Ryan Skaggs is known for producing fully underwritten preapprovals and structured loan strategies for North Shore buyers.
Skaggs, a producing branch manager and award-winning mortgage loan officer with New American Funding, entered the mortgage industry in 2010 with a strong interest in real estate and personal finance. His mother, a longtime special education teacher, inspired his approach to educating clients about the lending process with clear, accessible information tailored to them. “Many buyers and homeowners make decisions based on incomplete or unclear information,” he says. “I built a practice centered on teaching clients how financing actually works so they can make informed, confident decisions.”
With 15 years of experience in lending, Skaggs identifies issues before they become problems.
Before lending, he worked for the U.S. Golf Association and Chicago District Golf Association. He applies the same process-driven, checklist-based approach he used while working in the golf industry to lending, creating a clear, step-by-step process for clients. “Golf is a game of consistency and decision-making over time, which translates directly to how I advise clients on mortgage strategy and financial planning,” he says.
Agent partners often assure their clients that if Skaggs provides the preapproval, they know the loan will close — a reflection of the upfront diligence and validation he brings to every file. He also has a reputation for outlining risks, trade-offs, and realities early, to help buyers make informed decisions. “That clarity builds trust and leads to better long-term outcomes,” he says.
Stepping into a producing branch manager role this past year was a decision based on long-term client benefit, he says, not short-term convenience. “Having dedicated support ensures that no detail is missed and clients receive consistent updates throughout the process,” he says.
A father of two young children, he enjoys golf, platform tennis and pickleball.
