Today we’d like to introduce you to Khalia Cross.
Hi Khalia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When most people think of mortgages, they think of paperwork, rates, and stress.
When I think of mortgages, I think of power.
I’m Khalia Cross, but most people know me as The MoneyGirl®️Lender, a mortgage advisor, financial strategist, and founder of the MoneyGirl® ecosystem. My work sits at the intersection of finance, empowerment, and legacy, helping people fund their vision, build wealth through real estate, and ultimately, Own It.
But my story didn’t start with business success or brand strategy. It started with family, lessons, and a legacy I refused to let slip away.
The Lesson That Changed Everything
My love for real estate and lending isn’t just business, it’s deeply personal. My father was a loan officer, and my parents were young when they bought our first family home and several multi-unit properties. They were ambitious and full of vision, but without proper guidance, those properties were mismanaged and eventually lost.
Today, those same properties would be worth millions. Watching that happen as a child left a mark on me. It taught me two things: the power of real estate, and the cost of not managing it wisely.
That experience became my “why.” I knew I wanted to master the financial systems that often leave families like mine behind, and teach others how to win at the same game.
From Corporate Boardrooms to Building My Own Table
I spent over 20 years in corporate America, working in banking, wealth management, operational risk, and executive leadership. I learned how money moves, how credit builds power, and how systems are designed. But after two decades, I realized something: I didn’t want to just work within those systems. I wanted to change them.
So, I left my corporate dream job in New York City and started over, this time on my own terms.
Using the business credit I’d strategically built, I purchased my first two properties. Those investments became the foundation of everything I teach today: that credit, when used wisely, isn’t just leverage, it’s freedom.
That moment changed my life. It was the first time I truly understood what it meant to Own It.
Turning Real Estate Into Family Legacy
When my brother began investing in real estate, I stepped in to help him manage his portfolio. Together, we transformed several of his properties into profitable Airbnbs. That consistent real estate income gave him the capital he needed to open his first car dealership.
Fast forward to today, he owns three dealerships, providing jobs for our entire family.
That’s what wealth looks like to me. It’s not just about how much money you make; it’s about how many doors you open for others.
The Birth of the MoneyGirl® Movement
I created MoneyGirl® Lender not just as a mortgage brokerage, but as a luxury experience where strategy meets style. My goal was to transform the lending process into something empowering, elegant, and personal.
My clients, whether first-time buyers, seasoned investors, or veterans using VA loans, don’t just get loans. They get strategy. They get a plan. They get a partner who truly sees them.
From there, I expanded the brand into a full ecosystem:
MoneyGirl® Freedom helps entrepreneurs access business funding, repair their credit, and build new income streams.
MoneyGirlFoundation.org and The Ownership Era mentor both high school students and real estate investors, teaching that financial literacy should be passed down like heirlooms.
This isn’t just business for me, it’s purpose.
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?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, in fact, it’s been anything.
But when I left the corporate world in America, I thought I was walking straight into freedom. What I didn’t realize was that freedom comes with a price, one that requires faith, discipline, and a kind of resilience you can’t learn from a book.
Then COVID hit. Everything stopped, but my responsibilities didn’t. I had just purchased my property in Harlem using business funding, and what was supposed to be a quick rehab turned into a 12-month nightmare. Labor costs went up. Material prices doubled. Contractors disappeared. The budget I started with barely scratched the surface by the time it was done.
Because I had used business credit to buy the property and didn’t refinance right away, my credit took a major hit. I ruined it, honestly. I couldn’t refinance. I couldn’t access new capital. For a moment, it felt like everything I’d built was collapsing.
Over the next four years, I worked relentlessly to rebuild, and I paid off $200K worth of debt. I did it slowly, piece by piece, without shortcuts or handouts. There were moments when I had plenty of money and moments when I had absolutely nothing. I deleted my investment accounts, emptied my savings, even touched my 401(k). There were nights I cried, days I doubted myself, and weeks when I questioned if I should just go back to my corporate job.
To keep things afloat, I picked up weekend shifts at a restaurant. On Saturday nights, I’d be serving tables and smiling at customers, and by Monday morning, I was back in my office, helping clients close on their dream homes. It was humbling, but it kept me grounded and reminded me that perseverance isn’t always glamorous, sometimes it’s just deciding to keep showing up.
I’ve had seasons where I felt unstoppable and seasons where I felt like I was starting from zero again. But through it all, I never lost sight of my vision. I’m still rebuilding, but this time, I’m doing it with intention, wisdom, and purpose.
I may not have everything yet, but I have what matters most: a vision, faith, and an unshakable determination to become financially free. And that’s exactly what keeps me going.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At its core, MoneyGirl® Lender isn’t just a mortgage brand, it’s a movement.
I created MoneyGirl® Lender to transform how people experience lending, credit, and financial freedom. We’re not just helping clients get approved for mortgages; we’re helping them create strategy, stability, and long-term wealth. My mission is to make homeownership and business funding feel approachable, elevated, and empowering, because finance should never feel intimidating or out of reach.
I specialize in residential and investment financing, VA and FHA loans, business credit, and strategic funding, but what truly sets me apart is how I approach the process. I combine two decades of corporate experience in banking, wealth management, and executive leadership with a deep understanding of lifestyle and mindset. My clients don’t just get loans, they get a plan, a partner, and a vision.
I’m most proud of how my brand bridges expertise and elegance. MoneyGirl® Lender represents a new era in finance, one where clients feel seen, supported, and inspired. Whether I’m helping a first-time buyer, an investor, or a veteran, my goal is to make sure they walk away not just with keys in hand, but with confidence in their financial future.
But the MoneyGirl® ecosystem doesn’t stop there. I expanded into:
MoneyGirl® Freedom —helping entrepreneurs access business funding, restore their credit, and create new income streams.
MoneyGirl® Foundation — a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring students and real estate investors through The Ownership Era, a campaign built on financial literacy and generational wealth.
What sets MoneyGirl® apart is the personal touch. I know what it feels like to build from the ground up, to start over, rebuild credit, and fight for financial freedom. That’s why my clients trust me, because I don’t just teach the journey, I’ve lived it.
At MoneyGirl® Lender, we don’t just close deals, we open doors.
We don’t just talk about ownership, we embody it.
And every client we serve walks away empowered to Own It. 💎
How do you think about luck?
I’ve had seasons that felt like pure grace and others that tested everything in me. But the older I get, the more I realize that “luck” isn’t random.
My older brother once told me, “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” That stuck with me. It reminded me that even in my hardest seasons, I was being prepared for something greater.
There were times when it felt like bad luck, like when I bought my Harlem property right before COVID hit. The rehab stretched over 12 months, costs skyrocketed, and my credit took a huge hit. I lost savings, I emptied my 401(k), and I started over from zero. But what I once saw as bad luck was really divine alignment. It built my resilience, sharpened my discipline, and taught me how to turn struggle into strategy.
And then there’s the good luck, the kind that money can’t buy. My family is my luck. They’re my grounding force, supportive, encouraging, nonjudgmental, and full of love. My brother, who turned real estate into three car dealerships, showed me what’s possible when faith meets focus. My family’s belief in me kept me going when I didn’t have much else left to give.
So yes, I’ve had luck, but it looks a lot like preparation, prayer, and people who refuse to let me quit.
Because in my world, luck doesn’t just happen.
It’s created, through vision, persistence, and love. 💎
Pricing:
- • Business Funding — secure 0% interest capital to grow your brand.
- • Credit Repair — rebuild, restore, and reclaim your financial confidence.
- • The MoneyGirl Method™ — personalized financial coaching designed to help you create lasting wealth.
- • Use code MONEYGIRLFREEDOM for 10% off your first service.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://moneygirllender.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/moneygirllender
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneygirllender
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khaliacross/
- Twitter: https://x.com/moneygirllender?s=21&t=dN6qIrBmK1IKeUaGcF2cNg
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoneyGirl.Lender
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/money-girl-lender-east-point?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=%28direct%29
