Employee Spotlight: Ryan Ivory

Ryan Ivory, Senior Loan Officer in our Charlotte, North Carolina office, is July’s Employee of the Month at NewFed Mortgage this year. We sat down with him to talk a bit about his transition from real estate to mortgage lending, his success here at NewFed, and some of the qualities that make him the perfect loan officer for homebuyers in his markets.   

How He Got Here

Right out of college, Ryan got a job with a large Real Estate services company that owns and franchises several real estate brands and brokerages. He spent 8 years there working with broker owners and agents across the country advising on how to utilize the corporate brand to generate more business and opportunities. Hoping to travel a little bit less as he and his wife welcomed two children, Ryan decided to leverage his Realtor relationships and become a loan officer in 2020. “It was a fun and crazy start. It was definitely a lot easier at 3% interest rates… but I’ve never really looked back. I thoroughly enjoy this,” shared Ryan. 

After connecting well with Brian (CEO of NewFed Mortgage) and recognizing how valuable the culture at NewFed was, Ryan joined our team in June of last year. “We have really great relationships with people here. My processors, my underwriters… they’re family. It’s a very collaborative environment here, where if I have a question or need help with something, there’s a plethora of people that I can reach out to. That’s really important to me.” 

Since joining us, Ryan has been among our top producers and is currently launching a special program for closing cost assistance in his market. “For being so new to the industry, what Ryan has accomplished is commendable. His work ethic is top-of-the-line, and he totally deserves this recognition,” adds his manager and VP Regional Sales Manager, Patrick Wheeler.

Ryan’s Favorite Success Story

A client was interested in buying a family member’s house but didn’t think he could afford the payment at the market’s high interest rate. Ryan was able to work with him and determine the best course of action. Utilizing a 3-2-1 buydown, the client was able to purchase the house at a much cheaper interest rate and close within 3 weeks.  

“He was so happy with the way we structured it, saving him so much money in the short term. He even said, ‘I never thought I would be able to buy a house in this market. You made it make sense to me and my family and we’re very grateful.’ Those are the most important relationships to me,” added Ryan. 

Ryan Behind the Scenes

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

I’m friendly, passionate, and – most importantly – competitive. 

What’s your personal mantra, and where did it come from?

“I’ve never had a bad day.” I think if you go into life with a positive attitude and remind yourself that life happens and you have to keep your chin up, you’ll be a much happier person. And I think that it will show through not only in your work but in your personal life too. 

What are your hobbies, talents and aspirations?

I’m an avid golfer. I love being active whether it’s running, playing sports or hanging out with the kids. I’m also a tee-ball coach, so I’d like to think one of my talents is extensive patience. Aspirations – phew – I just want to be the best father and best husband that I can be. Second to that, I want to be a good loan officer, a good steward of the company and continue to grow my business. 

What’s something we should know about you?

Most importantly, I’m a really good listener. And I think that relates well to the mortgage business. Listening is how you identify opportunities to help. It’s like doing a puzzle. Every client is going to be different, but your process will always remain the same. Listen to what they need and then find a way to help them. 

I grew up in Philadelphia, so I am a die-hard Philadelphia sports fan. Eagles, Sixers, Flyers, Phillies. Some call us crazy, I call us passionate. Sports have always been important to me and have played a big part in where I am today. I played Division I Lacrosse in college and I think that really taught me how to prioritize and stay organized in life in general. It’s carried over well for me in the mortgage business because I’m able to stay on top of everything that’s going on and tend to all my client’s needs. 

And I can’t miss the opportunity to talk about my family. My wife, Kelley, and I have a 5-year-old son named Oliver and a 3-year-old daughter named Emerson. They’re my ‘why’.