Rising Stars: Meet Denise McManus of Scottsdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise McManus.

Hi Denise, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My story is long and winding but one of pure grit and pivot. Everyone goes through transformations in life. I sometimes feel like I have had more opportunities, blessings, changes, and transformations than any dozen people combined!

I grew up on a small farm in a very small town in Michigan. Saying I was from a humble background is modest. We did not miss the material or basic things we did not have. I was far richer with an active, creative imagination born from the love of playing with my barbies and reading books.

I was a TV kid who knew every product jingle, the opening lyrics to every show, watched every game show and loved every character on TV. I had no choice but to have a career in TV!

I am not sure if it was Dick VanDyke who was the original Ad Man at an agency, Darren from Bewitch, who also worked at an agency, or Mary Tyler Moore spinning around in the city before she went into the newsroom that solidified my dreams of working in television and advertising.  While attending the University of Michigan, I started as a newspaper reporter, writing about local stories and school board meetings. I originally thought I wanted to be on TV as a news reporter, but on my first day of college and after meeting with my advisor, he suggested I “find a backup career.” He reasoned that it was a competitive field, but to the poor little girl who grew up on a farm, I heard him say I “was ugly, not smart enough, etc., etc. ” I cleared that out of my mind for years. However, I did go to work in TV, eventually at a very high level. For 20 years, I had an incredible career rising through the executive ranks in what was a very male-dominated environment and an environment where women were not nice to one another either. This career gave me a life I could have only imagined as a small child. Working in Chicago, NYC, Philadelphia, Dallas, and LA, the black tie events, the travel, and talking with celebrities in the elevator daily was normal. Of course, the financial rewards weren’t so bad either. But it was a superficial life. As much as I loved TV, I am not sure I was ever really happy. The constant pressure of ratings and revenue, not knowing who was going to try and torpedo me or who was really on my team was never ending.  I also made some great friends and had some beyond great times. 

But I made a choice. I choose to pivot. I decided to let it all go. It was scary. I wondered if I would have regrets in the future. I was tired of being bounced around and not being respected for my award-winning, profit-producing labors. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do when the last job ended but I knew I was happy to be home in Scottsdale with my family. 

I decided to become a mortgage loan officer. Maybe it doesn’t seem as sexy or glamourous as life on TV, but it is more substantive. I get to help people, individuals, and families, buy homes. First homes, move-up homes, vacation homes, investment homes. This is meaningful! This means something to my clients now and will forever affect their lives. I love the strategy and solutions for finding the right loan for each client. No two situations are the same. I love the impact I get to make in someone’s life and, ultimately, in the communities where we live. We are creating homeowners and neighbors.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh no! I probably didn’t give enough color on the previous question to the struggles, lol. Being a female executive in “Hollywood” amongst men and starting with no connections or money, I had to make it on my own, doing my job better than many of my male counterparts but then being fired for 1 bad quarter while my male counterparts hadn’t made a budget in years, many even had sexual harassment charges against them but they kept their jobs until they retired! Then there was the time I was hired as a President & General Manager of a TV Station, replacing a much older man, the company wanted to keep him on staff to avoid age discrimination lawsuit. This male employee was demoted 2 levels below me but kept his salary and was making more than me. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I do dreams and wealth building – I do mortgages!  Now I am known as “The Loan Whisperer!” I am a licensed loan officer in several states. I don’t believe in “One Size Fits All” Each person/family/investor has a different story and different need for financing. So even if people have been turned down by another bank or think they cannot get a home mortgage because they are self-employed, or have no way to document all of the income they make, I can usually find a solution.  Recently I was contacted by a large estate and probate attorney office that had questions regarding deeds and legal ownership.  I was able to help by providing a solution when no other banker they had contacted had any idea what to do.  This is how I got the nickname “The Loan Whisperer”.  I will find a way to get things done if it is doable.

What makes me different is:

– I don’t sell interest rates.  I build relationships.
– I ask questions about goals, dreams, and financial outcomes with each loan. From there, I offer a solution and a roadmap for the next step.
– I specialize in residential lending with investors, providing unconventional loan solutions when needed. I offer typical lending for families with spectacular service and extremely competitive options and I also do some commercial lending.
– I am most proud of the long-term relationships I have built with my clients. I love them all!

What does success mean to you?
From the day we are born, we change and transition physically, mentally, and emotionally. It is through embracing the entire journey of these changes and celebrating them, whether they are joyful or challenging, that we live life to its fullest. 

My best advice to anyone of any age is, “don’t be afraid of change in your life. It is how the journey unwinds that makes life interesting. Embrace it all.” When we are children, we are told that the world is ours to discover and make our own. It is a familiar parental refrain and one that is, at its core, true. However, as we get older, there begin to be restrictions placed on our freedom to choose and move through the world. For a long time, I always saw myself as the poor little farm girl playing with her barbies, uncertain and lacking self-confidence. I pushed myself to be uncomfortable in situations and life so that I could improve and do more.  I fully realized my gift of listening to people and developing custom solutions for their wealth goals through real estate. I began to understand that the knowledge and experiences I had gathered over all the years of living in different places and meeting diverse people were not only valuable to me but were allowing me to have a lasting impact on the lives of others. With my business acumen, creative strategies, and work ethic, I have funded over $55 million in mortgages in just 2 years!

Life is often so consumed with rushing around and worrying about things we cannot control, not allowing ourselves to be present at the moment, that our true selves can get lost in all the noise. My husband, Jeffrey, and 3 children, Reese, Luke, and Beau are great at making me step back, see what is important, and keeping it real with me at home. They love me unconditionally, and I am sure they love me even more now that I am more relaxed. Permit yourself to go for it, no matter the outcome. Be uncomfortable. You may not succeed, but failure is as much value as winning. What you choose to do with the failure gives you the courage to try again. Get uncomfortable and make a difference in your life while impacting those around you with your talents!

I owe so much to my husband, Jeff Sobotka, who stands with me and loves all of me every day. Success is happiness!

Contact Info:

• Website: mymtgexpert.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denise_mymortgageexpert/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_6oJtPnENjpqf_9ja9lUag
• Other: https://g.page/my-mortgage-expert?share