Tony Lupescu
Senior Loan Officer
Fifth Third Bank
Being the top producer in the entire United States for Fifth Third Bank is impressive. Being the top producer for Fifth Third Bank for four consecutive years is simply incredible. And yet it’s exactly what Tony Lupescu has done. There seems to be no ceiling for Lupescu, who closed over $117 million in volume in 2016 — his personal record, and a number good enough to land him spots on both Scotsman’s Guide and Mortgage Executive magazine’s lists of Top 200 Lenders in the United States in 2016.
A former Certified Public Accountant, Lupescu got started in real estate because he was excited by the prospect of working in a field with more face-to-face client interaction. Working with people remains one of Lupescu’s favorite parts of the job. “I think my best skill is being able to adapt and work with so many different personalities,” he says. “You have to be willing to listen and understand what the client wants and make sure it is communicated properly. Great communication and a detailed explanation of everything goes a long way because expectations are set from the beginning and there are never any surprises.”
Good communication is especially important when you work with a wide range of clients, as Lupescu does. He’s closed over a thousand loans for first-time buyers, but also does a lot of business with luxury buyers and jumbo loans. Lupescu is also an expert on the physician loan program, which helps him serve doctors throughout the country. Whatever type of buyer he’s working with, Lupescu makes sure to take the time to get to know the client and really learn where they’re coming from. “My clients appreciate how thorough I am throughout the loan process,” he says. “There are many clients that speak with me after talking to other lenders first and do not know all of the information that they need to know. I take plenty of time to answer all of their questions.” Patience and thoroughness lead to more confident buyers, more trusting relationships, and, at the end of the day, more sales. It’s a formula that’s been paying off well for Lupescu.