Today we’d like to introduce you to Jayme Knight.
Hi Jayme, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Timing is everything! Earlier this year, I was asked to be part of Shift with Intention’s anthology, which recently launched and became a #1 International Best Seller. Why do I share this? My chapter in the book shares my story of how I got to where I am today as a mortgage loan advisor. When one door shut, another one opened.
A little over a year ago, I was introduced to the mortgage industry. Before this, I had always been in the health and fitness industry. All I knew about the real estate world was from a consumer standpoint.
What did I know:
• The excitement of looking for homes!
• The emotional roller coaster of purchasing and selling my home!
• Needing the expertise of a realtor and lender to navigate all of this!
Just because I had bought and sold my home didn’t mean this was the right fit for me. So, of course, I phoned friends. Several of them are in the real estate business. I talked to both realtors and lenders. I needed to know why they loved their job. That’s when I knew this was the right career move!
Building relationships and helping people bring me so much joy. And I quickly realized, as a mortgage loan advisor, I would get to do all of this in an exciting and different way! I loved the home-buying process and was ecstatic for the opportunity to help others navigate this next chapter in their lives.
I didn’t realize how supported I would be by friends, family, and of course, my company, Homestead Financial Mortgage! Because I built solid relationships based on trust and integrity through my previous roles, people were reaching out and allowing me to help them with refinancing and purchasing when I first started. It was amazing to know that they could have chosen anyone, yet they chose me.
More importantly, because they chose me, they also selected a company that truly values their clients and puts them first. Time and time again, Homestead has proved that above all else, our clients come first. I get to work alongside dedicated individuals to help close loans. I also get to work closely with the owners of the company.
Today, I get to collaborate with some of the most dedicated and exceptional realtors. They take great pride in their work, and it shows in the relationships they have built with their clients.
When we work together, we become a team to ensure we meet the needs of our clients. Hands down, this is one of the highlights of my job! I absolutely love working as a team and supporting the growth of my business partners and the goals of my clients. It’s just a win-win situation every time!
Over a year later, I have helped clients that have been first-time homebuyers, moved to different states, become investment property owners, and purchased a second home to create lasting memories for their families. I owe all my success to God – his timing is perfect.
He has brought people in my life to get me to where I am today and allowed me to share my story in a book and now here in hopes that it will inspire others never to give up. Because when one door closes, another one opens, but you must be open to the possibilities.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When the pandemic hit, I was faced with one of the biggest obstacles I had to overcome in my life. I was let go from a job that held a special place in my heart. I called it my happy place. Most of my adult career was in a school setting as a PE teacher or in some capacity in the health and fitness industry. Being in my forties, I was at a loss of what was next until God intervened. I received a phone call that changed everything! I was told that I needed to make a career change.
Before that phone call, I was devastated yet tried to hold it together for my family. I dug deep into my faith and trusted God’s plan. I knew at that moment that was all I had. In the beginning, there were many tears when my kids weren’t around. A lot of praying, asking what was next.
And a whole lot of faith that God had something better planned for me. With each passing day, the tears were less, the hurt was less, the pain was less, and hope was brighter! Then the phone call changed everything.
Because of this phone call, I was asked to share my story. Through Shift with Intention, an anthology of over 40 authors, we all shared a moment in time that could have stopped us in our tracks but instead allowed us to make that shift and soar. I hope that readers realize it is never too late to live their best life.
By sharing my story, I embraced the struggles as a new loan advisor, shifted my mindset, and turned these struggles into learning opportunities. One struggle I had right out of the gate when first starting was not giving myself enough grace. I wanted to know everything about the lending world to be the best advisor for my clients. However, I quickly learned that wasn’t possible because lending changes constantly, and there is so much to know.
While some programs remain constant, updates happen, and new programs are added! Once I accepted my weakness of not knowing everything, I found my strength. Relationship building comes naturally to me because I love getting to know people and finding ways to help!
Acknowledging my strengths and weaknesses allowed me to grow my business successfully over the past year. Why? Because of the support of my team and management! Together, we provide the best service possible to our clients!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a mortgage loan advisor, I am blessed every day to support my clients and business partners in achieving their goals!
Knowing my clients personally allows me to find the right program that will benefit them the most when it comes to purchasing or refinancing. The testimonials, emails/texts, and referrals are a daily reminder of the difference I make. I am humbled by the kind words shared by my clients and am always open to learning what I can do better next time.
Homeownership can be so rewarding and emotional at the same time. My goal is to make it the most seamless and best possible experience. We all know there may be hiccups and obstacles along the way. But keeping the lines of communication open and clients informed alleviates a lot of stress.
My clients know that I am just a phone call/text/email away and reach out whenever they have a question or need reassurance that all is ok!
In just a short year, not only have I gained repeat clients but also partnerships with leaders in the real estate world. Collaborating and brainstorming with my business partners have brought me great joy. I thrive on helping others grow. It brings me a sense of accomplishment knowing that I played a small part – behind the scenes – in assisting others in surpassing their goals!
This has held true with every job I’ve had over the years. I’m beyond thankful that Homestead Financial Mortgage allows me this opportunity in my role. With our in-house marketing department, I’ve been able to help build my business partners’ brands, host podcasts around homeownership, offer client testimonials, and more.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Your life can be turned upside down in a blink of an eye.
What you do at that moment can change everything. You can allow that door to close, open the next door, and be ready for what’s possible! When I received that phone call during the pandemic, I chose to lean into God and trust what he had planned. I am forever grateful because I now am in a career that I love, which allows me to help others!
What if I tried to re-open that closed door? I now know this to be true as I reflect on my decision. I would have missed out on something even more significant than I imagined possible. Would I have been asked to be part of a #1 International Best-Selling book?
No! Would I have met a group of people that lift me and support me like no other? No! I could go on and on, but I won’t! But I will say that from this experience, I learned that there is beauty waiting on the other side amid something so hard.
It may not feel like that now, but I am now fully aware of what could lie ahead and won’t let fear get in the way!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.homesteadfinancial.com/loan-officers/jayme-knight/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loansandhomeswithjayme/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaymeknightlo
