1. CRAIG ACHTZEHN
Vice President of Mortgage Origination
1stAdvantage Mortgage,
a Draper and Kramer Company
Craig Achtzehn approaches every loan with discipline
and a focus on client needs. His experience working
in corporate America, the 14 years he’s spent in the
mortgage industry, and his training in the military set
him apart from his peers in not only lending, but also real
estate in general.
“I believe my past experiences have prepared
me to be a successful lender,” Achtzehn says. “You
need discipline and organizational skills to execute
your business strategy.” After more than a decade
connecting literally thousands of borrowers with the
most appropriate lending products, the 1st Advantage
Mortgage vice president of mortgage origination
has run through the gamut of origination scenarios,
providing him the reference necessary to handle any
situation that may come his way. Though he services a
wide variety of borrowers, Achtzehn says his first-time
buyers have and will always be his focus. “The thrill
of helping someone buy their first home is the primary
reason I chose this business.”
But whether Achtzehn is servicing a couple vying for
an entry-level single-family home or an investor looking
to rehab a multifamily property, Achtzehn and his team
of sales coordinators, processors, underwriters, and
closers pride themselves on having the wherewithal to
handle them effectively, with communication as their
silver bullet. “We aim to be informative, communicative
and transparent with borrowers throughout the process,”
he explains, adding that helping buyers navigate a loan
is just as important as educating them on the process.
“Setting the proper expectations early on is paramount,”
he says. But “the loop of communication” does not only
encompass the lender and the buyer, Achtzehn points out
– it also includes agents and attorneys. “My team and I
are constantly updating all involved parties,” he says. “We
want the closing to go as smoothly as possible.”
The discipline and tenacity Achtzehn leverages as a
lender also come in handy when volunteering with the
Folded Flag Foundation, a nonprofit organization close to
his heart that provides financial and educational support
to the families of post-9/11 fallen warriors. But Achtzehn
identifies his wife and daughters as his true inspiration for
living well, giving back and working hard. “Spending time
with my wife and watching our daughters grow inspires
and motivates me to be my best self,” he says.
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