About DK

I was fortunate enough to buy my first home (a condo in Lake Stevens, Wa) right out of graduate school in 2002.  I found a roommate to rent a room from me, and used a house-hacking technique to begin creating my wealth in real estate. Sadly, as I became more interested in investing in real estate, I received some very poor real estate investing advice and mortgage advice (or lack there of) and ended up losing a home to foreclosure in 2007. 

This was a devastating time in my life as a young husband and father to my daughter and soon to be son. But in that moment, the killer-instinct that helped me so much as a college and semi-pro baseball player kicked in, and I began to fight.  In those dark moments of my life, I committed to becoming a mortgage professional to make sure NOTHING like this would ever happen to someone I know. In fact, my goal was to help change an industry that lacked sound financial principles, ethics, and great mortgage advice.  That was 2008, and this is now....

Fast-forward to today, I've been recognized by Scotsman Guide as a Top 1% Mortgage Loan Officer in America since 2018. As well, Seattle Magazine has voted me as a 5-Star Award winner since 2014! Over the years, I have become a leader in the mortgage industry by providing financial education and real estate investment education to my clients.

A pivotal point in my happened in 2008. I went back to school to study finance, to be a financial planner.  But due to market conditions (the 2008-2012 economic collapse), I put those plans on hold and went into the residential mortgage finance industry instead.  I took the core principles I learned as I prepared to be a financial planner and applied them to mortgage and real estate.  I decided to go all-in on the mortgage industry with a mission to provide strong mortgage services and financial education to anyone who would listen... 

Those efforts paid off.  In 2018, the University of Washington recognized my leadership in the mortgage industry and invited me to join their staff as an affiliate professor in their school of real estate and school of business. I use my Instagram (@mymortgageguydan), Youtube channel, personal facebook and Happy Homeowner Podcast to help people get the most out of their mortgage, money, and mindset! I'd encourage you to follow me on each platform for up to the hour mortgage and market advice!

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Professional wisdom is valuable, but even more valuable (in my opinion) is professional experience.  I've been investing in real estate for 25 years, and I've invested heavily in the stock market for nearly 14 years, I've been in your shoes and I know one thing for sure: My experience, work ethic, and wisdom qualifies me to be your mortgage guy! 

My mission is your money. I am committed to seeing that you come out the other side of your mortgage in a better financial position as a result of our relationship!  My processing team and I will provide a "wow" (all about you) customized mortgage experience, whether you are a first-time home buyer, an investor, or buying a vacation home, and a big part of that process is planting the seeds of financial literacy wealth awareness so that you can save money, double your money and retire well-off!  

In closing, one of the things the separates me from others in my industry is our unique process that is designed to guide you to through one of the most stressful decisions you will ever make in life, and then once that job is complete, to be there to connect you to my professional resources along your journey of homeownership.  Often times, clients will say my professional network (relationships) is the most valuable aspect of our relationship!

 

I left an exciting a rewarding career as a college professor and college baseball coach in 2008 to pursue a career in mortgage and real estate finance.  Many told me it was not a smart move at the time, and that I'd struggle... I'm here to report that 18 years later, it's the best business decision I've ever made, and I'm excited for the next 18 years!