Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary Boyer, NMLS# 57785.
Hi Gary, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Since a little before the millennium, I have been helping people navigate the world of home financing, and it all happened by accident. Once upon a time, when I had hair on my head, I envisioned a career in human resources. However, fate had a different plan for me where a chance meeting at a Portland Trailblazer’s basketball game changed my life. The person sitting next to me would become my mentor, introducing me to the world of mortgages – a world I instantly fell in love with!
I’ve always been anything but shy and discovered a perfect calling for me that also combined my gift for numbers and eye for detail. I love all the intricate nuances of mortgages and relish solving problems. To this day, I still get a thrill out of tackling challenges head-on to help my clients – that is my driving force. I have never looked back!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Early on I chose to focus my business on working with the GLBTQ+ community. In the late 90’s even in a city as progressive as Portland, there were limited resources available for members of the Gay & Lesbian community. This is long before gay marriage was even on the table, let alone the law of the land. Financing a home can be an intimidating and overwhelming experience. Adding ignorance or discrimination into the process can make it that much worse. Many Loan Officers did not (and still do not) understand the importance of how title is structured or the nuances of working with the GLBTQ+ community.
My industry is inherently conservative, and I was not welcomed with open arms. When I launched my branding and website as MortgageMonkey.com the pushback was even stronger. Many felt that I was not taking things seriously and undermining the ‘professionalism’ of the industry.
However, my strong belief was that fear, intimidation and feeling unwelcome made many people never even try to buy a home. I am very proud that I have played an instrumental role in helping many members of my community become homeowners…but I don’t discriminate, I’m happy to work with straight clients too! 😊
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Every loan I do starts with a free consultation where I get to know my client’s situation and I help them understand the key elements that are vital to obtaining the right home loan for them. I find that most people simply do not know what really matters and where to focus their efforts. My goal is to make sure my client’s have the tools to make educated decisions as they move forward.
Each client is equally important to me no matter their budget, credit history, or obstacles to financing a home. I believe the mortgage lending process should be fun and relational, not scary or intimidating. My favorite part of my career is meeting people. I have helped people from all walks of life. I have done loans for politicians, local celebrities and even people who have won Oscars along with Emmy & Grammy award winners. I just need a Tony winner to complete my EGOT! However, I take great pride that the vast majority of my clients are normal people who simply work hard and help make our community a better place.
My primary function is taking the mystery out of getting a home loan, helping solve problems and putting together a game plan for achieving my client’s goals. My priority is to not only help them secure financing that they are happy with, but also to have a good time in the process.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The real estate industry has been through a very challenging period. After mortgage rates reached record lows during the COVID epidemic, we have seen several years of elevated rates. This has primarily been driven by inflation being well above average levels. Combined with housing prices moving up significantly has created an affordability challenge for many buyers – particularly first-time buyers.
Markets are coming back into balance after being driven by sellers in recent years. A balanced market is a healthy market and gives many more people the opportunity to become homeowners. We are also seeing a lot of developments with AI, but since I entered the mortgage business 25 years ago, I’ve been hearing that computers will make Loan Officers obsolete. When dealing with the biggest financial element that most people will ever experience the consumer has definitely shown that they want a person to talk to and guide them through the process. And, since that is my favorite part, I feel very confident about the future of my business.
Pricing:
- Free Loan Consultation
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.MortgageMonkey.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mortgagemonkeypdx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MortgageMonkey/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/gary-boyer-mortgage-monkey-portland-7
- Other: https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=f07c4d704701945c&rlz=1C1GCEJ_enUS1189US1189&sxsrf=APpeQns55rDKwngxxHv9S3CpHHKs2mE64w:1784142736982&si=APenkKn5T4YN59srr511wD6k6Pufj9DEzRUvB1XJSwUeeT5afgg4UJdcT4mDoE9X1LK-tjPHW7KD7tjauCJyqzkONgl7UFfMfYyQAVuPBvCax7cMPmfjKikOuVzHnSqTKRmv80GypkJSN7R7vMsdUgdKljG7vljSbg0Gl96_qntCR-mTT-COZ5CWSfcu4fb1Ij3-PahMmRvLHAzKlmsFK-W67qGsKjpOeNmcqbBN5QkbPjD1XSagOAE%3D&q=Mortgage+Monkey+-+Gary+Boyer,+Sr.+Loan+Officer+%26+Certified+Mortgage+Planner+%7C+NMLS%23+57785+Reviews&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi5ycPQsdWVAxUzEDQIHYzzEFsQ0bkNegQIPBAH&biw=1295&bih=722&dpr=1
