Nineteen years ago, Bob Carr got more than he expected when he applied for his first home loan. At the time, interest rates were falling, business was booming and Carr — then a graduate student — found himself fascinated with the mortgage process. Noticing his enthusiasm, his lender offered him a job, and Carr has been in the mortgage business ever since.

Today, Carr is an accomplished mortgage originator and a senior vice president of residential lending at Draper and Kramer Mortgage Corp. He specializes in assisting first-time homebuyers and those moving from the city to the suburbs, as well as handling second-home and investment property financing. Carr has an extensive network of satisfied past clients and their referrals, and he is a consistent member of his company’s President’s Club for top-producing originators.

One of the ways Carr differentiates himself in the industry is with his hands-on approach to every transaction. “I like to be involved in all aspects of the loan process,” he says. “I am the key person for communication with all parties, and I know the ins and outs of every loan in my pipeline, so I can provide details to clients, agents and attorneys.” Carr credits this focus on communication and cooperation with stakeholders for helping him reliably close more transactions.

For those who assume top producers sacrifice the personal touch in the pursuit of success, Carr defies expectations. For him, educating first-time homebuyers and patiently answering their questions is the best part of the job. “I enjoy working with clients who are new to the mortgage process and are curious about how it all works,” Carr says. “It’s very fulfilling to help people who are looking to gain knowledge, not just a loan.”

While passionate about serving clients and partners, Carr also loves that his position allows him to be with his two children in a way that other jobs would not. “I am still responsible for my business,” he says, “but the flexibility of this career is a rare opportunity in today’s world.”