Today we’d like to introduce you to Mitch Dean.
Hi Mitch, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
My interest in running a business started when I was in JR High in West Wendover, NV. I had a couple of friends and teachers who encouraged me to join the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) club. This was the start of a vision. My parents encouraged me to do good in school and were a huge support. I know a lot of the people I grew up around did not have the same type of support I did. I grew a desire to start a company, my dad often told me to become a dentist or doctor. I just wasn’t sure what I wanted to do.
My early experiences allowed me to learn to lead. I was very successful in high school and usually carried a job through high school. I even had the opportunity to be the quarterback for a state championship team. I pushed my teammates through drills and exercises trying to get better at the small things, I know it drove them nuts, but we earned each other’s respect and gained confidence through that season and a ring. I hate to lose.
Shortly after, I had back problems which resulted in a back surgery. I was even working graveyard shifts as I finished up my Senior year as my dad was laid off and I was trying to find ways to help my family. I felt old enough to support myself so I tried to do that as much as I could. Back surgery was hard for me to digest as I hoped to play ball at the next level and was told my back would only get worse if I continued to be as active as I was.
I coped with it and decided that God had other plans for me. I served a religious mission for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for a couple of years in Alberta Canada, where I served with Latinos and even learned to speak Spanish. I got back and didn’t know what I was going to do. I wanted to find something to do on my own but, life happens and I got busy and was scared to open something on my own and was not sure what type of business I wanted to go into.
I worked 3 jobs (substitute teaching, customer service rep at a casino, and working for the recreation district) at the same time for about 6 months, clocking in over 90 hours a week, trying to save money to go to college. There were times when I would sleep for a couple of hours in between jobs for days. I went to Weber State University where I earned a degree and licensure for secondary education in Physical Education and Spanish.
I worked a full-time job during this time where I led the company of over 40 stores in stats for a couple of years. I saved enough PTO to complete my student teaching for a semester so I didn’t have to work my 40 hours on top of everything else. I also married my wonderful wife and we had a little girl before I graduated from college. I always felt like I was good with numbers though. There were times when I tried to get promoted or find another job and I was being turned down. al network was weak as I wasn’t from the Ogden area and I was too busy with school and work and it turned out to be a very difficult time.
I was getting interviews for teaching jobs, but the local jobs available were few and very competitive at the time. I often found other applicants had personal relationships with interviewers and it was very discouraging. I had a friend who I met while serving in Alberta who had opened up his own little mortgage company and he tried to get me to work with him for years. I finally gave him a call and started working on getting the licensing and learning the industry. It was very rough startout. My father has also passed from a long battle with several medical issues, but cancer is what eventually took him away.
The first winter I was so slow that I started working on residential construction for several months until I could pick up mortgages again. I started to think about becoming a builder as I gained more experience. I would work for a couple of hours in the early morning with one company and then would work for another company for the remainder of the day. We had another baby, a boy this time, so we had two tiny kids at this point and there were times when I wasn’t sure if we were going to be able to keep our home.
As I continued construction, I found myself in the mornings with swollen hands and I couldn’t move my hands much for about a half hour because of arthritis. Times wely tough for us and it was hard to see the light. We always somehow found a way to pay our bills though. It wly tough getting started. Eventually, I was able to slowly get my feet in the door with a few people and grew my network, and started to get some referrals which changed everything for me and my family at the time. I am in business because of my clients. They see how I communicate and how I place their best interests first and are willing to share their experience with others. I grew my clientele for several years and I worked for a good company.
However, things started to change at the company I was with as the main owners I had worked with had sold out the majority of their shares and I did not feel like it was a great fit. So after about 10 years in the mortgage industry, I decided it was time for me to try and improve my value to my clients and I started my own company called Grizz’s Home Loans. Grizz was a childhood nickname and I knew it would be unique to the mortgage industry.
My goal is to be more personable and authentic with my clients, so I felt the name would show a little bit of who I am. I started during a time when many were shutting down and I knew the economy was going to be a challenge, but I feel confident in what I have to offer so as the word gets out, I feel I will be able to grow.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oh man, there have been so many obstacles and struggles I can’t even remember them all. I have found that growing up in a small town outside of my service area has made things difficult. I deal with what will likely be the biggest purchase anyone will make and trust is a huge factor, even more so than the costs.
So trying to develop my network has been tough and slow. The current market is tough. There has been an increase in licensees who started because the market was good over the last couple of years and that has resulted in some heavier saturation, but many of those did not have experience in having ly work for and earn deals like others did in the past. Higher rates have slowed down refinances and purchases.
Builders having a preferred lender has been a challenge as many people are building in Utah right now. They advertise good things, but most of the time it is not as good as it seems. If a preferred lender charges thousands of dollars more, then are they giving a great lender credit?
Licensing in each state is different so that has been a challenge to get licensed in other states. I’m licensed in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming and they all have their own little rules. Not having massive marketing dollars presents a challenge too.
It’s slower to get the word out there on what I can do. There are always doubts when starting an adventure like this, but the trick is to kick those doubts out of your mind and push forward even when it doesn’t feel like there’s hope and tell yourself you got this!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I specialize in residential mortgages. I am a mortgage broker, which means I can shop and work with multiple wholesale lenders and banks on your behalf for no extra charge. I save people thousands of dollars on their home loans. I have very little overhead expenses as I am home based and this allows me to pass on those savings to my clients.
I often see my clients saving thousands of dollars upfront and getting a lower payment compared to the quotes that they show me. I don’t like to play games back and forth so I have set my compensation very low. I am frequently closing loans within a couple of weeks. Mortgage companies are not all the same in costs or processes. Banks, Credit Unions, and Retail lenders often are higher priced. I have over a decade of mortgage origination experience. I know the business and guidelines in the mortgage. I am doing loans when banks and credit unions are denying the same person and I’m seeing my costs substantially lower.
I know every aspect of my business which helps a file to be completed in a more timely manner. I work with you peroughout the transaction and do not pass you on to a processor. I’m known for a high-quality personal experience and a low-cost mortgage that is fast and simple. I educate my clients on their options and the process. Saving money on your mortgage starts with a quote from me. I’m licensed in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I loved sports, especially football and basketball. I spent a fair share of time on the golf course too. I hate losing. I’m very competitive. I liked to make others laugh but felt a sense of time and place. I love to fish and hunt and get outdoors. I felt I was picked on a little bit (perhaps every kid feels this way) until I learned to stick up for myself.
This taught me to stick up for others and I did as I got older. I worked quite a bit and I enjoyed leading when I could. I liked the responsibility and challenge of creating something good and was determined to learn from my mistakes when I failed.
I was very conscious about money and budgeting. I loved to swim and work at the pool as a lifeguard during the summers. I was a boy scout and received the Eagle Award. I was a pretty good kid and tried to stay out of trouble. Sports and the outdoors usually kept me pretty busy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.grizzshomeloans.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grizzshomeloans/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grizzshomeloans
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchell-dean-a2531a82/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf3tcTo_8OCExzhiyhNwBtA?app=desktop
