Hidden Gems: Meet Elijah Hernandez of All Western Mortgage

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elijah Hernandez.

Hi Elijah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My professional story is becoming a Mortgage loan officer, and I am today. I am sure Covid did many different things for people in other professions. We were all affected. I was going back to 2017. I joined a Fortune 500 company, G&K Services, and then Cintas. I was able to receive top-tier sales training to go into the field and territory to build relationships and keep up with appointments every week to provide solutions and close accounts with my services in uniform and facility services. I performed the job individually for about a year, then was moved into a position to assist drivers in growing their book of business with existing customers. I was a sales manager of 10 drivers on the east side of Maricopa County and Yuma. I moved onto a payroll company, Benefitmall, in 2019 to pursue a business where having referral partners is crucial to building your pipeline; excellent training in that role to become a sales rep who truly cares about their people and provides valuable information for educating partners and clients of our services. COVID hit, and ADP bought the payroll business from Beneftimall. They let go of all sales and operations of that payroll division. Luckily, I had lots of friends from all types of businesses. I was able to start a conversation with loanDepot and their Gilbert Branch. After being let go, I needed to start something where I could have my own business someday.

I have learned sales training and how to build relationships, but I am also very process-oriented and see the results in everything I do. I earned my license within 45 days of being let go and starting with loanDepot in Sept of 2020. We have learned how to sell and talk through situations with clients. We were completing 80-90 applications a month. Funding an average of 25 monthly loans with a team of 3 individuals, including me. I was able to jump into the Phoenix Branch and learn the operation side of loans. Onboard and train loan officers to run their business efficiently and overturn any objection to ensure the best outcome for all parties involved in a home loan transaction: the loan officer, realtor, and clients. Everyone wins when they buy a home for themselves: their primary or investment property. Learning and building upon my skillsets, I was trusted by a friend and partner in the business to start our branch with All Western Mortgage in May 2023. When everyone is scaling down during a difficult time with mortgages, we are building and earning market share with clients and partners and gaining trust from fellow loan officers to assist with their business and efforts to be the best version of themselves and for our market. We are licensed in many states with the loan officers on our team, but our office is in Phoenix. Now we are a team of 10 employees. We are providing education and classes through our physical location and social media. Our passion is with the five F’s: Faith, Fun, Family, Fitness, and Financials. These are all crucial to building a vision with our branch, partners, and reputation of those around us who are touched by how we work in mortgage and financial services.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all. The struggle is real: making sure we have enough business funneling through our office to keep revenue going. With mainstream media sharing awful, terrible news about home prices and home loans. Plus, there is the mentality of buyers not interested in a mortgage due to affordability. We always have an uphill battle to get the job done and bring the piece of mind that buying a home in any market benefits an individual. We love providing the right scenarios and education with everything we touch to put the client in the best position now and as we advance. As the industry shrinks, we compete with great people who have been in the business and have had to navigate these darker times. So competition is also at an all-time high, and we take on that challenge. We all know there is light at the end of the tunnel, and this industry ebbs and flows. So we cheer all those in the real estate business and can continue to provide the leading solution: real estate builds wealth. No matter what market anyone is in!

I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about All Western Mortgage?
As mortgage professionals, we are here to talk about home financing. Able to provide a presentation with visuals and details is the only one who can. Understanding the numbers ensures we put the clients in the best possible position to win the home they deserve. We educate real estate agents and provide a process to streamline buying a home. As discussed before, we are about giving the five F’s: Faith, Fun, Family, Fitness, and Financials. We will provide actual value if we touch any part of these and help build the people around us. We want to bring our office to the community by always giving from the heart and allowing a safe space for clients, partners, and loan officers to build for themselves.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is playing with all my friends in my neighborhood. There were always kids we could ride our bikes or walk to and start a game of basketball, football, or even wiffleball. Being in the suburbs of New York (Long Island), it was a true blessing to grow up in a home that allowed us to have friends and be with family and friends all the time. There is always a party or many people gathering to tackle the day and play. I want to carry this into what I do and provide a home and community where a family can enjoy their neighbors.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eli_theloanguy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elihernandez.AllWestern
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahhernandez/
• Other: https://hompwr.com/me/elihernandez