Business Partner Highlight: Lori Hines

Keith McKeever: All right, Lori, thanks for joining me today. Tell us a little bit about who who are you and how long you've been in the industry and what originally got you into lending?

Lori Hines: Okay, well my name is Lori Hines. I'm a senior mortgage banker with Flat Branch Home Loans. I've been in the financial business for about 27 years. I started working in mortgages, probably about 25 years ago. I started working for a small loan company with auto loans, personal loans, home equity loans, and then I went to work for someone in a in a mortgage company setting and absolutely loved it. So that's what started just working in a similar industry and meeting people and going into the role of being a loan officer and the mortgage business.

Keith McKeever: So you just found your perfect spot there!

Lori Hines: I did! I love it.

Keith McKeever: Everybody should be so lucky to find out where they feel like they belong.

Lori Hines: Right? Right. Yeah, even 25 years later, I still love it.

Keith McKeever: I know, you've been with a few different companies, because I've been in real estate for almost nine and a half 10 years now. But what company are you with now? And why did you choose that company to align with.

Lori Hines: So Flat Branch home loans is based out of Columbia, Missouri. And there were a small Midwestern mortgage company. So we have those Midwestern values and understand the different programs that fit in rural communities, and they also are a big supporter of communities. So Flat Branch offers community champions program that gives discounted closing costs to active duty military, police, fire, EMT, and all K through 12 school employees. So that was something that I loved that they give back to the community! And they also have a foundation that was started in 2019, called the Giving Branch Foundation. And that is a contribution of the career at about 80% of employees with a one that contribute 1% of our salary. And the company matches that. And that's given in donation by request to individuals in need and different organizations that are raising funds for different, you know, large organizations, small organizations, local charities, so we are able to give back to the community. And that was huge to me, I like the small company concept, because we are definitely in business to close mortgage loans and do a great service for our clients.

Keith McKeever: Makes a lot of sense how the giving branch would be created by you know, maybe because we're biased because we're from the Midwest. We're raised here in this area. But you know, I know one thing about your area, I say it all the time there is I've never been anywhere else where the people seem to care so much as they do in Peoria.

Lori Hines: They do.

Keith McKeever: And I think sometimes it's just kind of a Midwestern thing.

Lori Hines: It is.

Keith McKeever: Maybe not, Wisconsin, nice. I mean, here, they're super nice up there but

Lori Hines: We are still nice.

Keith McKeever: Take care of our communities, give back and, you know, for a company founded in the Midwest, that seems like the perfect fit to be able to do that! And being active around here and doing that, so that's awesome. So what areas in the mortgage side? What areas do you specialize the most in?

Lori Hines: You know, I really offer all services in mortgages and not really offer anything with new construction or like home equity loans. We specialize in first mortgages, Conventional FHA, USDA Rural Development, the rural areas that we were talking about, were actually Flat Branch was actually number one in Illinois, for originating Rural Development loans, and Missouri. The FHA loans are a product that we offer first time home buyer programs with low down payment options. We do offer down payment assistance grants that are provided by the state of Illinois and then the city of Peoria has a grant right now available to specific areas in Peoria. But, you know, I mean, I really specialize in all those programs. That's what we do. You know, that's we, we offer programs that we try to figure out how they fit best with our clients and figure out what our client's needs are and which program fits with them. And if you know it doesn't work for them and the initial application, you know, we try to work with them to guide them through the process. To become a homeowner, that might be my favorite part is when someone doesn't or thinks they can't. And then they can or they can't. And we help teach them what they need to do to become a homeowner. That might be the most gratifying part of the job I guess.

Keith McKeever: Couldn't agree more with that. There's nothing to talk. And if somebody says like, there's no way I can buy a house, right? I can afford it. Oh, my God, the loan process seems like it's so crazy, so ridiculous like, you know, then you start diving into it and you're like, wait you know you got a good job, you know you're saving, credit scores are pretty good! But you're looking for a house? Well, maybe not today here in the middle of 2022 where the inventory kind of sucks still, but like, you know there's a handful of houses that you might be a great fit for. And they just don't realize they just can't see that it's a real possibility!

Lori Hines: And isn't it great, though when when they do end up buying. They're so excited, and, you know, when you when you think you can't, and you do it's a it's a great, it's a great feeling helping people do that!

Keith McKeever: What's even better when they realize that their mortgage payments in almost any case I've ever seen is lower than their rent.

Lori Hines: Right? Right. No doubt.

Keith McKeever: Awesome. I'm saving $100 $200 $300 Whatever.

Lori Hines: No doubt, and you're in, you're in somewhat control of it. Because you know, with rising rents, and it that, that's something that you're not in control of as a versus a homeowner

Keith McKeever: You have very little control over your landlord sometimes. So what do you love? Well, and you kind of answered my next question here. What do you love the most? Is there anything else that you really love about being in this industry?

Lori Hines: Um, I mean, you know, it's, it's just great working with people, and you know, it's fun working through this process. And I know a lot of the mortgage process gets a bad rap. Sometimes people think that it's a, you know, not not a fun process to go through. And it can be a little bit, but we really, really, really try my team. And I really try to make it as easy and smooth as it can be. And kind of walk people through the process. And it's not quite as scary as it sounds. I know, I've had buyers say that at the end, like, Okay, that wasn't so bad. Wasn't as scary as we heard it was going to be.

Keith McKeever: That's like a fear of the unknown. Like, it's, you know, it's really not that bad. You need to do to get together. Yeah, it's awesome. Cool. You know, it's, it's not as bad as it could be for sure.

Lori Hines: It's a lot of paperwork. But you know, that's,

Keith McKeever: what if you don't know what to expect, right? That's where a lot of that feeds in for life. So, so outside of work, so what kind of hobbies or interests do you have, personally?

Lori Hines: Um, so you know, I have new grandchildren! So that consumes a lot of my time. And during COVID I will I always golfed a little but during COVID. That was what we could do.

Keith McKeever: Outside and safe. Right?

Lori Hines: Yeah, we've been golf so. So that's been a been a big hobby. I'm not sure I'm the best golfer but I like to do I like to golf. And yeah, that's kind of what yeah,

Keith McKeever: It's just fun to drink a couple beers!

Lori Hines: Yeah, and chase the ball around!, And trying to play an add up all my strokes.

Keith McKeever: You chase them up in tall grass. So

Lori Hines: Yeah, that's true. That's true. That's a good point. Yeah. Yeah, I have to use my math skills with adding up my strokes as much as I do.

Keith McKeever: Well, six, about six hits, I think.

Keith McKeever: So somebody would like to get a hold of you, and start the mortgage process or learn a little bit more about mortgages? What's what's the best way for somebody to get a hold of you?

Lori Hines: So you're at my website? Going by the websites a great way to go on and apply to get the process started. Or I'm available by text or email, my phone number is 309-696-3329. That's, you know, it's, you can contact me anytime really? Within reason, I might not answer at 3am but.

Keith McKeever: I want to answer at 3am. Yeah. But you are really good at answering and that's one of the reasons why I wanted to interview on here. Just, you know, you're one of my valued and trusted partners. You had been for many years. And you know, I wanted to let the world the rest of the world know who Lori Hines is.

Lori Hines: And I appreciate that.

Keith McKeever: So I appreciate you coming on here and sharing with us.