Guaranteed Rate Affinity (GRA)
Jon Goldman’s love of people and desire to help them purchase the dream homes they thought would never be possible inspires him to go to work every day.
“I love their stories and connecting with them on a personal level,” says Goldman, vice president of mortgage lending with Guaranteed Rate Affinity. “I care immensely about each and every one of my clients and have become personal friends with the majority of them. They refer me and trust me to take care of their kids, parents, colleagues and friends.”
He learned persistence, effective communication and how to handle rejection at his first job out of college — working at a cold-calling center — which serves him well today. His more than two decades in lending, personal approach and ability to understand the implications of financial systems, sets him apart from other lenders. One of his biggest strengths is understanding how the deal is put together. He finds out the client’s end goal and determines the most strategic approach to get the result they seek. “My client base ranges from first-time homebuyers to CEOs of large corporations,” he says.
He takes a businesslike approach with every transaction, making sure each step is clearly defined, maintaining communication throughout the process and keeping in mind the emotional aspect of it. “This last part is critical,” he says. “At the end of the day, this is a people business.”
He also recognizes the importance of delivering a smooth experience to each of his clients. “It is my job to get them to the finish line as quickly and efficiently as possible,” he says. Clients say he is knowledgeable, attentive and treats them as if they are his only customer.
For the past three years, Goldman has been a Mortgage Executive magazine Top 1 Percent Loan Originator nationwide, making him a valuable recent addition to Guaranteed Rate Affinity’s team. He is also a 5-Star Mortgage winner, Scotsman Guide’s 2017 Top Originator and 2017 Lender of the Year from Chicago Agent magazine.
Although Goldman works tirelessly in the industry to help others, he is a family man at heart. “My family is the driving force behind everything I do,” he says. “Spending time with them and work–life balance is one of the big keys to my success.”
