Today we’d like to introduce you to Pauline Harris.
Hi Pauline, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I entered the mortgage industry in 2004, just two years after the Georgia Fair Lending Act was passed. At the time, I was a young mother of two and a former entrepreneur who had always worked in service-driven roles since the age of 15. I never expected my empathy for others to become a true calling for advocacy.
Joining the profession during the aftermath of the predatory-lending crisis was eye-opening. Seeing how minorities and seniors were targeted and financially harmed revealed to me how discrimination directly widens the wealth gap in America. From that moment, I made it my mission to ensure that everyone has a fair and dignified path to homeownership, regardless of background.
I immersed myself in mortgage-agency guidelines, using that knowledge to challenge underwriting stigmas and unconscious bias. Minority representation in lending was way more scarce back then, so I was proud to become a voice for the voiceless.
As my experience grew, so did my reach. My reputation for getting complex deals closed expanded beyond community lines, and I became a preferred loan officer for national and local homebuilders, luxury realtors, and high-net-worth clients, including celebrities and athletes who are often surprisingly underserved.
Originating loans remains a labor of love. My family values guide every relationship – from the client at the closing table to the builder, realtor, and wholesale partner behind the scenes. I win when everyone wins and that philosophy continues to be the heartbeat of my work.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. My journey has been unique because I’ve always approached this business from a place of purpose rather than profit. Not all loan officers share the same passion or see their role as an opportunity to advocate for others—but that’s always been my “why.”
In the beginning, I was the loan officer who took on the files that others wouldn’t touch. I still remember being told by my managers, “You need to find a different clientele base.” What they didn’t understand was—I was my clients. These were my people, my community, and they sought me out because they knew I would fight for them when others wouldn’t.
The work was hard, and many of those loans were incredibly complex. I remember earning President’s Club status one year and realizing that I had closed the same volume as a sales manager who did it with half as many loans. That meant I worked twice as hard to achieve the same production, but I wore that as a badge of honor.
Of course, success came with sacrifice. I worked long hours and missed precious moments with my family and friends that I can’t get back. I’ve often reflected on whether the trade-off was worth it. But at the end of the day, knowing that I helped families secure homes and changed lives in the process reminds me that every late night, every challenge, and every “no” that I turned into a “yes” was part of a bigger purpose.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
NEXA Mortgage, LLC is the largest mortgage brokerage in the nation, with access to over 270 wholesale lenders. This gives our clients the distinct advantage of having more loan options than any other mortgage company in the United States, ensuring that we can match every financial scenario with the perfect lending solution. Within that platform, I created The Signature Platinum Lending Team, powered by NEXA Mortgage, LLC, to bring a more curated, concierge-level approach to lending. We’re the go-to team for every real estate dream imaginable – from first-time homebuyers purchasing their very first property to seasoned investors funding multi-million-dollar resorts, developments, and luxury estates.
What sets us apart is our depth of knowledge, creative structuring, and our refusal to accept “no” for an answer. We specialize in complex, high-value transactions that many lenders consider impossible. Our team’s expertise, resources, and relationships allow us to deliver elite-level results with integrity, precision, and speed. At Signature Platinum, we are the lending team without limits driven by passion, powered by innovation, and built on trust.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I was born in Gary, Indiana, and we lived right along the shore of Lake Michigan. My favorite childhood memory is spending long summer days at the beach, running barefoot in the sand, feeling the breeze off the water, and playing until the sun started to set. I never got tired of it. It was my first taste of freedom and peace, and I think that love for open space and possibility has stayed with me ever since.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.SignaturePlatinumTeam.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atlmortgagequeen/#
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulineMHarrisNMLS239482/
Image Credits
Luxury Home Photo: Photo courtesy of Brandi Hunter-Lewis / Compass Real Estate — via brandihunter.com
