1. Ask Darius Jenkins how he got
into the mortgage business and
he’ll say candidly, “Imagine
you’re taken out in a boat to the
middle of a lake and then tossed
overboard. If you swim back to
shore,great.Ifyoudon’t,ohwell.”
It was challenging for Darius
because he jumped in head first with no experience.
However, he also saw the rewards of building lasting
relationships and helping people realize their dream
of homeownership. Almost 13 years later, the initial
challenges are gone, and any ongoing challenges
inherent in the business continue to be overcome.
Before mortgage lending, in the early 1980s Darius
worked in information technology until a friend asked
him to work for his mortgage company. Darius initially
declined, seeing no reason to leave his comfortable job
and stable income. But then one day he was sitting at
his desk and realized he had gotten bored. Ready to try
something new, he called his friend: “Let’s talk.” Three
weeks later, he was starting a whole new career. “It
was a complete leap of faith. I took a chance with no
experience, which was extremely challenging.”
Darius has overcome those challenges in part due to
being raised at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia, by
a United States Army Sergeant Major and preschool
teacher. But mostly because, besides the time flexibility
and the attractive income potential, he likes that every
day and every client is different. “I really get to see
America,” he says, likening his work to what you’d
see at an international airport. “I meet hundreds of
different types of people, and I enjoy learning about
someone and taking the time to build that relationship
from scratch.” People always tell him he is a social
person who relates well with everyone.
Licensed in Virginia, Maryland and the District of
Columbia, Darius is Senior Loan Officer with McLean
Mortgage Corporation in Fairfax, Virginia, which
is licensed to lend from Delaware to Florida. Darius
originates Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, and USDA
loans, to name a few, and specializes in first-time
homebuyers.
Considered a “VHDA guru,” Darius’ niche is the
educational side of mortgage lending. He is a Certified
Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA)
Trainer, teaching regular seminars on how to explain
at the customer’s level the home buying and mortgage
process. He also created the Virginia CE Class for
REALTORS®
entitled, “10 Things Every Loan Officer
Wished Every REALTOR®
Would Know”; and he co-
hosted a radio show, “The Real Estate Hour,” which he
might resurrect.
Darius notes that people tend to think the home loan
process is easy, and sometimes it is. But generally,
clients especially need to be educated on the ins and
outs. “They don’t know all the behind the scenes at
every step of the process. I take the timeto go into detail,
clarify, listen, be patient and build their confidence in
me and in the process.” He is able to communicate
efficiently, thanks to his years in the IT field, he says.
Darius adds, “Integrity matters. I won’t say what the
client wants to hear, nor will I pass the buck.” Even with
REALTORS®
and financial planners, “I’d rather tell the
truth in the best interest of the home buyer. It’s not my
money buying the home or paying the mortgage.”
Inhisoffhours,inadditiontobeingafamilyman,Darius
gets together often with his huge circle of lifelong
friends. He also loves hot yoga; it’s challenging and he
says he’s awful at it, but it helps keep him focused on
being victorious.
DARIUS JENKINS
Copyright Top Agent Magazine
For more information about Darius Jenkins
(NMLS ID #187399) and McLean Mortgage
Corporation, call 571-393-1356,
email djenkins@mcleanmortgage.com, or visit
www.loansbydarius.com. Darius is located at
McLean Mortgage Co. (NMLS ID #99665),
11325 Random Hills Road, Suite 400, Fairfax,VA
22030, website www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org