Unemployed and practically starving, Sam Sharp was nevertheless reluctant to join the mortgage industry, even though a close friend who started his own mortgage company in 2001 was positive he would be a perfect fit.

“I hit the ground running and worked to learn everything I could about the business as I went along,” says Sharp, executive vice president of national sales for Guaranteed Rate. The company’s top purchase producer in Illinois for three consecutive years, Sharp has helped more people buy homes in Illinois than any other loan officer in the country.

“I love being able to control my career path,” Sharp says, noting he chose to slow his production last year to focus on his family — he has a 2-year-old son and a newborn daughter. “You can control how busy you want to be and how much business you want to do. It’s an amazing opportunity.” Now that his family is situated, Sharp has turned up the volume on his production in 2019 and is projected to set a personal record.

Taking a consultative approach, Sharp listens to clients and uses specific questions to guide them through the process. “I believe in answering questions before someone has a reason to ask,” he says. “If you provide your clients with everything they need, then they have no reason to look elsewhere.”

Sharp knows nobody wants a loan; they want a house. That’s why he’s made a career out of saving loans that other lenders were unable to close, which has helped him develop strong relationships with clients. “From the CEO to the guy who picks up the CEO’s dry cleaning, I treat all people equally and look for a way to help,” he says. In testimonials, clients praise him for being reliable and for quickly responding to their phone calls.

To give back, Sharp is involved with Humble Design, an organization that helps furnish the homes of families who have a history of homelessness. “When you can bring this type of joy to the children in these families and provide a better living environment, there is no better feeling,” he says.