From Failed Test to Top 1% Mortgage Lender | DeAnn Ellis | Do The Did

DeAnn Ellis failed the test that started her career. Today she's a top 1% mortgage lender in the nation. This is her mortgage lender success story, and how she did it. DeAnn started as a Bank of America teller right out of high school in 1992. She didn't go to college, called herself a horrible math student, and failed the lender exam her first time. Instead of accepting that door was closed, she asked for another shot and passed by two points. From there she took a leap to a 100% commission mortgage job, learned the business by hand with a clipboard and pencil, and built a top-producing team while raising two daughters as a single mom. Then 2008 hit. Investors closed overnight, her biggest builder shut its doors, and she had to let her team go. Weeks later her daughter was in a near-fatal accident. DeAnn almost walked away from the business entirely. What brought her back was one lunch meeting, one bold ask, and about $7 million in loans other lenders had turned down. In this episode we talk about: Why one no doesn't have to be the final answer What it really takes to build a career on 100% commission How "be slow to say no" became her team's competitive edge Why waiting on interest rates could cost you, and how seller and builder contributions work in your favor Why she wants to be "the Chick-fil-A of the mortgage business" Why she still has coaches after more than a decade at the top About DeAnn: DeAnn Ellis Davidson is a Senior Mortgage Consultant who leads the Ellis Funding Team at Element Home Loans (NMLS 148916). Her team has ranked in the top 1% in the nation for mortgage origination for over a decade and is licensed in seven states. Connect with DeAnn Ellis: https://poplme.co/hash/ze6RLr8L/1/share If this episode encouraged you, follow Do The Did, leave us a review, and send it to someone who's sitting on a no right now. Go out and do that.