Jo Ann Theriault-Fazio, SVP Mortgage Lending / Branch Manager / GROW Mentorship Director
Sam Fazio, SVP Mortgage Lending
With a father who is a 40+year veteran in the mortgage industry, Jo Ann Theriault-Fazio, an SVP of mortgage lending with Proper Rate, followed in his footsteps and became a second generation mortgage lender. Sam Fazio needed a change from his career as a trader. He walked into a real estate office hoping to become a Realtor, but was introduced to a lender instead. “I joined the team that Jo Ann was working on and we have been a lending team ever since,” shares Fazio, also an SVP of mortgage lending with Proper Rate.
For Jo Ann and Sam, their team is an integral part of their success. The duo helped launch Proper Rate in 2020 — in the middle of the pandemic. They accomplished this while managing their team from home. Despite 2020’s challenges, both saw more promotions on their team than ever before. They credit this to their team’s loyalty, and the training the team has received over the years. “The great thing about our team is all of the knowledgeable, professional people who are a part of it,” says Jo Ann. “If we are on the phone or out at an event, we know our processors or production manager can answer a borrower’s question with 100% certainty.”
When working with clients, both are known for being accessible and responding quickly, traits that are especially important in a year where most homes had multiple offers. “We had clients go under contracts on homes with 10+ offers simply because we called the listing agent back on a weekend to vet out the pre-approval,” shares Sam. “That is a service level our referral partners appreciate.”
While they support multiple charitable organizations, they are closely involved with the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation. They sponsor and support the foundation in its fight against childhood cancer. “They do such amazing work with hospital visits, financial support for the families and events for the kids,” says the duo. “The mission is something that really aligns with our values.”
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.
