Steve Chun has been a sales manager with Countrywide Home Loans since February.
WHAT DOES HE DO?
He is recruiting a team of loan officers to go out and get new Realtor and builder business. “My expertise is doing the jumbo loan market and creative financing for the clients. It’s a loan officer position, but in a sales manager status where I hire my own team.”
HIS HISTORY
He started his lending career with American Express as a project manager for three years. He then moved on to Barnett Bank for the next five years as assistant vice president of Mortgage Lending. After Barnett Bank, he took a hiatus for a while and opened his own business, Dream Cruises and Tours, which organized corporate and charity events with celebrities including The Back Street Boys, Britney Spears, N’Sync, Everlast, Carlos Santana, Amy Grant and more. Eventually, he decided that business wasn’t for him anymore and he decided to go back into banking. He joined HomeBanc as a loan officer for less than a year until he was recruited to come to work at Countrywide Home Loans.
AREA HE WORKS?
From St. Johns County all the way to Amelia Island.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HELP YOU NOW?
“I know how to market a lot more now and how to close the sale a lot faster. A lot of it is personal touch. I was born and raised in this town and my father helped start the Pic ‘n Save here. I got to know a lot of the local political figureheads, so the connections are still there. I just try to make the deal work instead of just saying hands down no or yes.”
HOW ARE REALTORS IMPORTANT TO YOU?
“They are the backbone for any mortgage lender. The good thing about the Realtors is that they are your eyes and ears. We have to support the Realtors. It’s like a brother and sister relationship because you do unto others as you would do unto yourself. That leads to a strong important bond in the relationship. Family comes first. In the Realtor relationship, the Realtor comes first. How I do it is if I don’t the client or the Realtor back within a half an hour, I pay money towards their closing costs. So, the Realtors who I do business with, know that I will call them back. I’ve had Realtors who have called me on Thanksgiving and Christmas and I called them back with a pre-approval.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB?
“Meeting new people everyday and going to the closing table and just seeing the smiles on the customer’s face.”
ADVICE FOR A NEW LOAN OFFICER?
“Speak to everyone about what you do for a living. Don’t just single out just Realtors and builders. Talk to financial planners, insurance agents and attend Realtor open houses because you just never know where a deal is going to come from.”
WHAT HAS HELPED YOU THE MOST TO GET YOU WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?
“Hard work. I work Monday through Sunday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. I would rather be with a customer and give them the piece of mind they need.”
LESSONS LEARNED
“Never over promise or under deliver.”
WHAT IS ONE BEST THING THAT YOU COULD TELL A REALTOR?
“What I do and what I have told several Realtors to is at the beginning of each month, write your goal and stick it on your computer or a wall. Every morning look at yourself in the mirror and say ‘You are going to do great today’”.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Northeast Florida Builders Association’s Sales and Marketing Council and Amelia Island/Nassau County Board of Realtors.
BIRTHPLACE
Jacksonville.
RESIDES
Hampton Park.
FAMILY
He is single and has a daughter Brittany, 12, and triplet sons, Brandon, Alex and Trey, 7.
CHURCH
Deermeadows Baptist.
FAVORITES
A movie he saw recently and would recommend is “The Last Samuri.” When relaxing at home, he enjoys tuning into “Ed.” When traveling, he enjoys Austria. He really enjoys Thai food, so his favorite restaurants are Thai Room and Lemon Grass. A book he has read and would recommend is “Raving Fans,” by Ken Blanchard.
-by Michele Newbern Gillis