Every mortgage professional brings something different to the home financing equation. In the case of Aki Sayef, he brings 27 years of lending experience, fluency in four languages and a ranking among the nation’s top mortgage originators. His most important contribution, however, is his passion for delivering a trustworthy, transparent and timely home financing experience.

Sayef entered the mortgage industry in 1994 after earning his MBA. In 2005, he joined Draper and Kramer Mortgage, which would become his longtime professional home. Today, as a vice president of residential lending at the company’s Downers Grove branch, Sayef serves clients across Chicagoland and the nation. He has closed more than $1 billion in home loans and is recognized by industry publication Scotsman Guide on its nationwide Top Originators list.

“When you work with me, you can expect to receive the most honest service and know that your interests will always come first,” Sayef says. His service philosophy is to listen closely to each client so he can pair them with the right financing solutions for their situation and goals. He is proud of not just closing loans for his borrowers, but also establishing himself as a trusted “loan officer for life” whom they can rely on for their future mortgage questions and needs.

Sayef’s favorite part of his job is seeing the many positive reviews he receives. “That’s when I know I’ve done the best that I could for a client, and it encourages my compassion for doing even better,” he says. Of his 380 client reviews, he boasts a 99% client satisfaction rate.

Over the past couple years, Sayef has been proud of maintaining a positive outlook through the ups and downs of the pandemic. Now, with new challenges and opportunities on the horizon for his clients, he is looking forward to continuing to do what he does best by bringing everything he offers to each home purchase or refinance.