Guaranteed Rate
Breaking the $100 million mark, a difficult hump to get over that required John Noldan to change all of his systems, has been his greatest professional achievement. “My next is breaking $200 million,” says Noldan, executive vice president of mortgage lending at Guaranteed Rate.
“I always positioned myself to be working with the best people in the business and I learned from them,” Noldan says. Now he is returning the favor with Train Optimize Perform (TOP), an online lending training platform he created with two other $100 million-plus originators to help loan officers increase their numbers. “I had a lot of help getting where I am today, and I want to help others achieve their goals as well.”
Noldan is well versed in a wide range of mortgage products and programs that reflect the diversity of his customer base: first-time homebuyers; investment buyers; conventional, VA, FHA and jumbo mortgages. “In residential lending, I feel I connect well personally with each client,” he says, noting that he serves all demographics and incomes, from $50,000 to $3 million on up. “I really take pride in finding the perfect program for each situation.”
He becomes friends with his clients, which makes them feel more comfortable to reach out to him anytime with questions. The main problem clients expect him to solve is finding a mortgage they can live with, not afford. “People think they can afford a home outside of their means, because something online shows it will cost a certain amount,” he says. “Unfortunately, most of the time, it’s not true. What you can afford is sometimes totally different than what you can live with.” He sits down with them and goes over all the details until they feel comfortable with the deal and understand the process.
Increasing his numbers year after year in a very competitive business has been such a thrill for him. It’s also come with awards. Noldan has been voted Best in Business Loan Officer by the Illinois Mortgage Association, President’s Club (2011-2017) and Chairman’s Club (2015-2017) at Guaranteed Rate, and ranked in the Scotsman Guide for the past decade, among too many other honors to mention.
Noldan serves on the executive boards of both Catholic Charities and Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide (LOSS).
