Doug Shoemaker’s mortgage career began with a leap of faith and a simple piece of encouragement from a client who saw his potential. With no formal training and plenty to learn, Doug built his foundation through grit, honesty, and a commitment to delivering more value than expected. Today at Homestead Financial Mortgage, he channels that same drive into serving his community, especially local military members, law enforcement, and firefighters. In this Q&A, Doug shares the lessons that shaped his career, what makes Homestead’s culture stand out, and why he believes being aligned with the right team makes all the difference.
Q:Â How did you get started in your mortgage career, and what led you to Homestead?
A: After spending a few years in the automotive industry, one of my clients—who happened to be a mortgage originator—pulled me aside and said, “You’d be great at this.” I applied on a bit of a leap of faith and, with zero mortgage experience, was hired during the interview. It was truly the “Wild West” back then—no formal training, no guardrails. Just a figurative smack on the back, a “go get ’em, kid,” and a whole lot of learning on the fly. I took the plunge, figured it out through hard work and grit, and never looked back.
Q:Â What is the best advice you received while working in the mortgage industry?
A: The best advice I received was to be honest. Treat people the way they want to be treated, not the way that’s easiest for you. And always deliver more value than people expect or pay for, and follow up like crazy because most people say they will but never do. If you do those four things consistently, the rest tends to take care of itself.
Q: What’s something unique about our company culture that stands out to you? Â
A: Community is at the heart of everything I do, especially when it comes to supporting our military, law enforcement, and firefighters. What stands out about Homestead is that the company doesn’t just say it supports that mission; it actually empowers it. I’ve been given the flexibility to remove roadblocks, customize solutions, and design a process that truly serves our local heroes in a meaningful way, not just a marketing slogan.
Q:Â What excites you about the future of Homestead?
A: Homestead is unapologetically hyper-local, and that matters. It allows us to genuinely serve our communities without the red tape, delays, and confusion that often come with large national mortgage firms. Decisions are made closer to the people they impact, and that translates into better service, better outcomes, and stronger relationships. That’s a future I’m excited to help build.
Q:Â If you could give advice to a loan officer considering joining Homestead, what would it be?
A: One of my favorite books—written back in the 1930s—is Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. There’s a story about a man who spent everything he and his family had mining for gold. Just three feet from striking the mother lode, he quit. He sold his equipment to a junk dealer who understood mineral veins, and that man became incredibly wealthy by digging just three feet further in the right direction.
So, my advice? Don’t quit three feet from gold. Sometimes success isn’t about working harder; it’s about being aligned with the right people, the right process, and the right direction.
Doug’s story is a reminder that success often comes from perseverance, alignment, and staying true to your values. At Homestead, he has found a company that empowers him to serve his community in meaningful ways and remove obstacles for the clients who matter most to him. With a leadership team that supports innovation and a hyper-local focus that strengthens relationships, Doug is excited about what lies ahead.
