By KIMBERLEY HAAS
Two heavy hitters who recently joined the Guild Mortgage team in Kansas say although the market may be tough for potential buyers now, a home is still a great investment.
“Every time you make your mortgage payment you’re putting money into your 401K,” Senior Loan Officer Paul Camenzind said during a recent interview with The Mortgage Note.
Overland Park, Kansas, where Camenzind works, has earned a positive reputation as an affordable and family-friendly community, with accolades including being ranked in the “Top 10 Best Places to Live in the United States” by CNNMoney, named “Best Place to Raise a Family” by WalletHub, and included in the list of “America’s 10 Best Places to Grow Up” by U.S. News and World Report.
According to Realtor.com, the city consists of 65 neighborhoods and the median listing home price is $400,000. The median listing home price per square foot is $165.
Homes range from $65,000 to $11.6 million. A new listing features a 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath, 3,742 square-foot-home on a .23 acre lot for $550,000.
Camenzind has 37 years of experience in the mortgage industry. He enjoys helping his clients with what many people consider to be the most important financial decision of their lives.
Camenzind is passionate about his work. In 2021, he personally had $37 million in production.
“When we wake up in the morning, it’s all about mortgages,” Camenzind said. “We eat, sleep, and drink mortgages.”
Camenzind’s advice to anyone starting their career is to be passionate about their jobs.
Branch Manager Tim Kay will also play a key role in growing the branch and supporting future homebuyers. In 2020, he had 400 sold loans for $110 million.
In 2021, Kay had 300 sold loans for $100 million. He agrees that a house is an investment.
“It’s not only your biggest investment. It’s where your family lives,” Kay said.
Kay has 25 years of experience in residential mortgage lending and understands it is frustrating right now for potential buyers – especially first-time homebuyers – because the market is tough nationally.
“People have to hang in there and do what they need to do to get the first one,” Kay advised.
District Manager Dave Brown said Camenzind and Kay bring extensive experience in the mortgage industry to the growing branch, which increased its volume by 13% and units by 8% from 2020 to 2021.
“Johnson County is the largest county in Kansas, and Overland Park is the second-largest city in the state, according to the latest census data,” Brown said in a statement. “Guild Mortgage is increasing its commitment to this growing region with experienced professionals like Tim Kay and Paul Camenzind and providing a wide variety of home loan options and award-winning customer service as part of our mission to deliver on the promise of home to more people.”
Guild Mortgage is a growth-oriented mortgage lending company originating and servicing residential loans since 1960. They ranked Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Primary Mortgage Origination in 2021, according to their website.
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Email story ideas to Editor Kimberley Haas: [email protected]