Jim Jefferson believes homeownership is the ultimate “Yes” and no one hears it from him more often than the veterans he serves. “These men and women said yes to serving our country. Waiving every lender fee for them is the least I can do to say yes back,” says Jefferson, senior vice president and branch manager at Rate. That commitment extends well beyond the closing table: Jefferson supports veteran charities including the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and recently sponsored Rockin’ for Vets at Cantigny Park, a celebration benefiting the West Suburban Foundation for Disabled Veterans headlined by Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band.
Since writing his first loan in 1998, Jefferson has helped more than 5,800 families achieve homeownership, with a special passion for first-time buyers. “We have many ‘firsts’ in our lives, but few milestones surpass buying your first home,” he says. He answers the questions clients don’t know to ask, leverages Rate’s grant and assistance programs to bring additional funds to the table, and structures every mortgage around a monthly payment built for long-term success. “I don’t just want the best mortgage available — I want my borrowers walking into their new home in the best financial position possible.”
Ranked among America’s top 1% of mortgage originators every year since 2002 by Scotsman Guide and Mortgage Executive Magazine, Jefferson has held President’s Club status for two decades and Chairman’s Circle for five consecutive years. He holds a perfect five-star rating on Google Business, Zillow and Facebook, along with multiple Seven Star awards for excellence in customer experience and service to the community.
Jefferson is quick to share the credit. “I can’t do this alone,” he says of his team — several members at his side for nearly a decade — which he calls his Justice League. “The superhero work they do daily is why our clients win.”
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.
