Is being a Loan officer a good career choice?
I have a two year degree in Busniness.I have managed a furniture store for 3 years and was a district manager for 5 years with a Movie Rental company.I currently work in a manufacturing plant as a tool buyer.Yeah, ive done it all.Since buying my home and speaking with my Loan officer, the business has always caught my eye.Retail is not for me.I love people and dealing with day to day challenges.I live in Houston tx which has the cheapest realestate Ive ever seen.I think this could be a doorway but dont want to jump in head first.I would rather here from other professionals who have made the change.The good and bad is what I am looking to hear.I welcome anyone with any knowledge about the industry to post comments.Thanks for your time
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3 comments
billie on August 25, 2011 at 9:26 am
It’s a hassle. You’re going to be dealing with some low-lifes. People love to borrow money but they don’t want to pay it back. You’ll be getting into repossession – not fun.
M1759 on August 25, 2011 at 9:26 am
You can make great money as a loan officer, but there are some pitfalls to be aware of.
One, it’s generally not a 9 to 5 job. Expect evening and weekend work if you want to make any decent money.
Two, this is not the best time to be entering the lending business. Although the overall economy is strong, lenders are feeling some pain which leads to tightening of guidelines which leads to a harder time getting deals done.
Three, most lenders are downsizing since originations are down. There are fewer positions available and the ones that are the most available are the least desirable.
Best of luck!
mazziatplay on August 25, 2011 at 9:26 am
I’ve been a mortgage lender for more than 20 years and I cannot imagine doing anything else.
Mortgage lending is a challenging, ever changing, and interesting field with it’s share of frustrations and successes.
This is not rote work, no two loans are ever the same. You have to be able to deal with infinite variety, have strong communication skills, a true desire to help your fellow man, a strong ethical core, and the ability to problem solve.
You need to understand that this is a profession where you are paid on commission and how much you make is directly proportional to how hard you want to work.
If you are truly interested in this field, a company that trains new loan officers will benefit you greatly.
I work for First Horizon Home Loans, they have offices in Houston. First Horizon has a training program called First Horizon University where they comprehensively train new loan officers. Lots of other companies hire you for your potential and then throw you in the pool and say, "Swim, kid" and you either figure it out on your own or you fail.
I’d be happy to supply yo with a name of someone who would be happy to give you an informational interview if you like. Feel free to email me.