David Elian has been a home mortgage consultant with Allied Home Mortgage in Baymeadows for a year and a half.
WHERE WAS HE BEFORE?
Wells Fargo for a year and a half. “That was a great starting point for me.”
WHAT DOES HE DO?
Originate residential loans. “I help people buy their homes.”
WHAT ABOUT CUSTOMERS?
“We also do first-time home buyers seminars quite often.” They hold seminars at various places including the Tinseltown theatre. “You can’t believe how helpful they are. The people are so excited after they attend one because it gives them all the information that they need. It simplifies the whole process for them to be able to buy their first home.”
WHO DESIGNED THE PROGRAMS?
Elian designed the programs for the Realtors and first-time homebuyers. He has been doing the seminars for about two and a half years. “I just kept modifying it until I came up with the most simple way to be able to help people buy their first homes. I’m in the process of copyrighting my seminars.”
BEFORE LOANS?
Elian was a pastor in Oregon and Hawaii for about 20 years. “People still ask me to do all kinds of counseling including marriage counseling.”
HOMETOWN
He grew up in Jacksonville and left in 1978 to go to college.
COLLEGE
He has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Florida. “The Harvard of the South,” he joked. “I actually went to Seminary School at the same time I went into the ministry. I went into the ministry, and started working on my Master Divinity, which I haven’t finished yet.”
HOW DID HE GET INTO THE MINISTRY?
He almost went to law school after he earned his bachelor’s degree, but decided not to. “My big hero growing up was Joe Carlucci, Matt Carlucci’s father. Matt is my best friend and we grew up together. Matt and I became Christians around the same time. I ended up going to University of Florida, while he went to University of North Florida. I had a life changing experience while in college with the Lord. I started to feel the tug of the ministry in my heart, so I ended up going that route.”
HOW DID HE GET INTO THE LOAN INDUSTRY?
He moved back to Jacksonville in 1996 after 20 years in the ministry and felt it was time for a career change. “I ended up going into the mortgage business. It’s similar because I am still helping people. I’m still helping families fulfill their goals. I’m connecting with what their emotional desires are in terms of a home. I put the loan program together to help them buy a home.”
HOW DID HE END UP AT ALLIED HOME MORTGAGE?
“I helped my brother, John, get a job at Bank of America before I even went into the business. They sold his department and he ended up buying a franchise from Allied Home Mortgage Capital Corporation.”
FAMILY BUSINESS?
David and John’s mother, Marion Elian is the post-closing auditor, John’s wife, Joan; David’s son, David Jr. and his sister Cathy Daniels all handle marketing for the company. John Elian is the branch manager and owner of the company. “We are like the Carrabbas of the loan industry.”
Others in the company are Mayte Gonzales, a processor, Demetri Minotakis, and Lee Rogers, are loan officers.
WHAT AREAS DOES HE FOCUS ON?
Southside and Mandarin as well as the whole city. “Our seminars attract people from all over town.”
WHAT IS ONE BEST THING THAT YOU COULD TELL A REALTOR?
“Great Realtors understand the team concept. They understand that they are in charge of finding and selling a home and we are in charge of the money.
“Great Realtors really let us do our job. Everyone has their place in the transaction and everyone needs to do their job for the homebuyer.”
LESSONS LEARNED?
“Every person is important and it is very important to really listen to every person’s needs and goals.”
WHAT HAS HELPED YOU MOST TO GET YOU WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?
“The training from my dad when I was growing up. He taught me to work hard every day, be honest, be a man of integrity, have a good Christian work ethic and treat people well.”
HOW DOES HIS PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HELP HIM IN THE MORTGAGE BUSINESS?
“It helps me to be sensitive to what people need. I’m really sensitive to what people need and want in life and I really connect to those needs and wants. It helps me be sensitive to what they are going through, sense their challenges and really connect with them so we can help them buy a home.”
FAMILY
Elian has been married to Joan for 23 years. They have five children, David Jr., 19; Victoria, 17; Daniel, 15; Rachel, 8 and Derek, 6.
RESIDES
Mandarin.
WHAT DOES HE LIKE TO DO WHEN NOT WORKING?
Fishing and attending his children’s sporting events. He also coaches baseball and soccer.
CHURCH
Southpoint Community.
- by Michele Newbern Gillis