Christian Rambler is the broker/owner of Navigator Mortgage. He opened his company four years ago.
WHERE WAS
HE BEFORE?
Rambler has been in the mortgage business for 10 years. He and his wife relocated to Jacksonville four years ago from Indianapolis. and decided to open a mortgage company. “It was sort of a goal of ours to own our own company and mortgages made sense.”
WHO WORKS AT NAVIGATOR MORTGAGE?
Rambler has three loan officers and a staff of four including an office manager, two processors and a personal assistant.
HOW DID HE GET INTO MORTGAGES?
A friend of his in the mortgage business and recommended Rambler look into it, so he did. He worked at SunTrust, Home Gold and Fidelity Mortgage before opening Navigator Mortgage.
BEFORE MORTGAGES.
He worked in sales and sales management.
COLLEGE
Rambler earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Kent State University.
BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED.
“A mentor of mine told me that when you are looking to start something new, sometimes just getting started is enough to stop most people. If you are investigating something or taking on a new challenge just getting started and over the hump is enough to turn people off, so he said to try and get over that. Other advice was given to me by a CPA. He said to try to get money available to you when you don’t need it. You may never use it, but you know it is there if you need it.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT LENDING?
“The thing I like about this business is that even though I’m in the office most of the time, I get to meet so many different people. In one day, I might meet someone who is relocating here for a job and buying a $400,000 home in Jacksonville Golf and Country Club. Next, I might talk to someone buying their first home right out of college and newly married and then I might talk to a retired couple who are buying a second home. I like the diversity.”
WHO ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS?
Mainly real estate investors and Realtors.
HOW IS THE MORTGAGE BUSINESS DIFFERENT HERE?
“There are a lot of mortgage companies here. There are a lot more mortgage people working out of the home or one and two-man mortgage operations verses large call center type companies. There are also a lot more mortgage brokers here in Florida.”
ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO THE MORTAGE BUSINESS.
Rambler said to do your homework as far as getting educated on a bunch of different loan products. Also, when you are quoting a client mortgage information, make sure to include all of the costs.
TIPS FOR REALTORS.
“Give mortgage brokers an opportunity to show your client what they can do. Very rarely do we lose a loan based on price or cost.”
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET CLOSE TO REALTORS?
Rambler said referrals from other Realtors are his best resource. There is a form that he sends out to both Realtors involved in the transaction with all of the contact information for everyone involved in the transaction. “We communicate with the Realtors and find out who they would have us contact. Hopefully during that process, we will shine in the eyes of the real estate agent and then afterwards have the opportunity to sit down with them and tell them more about us.”
HOW ARE REALTORS IMPORTANT TO YOU?
“Very important. A good real estate agent is worth their weight in gold in my opinion. They can find deals for clients, find them quickly and manage the process. We work hand and hand with them.”
LESSONS LEARNED.
Rambler said the main thing he has learned is to surround himself with good quality people that are not exactly like him and that have different strengths than him. “I’ve also learned not to try and do it all myself, but delegate to people who can handle the job.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS.
Jacksonville Real Estate Investment Association, Jacksonville Landlord Network and Wealth in Real Estate.
- by Michele Newbern Gillis
Christian Rambler
Job: Mortgage Broker
Company name: Navigator Mortgage
Resides: Ponte Vedra Beach
Family: Married to Jennifer. They have three children, Rachel, 5; Brook, 3; and Cole, 2 months.