements. The most common type of refinancing is a conventional cash-out refinance, and it requires a credit score of at least 620.

FHA offers a cash-out refinancing program, which allows a lower FICO score of 600. Be aware that taking out a new FHA loan means you’ll pay for a mortgage insurance premium (MIP), including both an upfront fee and a monthly mortgage insurance fee. This increases the total cost of your new loan and digs into your savings margin.

A great option for qualified veterans and service members is to consolidate debt via a VA cash-out refinance. The VA cash-out loan allows you to refinance 100% of your home’s current value. Veterans might qualify even if they don’t have enough equity for a conventional cash-out loan.

Benefits of a Debt Consolidation Refinance

Debt consolidation can be a resourceful way to get out of debt faster. Learn more about the five benefits of using a debt consolidation refinance.

Benefit #1 – Pay only one bill every month

One of the more apparent benefits of consolidating debt with a refinance is having multiple payments lumped into one payment. This benefit is a great way to free up money monthly to save or invest in your future.

Benefit #2 – Lower your monthly payments

Debt consolidation is a way to make your month-to-month debt more affordable by paying off to reveal a lower interest rate. Lowering your monthly payments is a great way to

Benefit #3 – Improve your credit score

Consolidating your debt can also improve your credit score. It helps by lowering your “credit utilization ratio,” which is the percentage of your total credit limit that you’re using at any given time.

In general, the lower your utilization ratio, the better your FICO score.

Benefit #4 – Save money by reducing the interest paid on outstanding debt

The obvious benefit of a debt consolidation refinance is that you’ll save money by lowering the interest rate on your outstanding debts. This could save you a tremendous amount of money in the long run.

Benefit #5 – Lower your current mortgage rate to save on home loan interest

Another benefit in completing a debt consolidation refinance is to save on your original mortgage interest. By consolidating your mortgage and debts together in one, you save on interest in the long run.

Overall, a debt consolidation refinance is a smart way to pay down your debts at a much lower interest rate. But it requires a high level of discipline in making payments to avoid negative consequences.

Remember, you still owe the money

With a Debt Consolidation Refinance, you should exercise caution and be highly disciplined in your repayment. You could put your home at risk if you’re unable to make payments with your mortgage or home equity-backed loan. Loanees occasionally get into trouble because their previous credit lines are freed up when their debt is consolidated. It’s possible to rack up debt and get into trouble all over again. Remember, consolidating does not mean your debts have been “wiped clean.” They’re just being restructured to become more feasible. The ultimate goal is to stay debt-free; a refinance or loan is just a means to that end.

Next steps

Debt consolidation is a reasonable road to get out of debt for many borrowers. You will need to be aware of the possible risks in advance to avoid them and pay down your debt victoriously.

• Pursue help to get your monthly spending habits under control
• Make a higher-than-minimum payment on debts
• Contemplate a zero-interest transfer or personal loan as another option

Have mortgage questions? Trinity Oaks Mortgage proudly serves the entire DFW Metroplex. Our experienced loan officers can answer any mortgage-related questions you have and guide you through the process.

We look forward to hearing from you!

The post In’s and Out’s of Debt Consolidation Refinance appeared first on Trinity Oaks Mortgage.

This year Americans are looking forward to their tax refund with more anticipation than ever before. Americans, along with the rest of the world, experienced a trying year in 2020. The pandemic affected millions of people in all aspects of life: work, health, family, and relationships. So, those expecting a tax return are anxiously monitoring the deadline to submit their tax return. Tax Day is the deadline when individual income tax returns are due to the Internal Revenue Service. It typically falls in mid-April, but this year the IRS has extended the deadline to June 15th.

Submitting your tax return is sometimes half the battle. Getting the most out of your tax return is the next goal. Investing in homeownership is a logical way to spend your tax refund. As a homebuyer and homeowner, you can take advantage of your tax refund in numerous ways. Leverage your tax refund with these 10 ways to use a tax refund for homeownership.

Purchase a Home

Home buying season varies, but generally, it begins at the end of March (early Spring) and lasts throughout the Summer and sometimes into early Fall. A significant reason for this uptick in home buying is the more favorable weather. Trekking to an open house during Winter’s snowy and cold weather is less desirable than holding an open house in the Spring or Summer.

1. Pay off debt

If you have a chunk of debt holding you back from purchasing a house, a tax refund could help you pay off debt. Paying off that debt will increase your credit score, and in turn, could make you eligible for different loan options to become a home buyer.

2. Down Payment

The down payment is a type of payment, often in cash, made in the early stages of a house purchase. The cost represents a percentage of the total purchase price. The rest of the cost to the seller comes from a home loan that your mortgage lender provides. Use our mortgage calculator to estimate the down payment for your dream home.

3. Home Inspections

A home inspection observes and reports on the condition of a real estate property, usually when it is on the market. A qualified home inspector assesses the condition of the property, including its heating and cooling systems, plumbing, electrical work, water, and sewage, as well as some fire and safety issues.

4. Earnest Money

Earnest Money is a deposit made to a seller representing a buyer’s “good faith” purchasing a home. The Earnest Money gives the buyer extra time to finance through a lender and conduct the title search, property appraisal, and inspections before completing the property purchase.

5. Closing Costs

Mortgage closing costs run from 2% to 5% of the loan cost, including property taxes, mortgage insurance, and more. Closing costs include the fees for the services and expenses required to finalize a mortgage. You’ll have to pay closing costs whether you buy a home or refinance. Most of the closing costs fall on the buyer, but the seller typically has to pay some too, such as the real estate agent’s commission.

6. Home Maintenance

Owning a home is wonderful, but you have to remember the hidden costs of maintaining a home. You can use your tax refund to help take care of any home maintenance problems that arise.

Boost Home Equity

Homeowners can build wealth by reinvesting in their homes, refinancing their current home loans to increase cash flow, or purchasing a second home. Regardless of which path you choose, make sure it makes sense financially for your particular situation.

7. Refinance your Home

If you’re looking to save thousands a year, then refinancing is the way to go. You can lower your interest rate, pay off high-interest debt, shorten your home loan term, or drop your mortgage insurance. As a reminder, it takes Money to save Money, and there are refinancing costs and requirements.

8. Remodel Your Home

Remodeling your house, if done correctly, can increase its value enormously and make it a desirable place to live. To get the highest return on your investment, look for a home improvement project that will increase your home value the most.

9. Purchase an Investment Property

Whether it’s an investment property or vacation home, financing a second home can be a lucrative investment.

10. Repair your Home

Many repairs on homes are inexpensive and can be DIY’ed, but some can be very expensive and require professionals. It depends on the difficulty of the job and your comfort level. A tax refund can help with these costs.

How you choose to spend your tax return is entirely up to you. With the stress of 2020, even getting a tax return back this year can be considered a win. If you want to create secure long-term wealth, consider using the above 10 Ways to Use a Tax Refund for Homeownership!

Have mortgage questions? Trinity Oaks Mortgage proudly serves the entire DFW Metroplex. Our experienced loan officers can answer any mortgage-related questions you have and guide you through the process.

We look forward to hearing from you!

The post 10 Ways to Use a Tax Refund for Homeownership appeared first on Trinity Oaks Mortgage.

You might think that leadership is a one-style fit all, but that rarely appears to be the case. Just as technical skills need to be constantly updated to remain relevant, so do motivation strategies and management styles. We have cultivated a team of servant leaders at Trinity Oaks Mortgage focused on bringing out the best in our employees.

How you live and relate with the people you lead indicates what type of leader you are. Leadership entails directing people to work in achieving a common goal for all. Leadership is less about the leader and more about the employees working together with the same purpose, mission, and vision in mind. Let’s talk about how leadership makes Trinity Oaks Mortgage the Best Mortgage Company to Work For.

“There is a vision for the future, and everyone feels like they contribute to that future.” – Valued TOM employee.

We emphasize teamwork.

The Leadership at Trinity Oaks Mortgage is Phenomenal. Our outstanding management has fulfilled the purpose and the vision of the JH Family of Companies by reaching people for Christ and giving to the Kingdom. We emphasize teamwork that helps everyone feel they are part of the process. By cultivating this environment, we can draw our employees together. Our hand-picked leaders are good role models with a healthy work/life balance. They motivate and support our teams to bring out the best version of themselves in their work.

We are investing back in the employees.

We all love to feel appreciated and acknowledged for the excellent work we do. Investing back in the employees gives them a drive, security, and a sense of purpose in the workplace. The JH Family of Companies recognizes the need for personal growth within the workplace and offers numerous opportunities for our employees to help the community through local and global reach with JH Reach. We further support our employees by cultivating servant leaders, offering our employees opportunities to grow in all aspects of their lives. We provide Life groups, marriage retreats, and parenting resources.  

“I feel blessed to work for a company that exemplifies the goodness internally and externally in giving to charities.” – Valued TOM employee.

We have approachable management.

Healthy management practice never includes instilling panic and fear among employees. Trinity Oaks Mortgage’s leadership structure is open and accommodating. Our leaders listen to employees with great ideas because that feedback helps make appropriate decisions in our organization. Making the management approachable helps employees get the courage to communicate their thoughts and ideas. It allows healthy dialogue and growth. Our leadership is approachable, easy to talk to, accessible, and open with employees. 

We encourage a work-life balance.

The Leadership of Trinity Oaks Mortgage cares about their employees’ well-being. You cannot deliver to your workplace 100% if your life outside work is misaligned. Both go hand in hand. Your home life needs to be in sync with your work life as this will reflect in your job performance. As a result, our management ensures that you are growing and thriving outside your work life. We create this atmosphere to ensure our employees know they are helping people find their way Home.

“The management is approachable at all levels and has a genuine and sincere interest in its employees’ support and well-being.” – Valued TOM employee.

Leadership has contributed to our distinction as Best Mortgage Company To Work For in 2021

Our outstanding leadership has contributed to our distinction as the #1 Best Mortgage Company To Work For in 2021. “It is a blessing as the leader of the company to come to work every day and know that each and every employee doesn’t just talk about our core values, but lives them inside and outside of our four walls,” said Michael Kuentz, President of Trinity Oaks. “We want our customers to experience our Generous Love, Honest Communication, Second Mile Service, and Relentless Pursuit of Excellence before, during, and after the loan is closed.”

We’re hiring! Trinity Oaks Mortgage has made tremendous strides in 2021! We have focused our efforts around a “Better Before Bigger” mentality, and it has served us well! We are now ready for the next chapter, which involves aspirational yet achievable growth.

We strive to live out core values: Generous Love, Honest Communication, 2nd Mile Service, and a Relentless Pursuit of Excellence. It is our goal for our borrowers to experience each core value throughout their mortgage process.

If you are interested in joining a culture that puts Faith & Family first, please apply today! APPLY HERE

Have mortgage questions? Trinity Oaks Mortgage proudly serves the entire DFW Metroplex. Our experienced loan officers can answer any mortgage-related questions you have and guide you through the process.

We look forward to hearing from you!

The post What Makes Trinity Oaks Mortgage the Best Mortgage Company to Work For? Leadership. appeared first on Trinity Oaks Mortgage.

We have some BIG news to share!

Trinity Oaks Mortgage has undergone a re-brand, and we are so excited to be able to show our new Trinity Oaks Mortgage logo!

There was so much thought and time put into our new logo and we are happy to go in depth on what the various elements of our new logo signify.

KEY BIBLE VERSE

[Tweet “Trinity Oaks Mortgage was founded on this verse as it leads to our core values of Generous Love, Honest Communication, 2nd Mile Service, Relentless Pursuit of Excellence.”]

TREE TRUNK

[Tweet “The reimagined Trinity Oaks tree trunk visually represents the Trinity (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit) and points upwards to our heavenly Home.”]

It also symbolizes the pathway that we guide our customers through during the financing part of their homeownership journey.

GREEN LEAVES

The TOM logo retains its visual connection to the scripture on which the company is based with the vibrant green leaves.

HOUSES AND FENCE

The home and fence illustrations feature the TOM tree to signify that we are a part of the neighborhoods and communities in which we work and serve.

YELLOW FRUIT

The yellow dots represent the yielding of abundant fruit so that we may find sustenance and refreshment.

Have mortgage questions? Trinity Oaks Mortgage proudly serves the entire DFW Metroplex. Our experienced loan officers can answer any mortgage-related questions you have and guide you through the process. We look forward to hearing from you!

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Youtube.

The post Reimagining the Trinity Oaks Mortgage Brand appeared first on Trinity Oaks Mortgage.

Trinity Oaks Mortgage is honored to be recognized as this year’s #1 Best Mortgage Company to Work For by the National Mortgage News. This program is designed to identify, recognize, and honor the best employers in the U.S. mortgage industry.

[Tweet “Trinity Oaks Mortgage is honored to be recognized as this year’s #1 Best Mortgage Company to Work For by the National Mortgage News.”]

Companies from across the United States entered a two-part survey process facilitated by the Best Companies Group to determine the Best Mortgage Companies to Work for. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems, and demographics. The second part consisted of an employee survey which covered eight topics: Leadership and Planning; Corporate Culture and Communications; Role Satisfaction; Work Environment; Relationship with Supervisor; Training, Development and Resources; Pay and Benefits; and Overall Engagement.

Responses from employee surveys accounted for 75% of the final company score and the company-provided information on benefits and policies were weighed at 25%. Best Companies Group ranks the top 50 employers in the country by their composite score. Trinity Oaks is honored to have received the highest score in 2021!

“The entire team at Trinity Oaks Mortgage is thrilled to be named as the top mortgage company to work for by National Mortgage News,” Said Michael Kuentz, President of Trinity Oaks. “It is blessing as the leader of the company to come to work every day and know that each and every employee doesn’t just talk about our core values, but lives them inside and outside of our four walls. We want our customers to experience our Generous Love, Honest Communication, Second Mile Service, and Relentless Pursuit of Excellence before, during and after the loan is closed.”

[Tweet “”Each and every employee doesn’t just talk about our core values, but lives them inside and outside of our four walls.” said Michael Kuentz, President of Trinity Oaks Mortgage.”]

Heidi Patalano, editor-in-chief of National Mortgage News at Arizent added, “The companies that are a part of this year’s ranking have demonstrated exemplary support for their teams during an unprecedented year of upheaval. They’ve been nimble in adapting to circumstances surrounding the pandemic while origination demand has exploded. Each of this year’s honorees should be proud of the company culture they have fostered at such a challenging time.”

——————

We’re hiring! Trinity Oaks Mortgage has made tremendous strides in 2021! We have focused our efforts around a “Better Before Bigger” mentality and it has served us well! We are now ready for the next chapter which involves aspirational, yet achievable growth.

We strive to live out core values: Generous Love, Honest Communication, 2^nd Mile Service and a Relentless Pursuit of Excellence. It is our goal for our borrowers to experience each core value throughout their mortgage process.

If you are interested in joining a culture that puts Faith & Family first, please apply today! APPLY HERE

The post Trinity Oaks Mortgage Named 2021 Best Mortgage Company to Work For in the Country appeared first on Trinity Oaks Mortgage.