Jayson Hardie – Managing Partner – (636) 256-5712
If you haven’t read my blog posts before, let me cut to the chase: real estate isn’t for “normal” people.
Most of us in this industry didn’t exactly choose real estate; it chose us. It requires juggling ten things at once, answering calls at all hours, and pivoting from family time to full-on business mode in an instant. Not many people can manage it, and even fewer have spouses who can tolerate it. For those of us who do, lucky us.
The Sunday Morning Pre-Approval
There was one time when my phone rang at 8 a.m. on a Sunday. Normally, I’m not asleep that late anyway, but that morning I was trying.
A new number popped up, so I answered.
“Hi, I’m looking to get pre-approved for a home I want to see today.”
Without missing a beat, I slipped into my professional voice. “Of course! I’d be happy to help.”
Here’s the reality: when buyers fall in love with a house on the weekend, no bank branch is open. If they want to make an offer, they need a pre-approval right away. That’s where we come in.
So, there I was, laptop open, hair sticking out in five directions, and yes, still in my pajamas. I briefly considered changing, but decided it was a risk to the whole operation. It was better to stay seated, stay focused, and keep everything… appropriately contained. By 8:30, credit was pulled. By 10, documents were in. By 11, the pre-approval was ready. And by that evening, we had a signed contract.
Honestly, if all deals went that smoothly, I’d happily take every call in my underwear.
Why Homestead Financial is Different
This story isn’t unusual for us at Homestead Financial Mortgage. Unlike some big-name lenders, we don’t rely on automated menus or bank hours. When you call, you get a real person who is ready to help, whether it is morning, evening, or over a holiday weekend. Our team is basically always online, because we know buying a home doesn’t happen on a neat 9-to-5 schedule.
Realtor Partnerships That Matter
Our realtor partners rely on us to be responsive and available. In today’s competitive housing market, minutes can make the difference between winning a dream home or losing it. That is why our partnerships are so strong. We are there when they need us most, helping their clients move quickly with confidence.
For many of our loan officers, business comes almost entirely from the relationships we build with realtors and the referrals their clients send our way. We also understand an important truth: no one wakes up excited about getting a mortgage. What they look forward to is getting the keys to their new home. Our job is simply to make the mortgage process as smooth, quick, and painless as possible, so the focus can stay where it belongs, on celebrating the home, not stressing over the paperwork. Just check our 600+ reviews on Google to hear how the process has worked.
The Importance of a Pre-Approval
Getting pre-approved is one of the most important steps in the homebuying journey. It not only gives buyers clarity on their budget, but it also gives sellers peace of mind that offers are serious. At Homestead, we work hard to make sure our clients have that advantage, even if it means we are working from the couch in our PJs.
Because at the end of the day, professionalism is not about a dress code. It is about being there when people need us most.