Karth Barr

District Manager
First Centennial Mortgage

For Karth Barr, Midwest district manager at First Centennial Mortgage, the ability to educate and guide his clients has been instrumental in his success. “I actively educate all of my borrowers on the subjects of debt, credit and most importantly the management of liabilities,” he said. Barr stresses the importance of understanding how much the liabilities side matters in the “Net Worth = Assets – Liabilities” equation, and he teaches his borrowers the ins and outs of liability management.

It’s this unique financial approach to mortgage banking, plus the talented team he works with, that Barr says have helped him stand out in the industry.

Barr studied economics and speech communications at University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. Since entering the mortgage industry more than 20 years ago, Barr has originated and closed more than $500 million in mortgages. “The real estate industry has truly become my passion and life’s work,” he said. Barr’s wide range of specialties include working with first-time homebuyers, working on veterans’ loans or investor loans, developing tax planning and cash flow strategies, providing life change and divorce planning management and educating clients on credit and borrowing.

Barr said his biggest accomplishment this past year has been building his successful team. “My business philosophy has always been that we do more when surrounded by the right people. As a manager, I have seen my sales team produce and grow beyond their own expectations,” he said. “Year after year, my production as well as my team’s production has grown as a direct result of our support system at First Centennial Mortgage and what I can provide.”

As well as being involved in real estate, Barr is very active within his local community, the veteran community and is part of the West Suburban Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors. He says his wife is his rock and she along with their two sons are his biggest pride and joy. “We can’t be more proud of our children’s outstanding accomplishments! Every day they never cease to amaze us!” he says.