Today, we’d like to introduce you to Belkys Lopez.
Hi Belkys, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My business offers mortgage loans for purchasing or refinancing real estate properties. While attending Miami Dade Community College Downtown Campus, I started working as a receptionist for the mortgage department of back then, CenTrust Bank.
When the bank’s CEO encountered issues with the government, which led to the bank closing, the mortgage department manager and top producers opened their own mortgage company, and I was offered a position there. That’s how my knowledge started in the mortgage industry.
I was trained to process loans, and back then, everything was done manually, “literally” handwritten and typed on a typewriter. From that point on, I made this my career. I proceeded to advance from Loan Processor to Sr. Loan Processor, to Underwriter, and then to Sr. Underwriter. Since about 2001-02, my husband was insisting that I should open my own mortgage company.
In January 2003, I did, and E-Mortgage Bankers was created. We have experienced the good mortgage times and the not-so-good markets, but it has been 21 years of helping individuals make their dreams of owning their own home come true, of helping them stay in their home, or putting their money at work by investing in real estate throughout the State of Florida.
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?
It has not been a smooth road. In 2007, real estate crashed completely with hundreds of thousands of homes going into foreclosure, multiple subprime lenders declaring bankruptcy, and the market requiring government bailouts. This led to what we know as The 2008 Housing Bubble.
COVID-19 also played a negative factor in the mortgage industry. Even though interest rates dropped tremendously, we were dealing with unemployment, which also took a toll on people’s credit and declining assets. All these factors play an essential role when qualifying for a mortgage loan.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about E-Mortgage Bankers Inc.?
E-Mortgage Bankers is a licensed mortgage company in Florida. We are authorized to offer our services throughout the state. We work directly with different mortgage lenders, which gives us the ability to offer a variety of lending programs. We place our clients in the most suitable mortgage based on their qualifications and expectations.
Aside from offering conventional and government-approved loans, we also specialize in Foreign National loans, Reverse Mortgages, Commercial loans, Second Mortgages, and several other Non-Conforming programs.
What were you like growing up?
I was born in Cuba. I had just turned 11 years old when I came to the US. It was not easy as my parents, my brother, and I only had 1 change of clothes with us since it was the only item allowed for us to take. The days before and during this journey were very harsh.
My brother and I were not able to attend school or even step outside our house as we were threatened to get beaten. Riots were done in front of our house, calling us traitors, worthless worms, among other things that included foul language. Rocks and bricks were thrown, trying to break the windows and door. Obviously, this was terrifying and unforgettable to all of us.
The travel was also an impossible-to-forget, scary, and awful time. Unable to bathe for days, sleeping on the bare ground at night and under the sun all day in a fenced area with other people who were also waiting for the Cuban government to process the paperwork.
We were treated inhumanely and with no contact with any family members for days. I was able to put all that behind us once we entered the US, and our Miami family was there waiting for us. It was still difficult since my parents had to restart from scratch, and we did not know the main language, but with hard work in and outside school, we all made a better life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.e-mortgagebankers.com
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/belkys-lopez-49a31714
