With 30 years of experience in real estate management and 20 years of doing mortgages full-time, Douglas C. Rice of Fidelity First Home Mortgage understands his business inside and out. He strives to ensure that his customers understand the entire mortgage transaction too. “I want them to feel comfortable every step of the way,” said Rice. “From the time of first contact, at the point of application, and before and after closing.”
With a good bit of his business coming from referrals, his strategy is working.
“Whether it’s helping our military personnel purchase a home or refinance, I always enjoy finding the best program to suit their financial needs,” Douglas said. “In the last 48 months, we have seen tremendous turmoil and uncertainty in the entire U.S. financial system, especially the mortgage industry. At Fidelity First Home Mortgage, I can offer my customer all the possible programs in the entire mortgage industry, and get them the lowest wholesale rate from our 35 different investors.”
Like all Mortgage Heroes who work with this special military niche market, Douglas loves to remember those times when he made a big difference in the lives of his military clients.
“I helped a military family refinance their VA home loan and consolidate their bills at the same time,” he recalls, “saving them $1200 a month! The savings allowed the wife to remain a ‘stay at home mom.’ That was very important for them since they had two young children.”
The refinance was a life-changing event for that family. Multiply by the number of loans Douglas Rice has done for his military borrowers, roughly 2,000, and you have a good idea of how important it is to provide skilled services for our military heroes.
Douglas helps his military clients become financially savvy.
“There is so much misinformation out there,” Rice said, “about what it takes to either refinance a VA loan, or to purchase a home with a VA loan. Most people think their credit has to be perfect, and that is just NOT the case! It is very important to get the facts, and to make the best plan for that military servicemember and the family. I do free consultations and pull free ‘mortgage’ credit reports. Most consumers get free credit reports which are not the same scores used by VA lenders!”
Doug helps servicemembers come up with the best strategy for their homeownership. If it turns out they aren’t yet in a good position to purchase, he works with them to be ready at some point in the future.
“As most veterans know,” he says, “you cannot win the war without a sound battle plan!”
Be a Mortgage Hero! This recognition is free to Certified Military Housing Specialists. Take the FREE Certified Military Housing Specialist course offered online by USA Cares and tell us how you are “Helping those who defend our homes, preserve their own.” Please contact Program Manager Beverly Frase at
[email protected] to join our national team and be our next Mortgage Hero. We want to recognize you!
