Joining the lending business happened by accident for Garit Allen. When his cousin was looking for reliable people to work for him at his mobile notary company, Allen pitched right in and started by delivering closing documents, which he explained to clients. It was then that he realized he had a knack for explaining documents in a way that put clients’ minds at ease about what they were signing.
“After college, I ended up working for one of my father-in-law’s friends and learned more about the industry and the ins and outs of mortgage lending,” Allen recalls. “I was recommended to become part of another large producer’s team, who mentored me even further. After he retired, my best friend/mentor encouraged me to go out on my own.” He says that his mentor’s support, advice and knowledge were instrumental in his business’ becoming a success and even helped him find his new company at Guaranteed Rate.
“I take pride in my job, because at the end of this whole process, someone gets their dream home,” Allen says. In 2020, he was one of the only lenders in his company to have a 100% customer service satisfaction rating, an amazing professional accomplishment during the pandemic. He was also named a rising star by Chicago magazine. “This is my second year on my own, and it’s helped to confirm that my hard work, dedication and sacrifice is paying off,” he says.
Last year, Allen started running, and just before press time he ran his first 10k, while he’ll tackle his first half-marathon later this year. Married to his college sweetheart, Allen has an 8-year-old daughter. His nephew, a retired Marine who was discharged following an injury, also lives with him. The two are now working together to build their business and have used his familiarity with different veterans benefits to specialize in veteran lending.
Guaranteed Rate, Inc. is a private corporation organized under the laws of the state of Delaware. It has no affiliation with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture or any other government agency.
