Today we’d like to introduce you to Ian Smith.
Hi Ian, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I entered this industry in August of 1997 by a colleague of mine. We previously sold Timeshare in the Pocono Mountains. He was worked for a small Mortgage company in Lake Success NY. He invited me to come by his office and do some shadowing to see if I would like it. As fate would have it, it turned out that I liked it quite a bit, now 27 years in. Approximately six years in the industry I was fortunate enough to open my own office with my colleague working with me assisting in growing the business where we had a fair amount of success.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Yes-there were physical obstacles, I had major health issues that were very challenging. These obstacles that were seemingly and impedingly stacked against medically appeared insurmountable. There was a plethora of health concerns with a number of qualifying diagnoses, but there was no actual diagnosis for almost 5 years. With my failing health I was no longer able to work because I was physically incapable of working. This health debacle started in 2010, maybe earlier, but there was no true diagnosis until February 2014. I was diagnosed with late-stage cancer on February 4th, 2014, 5 days prior to my 45th birthday. Prognosis was not good; however, a miracle was on the horizon that no one saw coming. I could get into the intricate details, but I will spare the reader the long soliloquy of the ordeal, to make the as abbreviated as possible. God supernaturally healed me. This is documented and is irrefutable, and for that I am eternally grateful.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a mortgage banker by profession and have been for the past 27 years. I have been fortunate enough to work with some incredible people both from the standpoint of the companies I have represented and the Builder/Realtor relationships I have fostered through the years. I have been able to help quite a number of families become homeowners and as a result I have been able to have a very fruitful career. Beyond the money I made in this industry, the relationships that I have cultivated has been so rewarding. To come back from stage IV cancer and coming back to an industry that I love, it changed me, I saw people differently, I processed the work I do differently, this was no longer about a paycheck, but how much I can make a difference in another human being’s life. This became more of a passionate purpose that it is a job or my career. I can truly express this truth, helping people becoming homeowners is a very gratifying feeling.
My job is lending qualified borrowers’ money to purchase or build a home. If for some reason a particular prospect is not creditworthy after pulling credit or income is not sufficient., I give that prospect a road map on how to get there. My specialty I would say is construction to perm loan if I had to pick one, just seeing someone finding a plot of land and he or she along with an Architect lay out a vision of what the homeowner has in mind, taking it from off the pages of the paper and the end result is they are now living in the picture of what was in their mind, then to paper then on to practicality.
I am known for getting the job done and genuinely caring about what I do and the people I I have been fortunate to help. Making money is cool, changing peoples’ lives is priceless. Generally speaking, I do not like to use the word proud, I would say what is it that I am most grateful for. What I am most grateful for is the opportunity to serve. The opportunity to serve the community in which I work which spans a broad geographic footprint, beyond the state of GA. I am grateful for that. Beyond that though, beyond that I am grateful to be a husband and a father of four beautiful adult children. My relationship with God and the wife and children I have been blessed with is the hallmark of my life.
I believe what set’s me apart from others is my willingness to go the extra mile and to get the job done for some individuals who felt that their hope was dashed.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Like: Atlanta is such a beautiful city, there is much to like about Atlanta. The weather comes to mind, me being from the North and have endured much cold weather. Atlanta truly gives you a little bit of everything. I would be remised If I didn’t mention the, I love the opportunities that are available here, the culture, and the people, the locals that I have met have been just amazing.
Dislike: The first thing that comes to mind is the traffic, the worst thing that comes to mind is the crime the third thing is the exponential growth from a populus standpoint.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.amerisbank.com/iansmith
- Instagram: iansmith5807
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-smith-1689a13b
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