Growing up in New York, meeting new people and establishing strong relationships has always been a passion of mine. The Financial Industry can be rather intimidating at times, however persistence and knowledge have been 2 key factors in my success for almost 10 years. Lending is a very interesting business with the ever changing market and challenges it entails. Many times a challenge may deter a professional from exploring the possibilities; however the reward after the struggle is one of the most gratifying. To have the ability to sit in a conference room,at a kitchen table, or at times an empty home on a folding chair with a hard working family signing their names on a hand full of documents to purchase their first home had an impact on me from the first closing. This continues to be the number 1 reason for staying in an industry that many thought was incapable of surviving such a rigorous downswing. Proof that with the right intentions, hard work and dedication bridges the gap between a dream and reality.My journey started in a small Broker Office as a "trainee" working with 10 correspondent lenders and "cold calling" 300+ potential homeowners daily. I had the opportunity of meeting some of the most successful names in the industry and listened and retained as much information as humanly possible, after all - knowledge is power. Almost a decade later I am working for one of the leaders in the Lending Industry Intercontinental Capital Group. Patience, guidance and resilience has led me to ICG and continues to provide all of the many needed tools to create a seamless process for my borrowers. jaustin@icghome.com