Jeff Rickard

Mission Statment

1760MortgageGuide.com is a place to educate, share, contemplate and vent on issues in the mortgage business, as well as keeping an eye on real estate and the best ways of selling and buying a home. This site will serve two masters, the mortgage-real estate client and our Realtor partners. We will also share random thoughts on why Colorado is a great place to live.

If you have any questions or suggestions to enhance the site please let us know by submitting a tip.

Jeff Rickard - Publisher/Editor

I am a loan officer and manager at Universal Lending Corporation in Denver, Colorado with 10 years experience. I grew up in Chicago but after graduating from the University of Colorado in Boulder I knew I had found my home.

I came into the industry as an assistant on my wife’s very successful mortgage team and soon found my own way. One of my strengths has always been to explain and teach the mortgage process in simple, understandable terms. A strength that I hope to bring to 1760mortgageguide.com. Along with the urge to teach I have an urge to expose B.S. Unfortunately, the mortgage industry has not set a high standard for professionalism so I do have my “rants” from time to time. I will offer insights, in my humble opinion, on ways the mortgage industry tries to take advantage of the public and ways you can be better prepared.

In a more positive vane, I love looking at the future of the mortgage and real estate industry and trying to figure out how to facilitate that future for my clients, my business partners and myself. Since this is my personal blog I do reserve the right to share any thoughts on what is in my head. Golf posts always receive a respectful golf clap.

Pet Peeves:

• Idiots on the radio that offer 30 year fixed mortgages for 2%!
• Guys with a 16 handicap that shoot 71 on the last day of a tournament!
• Stay tuned, this list will grow!

You can contact me at jrickard@ulc.com or 303-905-8280

Debra Rickard - Contributor

I have been in the mortgage business for over 20 years and before that I was a Realtor. I feel that the experience I had as a Realtor, 8 years by the way, gives me an insight into both sides of the business and helps me appreciate the challenges that my realtor partners face.

I am not like Jeff, I am not a writer but I love sharing ideas and passing on information that I find interesting. My contribution to 1760MortgageGuide.com will mostly be distributing facts and news that I think you will find helpful and informative. I do reserve the right to give a woman’s point of view from time to time and to keep Jeff on the right track. I am ying to Jeff’s yang. I am about the details and exhaustive follow up.

There have been stories told to me to describe two types of sales people: one is a fireman and the other is a fire preventer. A fireman makes his sales and when a fire, or problem, occurs, he swoops in and “puts the fire out”, the other does everything in their power to prevent a fire. All the “i’s” dotted and the “t’s” crossed. I am Smokey Bear - you can be sure that I will be in my office in the evening working on your file or project while you are enjoying your family because I am a slave to detail and because I love my work.

Pet Peeves:

• I like people and underwriters with common sense, not always as easy to find as you might think.
• I really do not like red tape and the corporate excuse that it takes a long time to turn a big ship.

You can contact me at drickard@ulc.com or 303-903-3709

Patrick Hester - Contributor (Technology)

Born in Chicago and raised in California, I moved to Colorado in 2003 and haven’t looked back.

I’ve had a lot of different job titles throughout the years, but I’ve always chosen jobs that allowed me to embrace new and emerging technologies. I love to play with how technology can be applied to my own work and the internet is a wonderful playground that is constantly changing and evolving as new people come to the sandbox with bigger and better ideas and concepts.

I believe that technology is a tool like any other and all you have to do is gain a little understanding in order to be able to apply it correctly. Hopefully I’ll be able to help you gain that understanding so you can apply technology in your own life without feeling overwhelmed by it.

A web developer, writer and blogger (All Things From My Brain), I am currently the Marketing Director for Universal Lending Corp and will be providing a technical voice here at 1760MortgageGuide. I’m not the golfer that Jeff and Debra are, but I enjoy music, playing blues guitar and gaming.

Pet Peeves:

• Fries (exception: Curly Fries)
• Microsoft Products
• DRM Software

Jim Kaiser - Guest Contributor (Advantage Credit)

Director of Sales & Marketing 303-952-7535 jim@advcredit.com Jim has over 25 years experience in sales and marketing, including 9 years in the banking and mortgage industry. He previously worked as a commercial loan analyst and a loan officer. Jim has been with Advantage Credit, www.advcredit.com, since 2005. Jim brings considerable experience in working directly with residential and commercial borrowers.

Pet Peeves:

• People that don’t take the time to listen to others, but can’t wait to say something.

Mindy Leisure - Guest Contributor (Advantage Credit)

Director of Business Development / Rescore Express Specialist. Mindy has over 21 years experience in the real estate, property management and mortgage industry. She previously worked as a processor and a loan officer. Mindy has been with Advantage Credit since its inception in 1993. Mindy brings considerable experience in educating brokers and borrowers on credit scoring and enhancing credit profiles.

Phone: 303-952-7541

Email: mindy@advcredit.com

Paulette Wisch - Guest Contributor

Reverse Mortgage Manager - Universal Lending

Paulette Wisch has worked in the reverse mortgage industry since 1989 and been in mortgage banking since 1972. She is a nationally recognized expert in reverse mortgages and has been involved in all aspects of the industry. She was instrumental in working with FHA to bring their program to market and managed Colorado’s reverse mortgage pilot program for FHA in 1989. She has traveled nationally educating consumers, lenders and business leaders about reverse mortgage products. Paulette has helped over 1,500 seniors achieve financial security and independence by putting their home equity to work with a reverse mortgage.

Phone:303-759-7354

E-mail:pwisch@ulc.com

Matt George - Guest Contributor (Eagle Appraisals)

Matt George, SRA has been in the appraisal business since 1974 (over 30 years) and is an active member of the Appraisal Institute (Vice President Colorado Chapter 2007). He is a Certified Residential Appraiser in the State of Colorado. He has served on numerous committees and boards including the Appraisal Institute’s Leadership Development Council, Board of Directors with the Colorado Chapter of the Appraisal Institute, and has been a Regional Representative with AI. In addition, Matt has been quoted in the Rocky Mountain News and has been interviewed as an expert on CBS Channel 4 News.

Eagle Appraisals has appraised over $1 billion worth of real estate and is one of the top residential appraisal companies in the front range.

Phone: 720-530-0007

E mail: mgsra@comcast.net

Mark Eskanos - Guest Contributor (Realtor)

I am a Denverite, a 3rd generationDenverite!

I purchased my first home in suburban Denver in 1972. After a couple of years in the “burbs” I listed my home for sale. Six months later my home wasn’t sold and I became a licensed Colorado real estate salesman! Residential real estate became my passion. I loved it and still do!

Now, back to Denver. I know Denver inside and out, old and new, fascinated and sometimes frustrated with the change and the growth of the Mile High City, no matter, I love Denver. No one knows Denver like Esky Knows!

So where did this Eskything come from? Growing up with my 2 brothers, everyone had a nick name. Our friends called us the Esky brothers and so Esky Knows is my brand name!

Since 1974, as a Colorado Real Estate Broker, my team has sold enough homes to fill an entire subdivision! The leading edge of real estate expertise and client service is our post. My wife Gayle, joined me in the real estate business 11 years ago. She is a real people person. Gayle and I, together with our incredible assistant Kelli, and a remarkable group of industry professionals, serve our clients and share our love for Metro-Denver real estate and Denver. We work exclusively by referral.

Phone: 303-368-0498

Email: mark@eskyknows.com

Beau LaPoint - Guest Contributer (Title Representative)

Beau LaPoint is a Title Consultant for Chicago Title, the nation’s largest title company. His tenure in the title industry began in 2000, with previous professional experience in the real estate related industry starting in 1992. Beau’s prior professional experience includes working as a Senior Consultant Supervisor for RSM McGladdery, one of the nation’s largest accounting and consulting firms, in their banking law and regulations department. He also has served as a bank Vice President and Branch Manager for a national finance company. Beau earned his B.A. with double majors in Marketing and Management from Chadron State College, Chadron, NE. Beau has been married to his wife Denise since 1990, and they enjoy their two children, Rachel and Nathanael.

Phone: 303-941-3600

Email: Beaulapoint@ctt.com

Trackback URI |