With 16 years of experience in the mortgage lending industry, Aimee Renkes, vice president of mortgage lending with Proper Rate, has seen all the wild movements in the housing market – and she has solutions for the challenges they bring.

“I worked in public relations, handling several mortgage broker trade associations,” she says of her early career. “The media and licensing response to predatory lending — along with people I met along the way — prompted me to become a loan officer.” Applying her knowledge and marketing background to her craft helped distinguish Renkes from other officers right away.

“I felt that many loan officers are not proactive with communication and will rush through quotes and preapprovals to get on to the next prospect,” she says. “I wanted to focus on educating and truly caring about each buyer’s outcome.” Her impact is measurable — clients report feeling confident in her responsive, accessible, organized and personable style. Transparent by nature, Renkes and her team deliver detailed cost analyses to clients at preapproval, during negotiations and once under contract so they can make informed decisions. A three-step process helps her clarify and set expectations with each client so they can understand and manage financing optimally.

The year 2020 saw Renkes’ largest production year amid a pandemic — and while she was transitioning from her previous broker to Proper Rate. With a “staggering” refi loan volume during an unprecedented time, Renkes was proud to maintain quality for her valued clients. A mixture of past client repeats and referrals, agents, local network and several attorneys and financial planners comprises her business today.

“I feel like I’m in the right place at the right time to continue my growth in the industry,” says this active and community-oriented wife and mom. “We genuinely care about our clients’ well-being and lending experience on a personal level, and that inspires our team to push through the tough days and long hours and always strive to be better.”