Growing up with a Realtor as a mother, Steve Smith jokes that he has been talking real estate at the dinner table since 1990. “Apparently it is in my blood,” he remarks. Although he started a career in pharmaceuticals before becoming a lender, he felt detached from the end user in that career path. “I love the relationship established with lending and celebrating successes,” he shares. “There is nothing like the feeling of helping someone buy that first home or their dream lake house.”

A senior vice president of mortgage lending at Proper Rate, Smith has been in the industry for 15 years specializing in jumbo, VA, FHA, conventional and second-home loans. “Clients often comment how I make a difficult process feel easy and that my team and I are always available whenever they need us,” he points out. Crediting his problem-solving skills to his success, he explains how lending is not all a “square peg in a square hole” process. “I have to be able to get my clients from the start to finish quickly and smoothly, no matter the scenario,” he says. “We try to take the stress out of the lending side of buying a home.”

In his 100%-referral-based business, Smith likes to be a one-stop shop, meaning when clients need an answer, they are able to call or text and will receive a personal response from him, not someone else. “I give a lot of advice during the week regarding how to structure financing,” he explains. “People trust me to give the best guidance even, if it means I do not end up doing their loan.”

With a past life as a professional musician playing 5-7 gigs a week, Smith still receives an occasional call to perform with the local band Tributosaurus.

Proper Rate, LLC; NMLS #1901699; 1800 W. Larchmont Ave., Suite 301, Chicago, IL 60613; 866-755-0679. For licensing information visit nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Equal Housing Lender. Conditions may apply