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Written by Manuela Nivia Photographed by Alexandra Santos Photography Home Lenders of Georgia is a company that runs on passion. For 18 years, David and Dawn Munoz have built a businesses guided by the mission of ensuring the success and financial well-being of each or the clients they serve. Throughout their career in the mortgage industry, the couple has prided themselves in diligently ensuring the prosperity of families across Georgia and beyond. "When it comes to mortgages, what our clients value, we value," Dawn described. "We know that each customer has specific needs, so we strive to meet those needs with a wide array of products with the lowest rates and closing costs. The homebuying and home-refinancing process can become overwhelming and complicated, but we're here to support customers through this exciting time." Founder and president of Home Lenders of Georgia, David left his native Costa Rica for the United States at just 15 years old. Despite the challenges that this new journey entailed, David was determined to fully harness this rare opportunity to realize his bigger purpose. After graduating from Reinhardt University, David began working full time at a local mortgage company owned by a close friend. Just two short years later, however, David sought to pave his own path to success by launching Home Lenders of Georgia. "Opening his own firm was a big leap for him, but he persevered through any challenges that he came across," Dawn shared. "David has always had a strong passion for people. He never gave up on himself, and he knew he could do it no matter what. David believes that everyone should have stability⁠— that families need a place to call home. This belief is what helped shape his company into a business that has a a strong drive to help all families in America achieve homeownership." After spending a career in corporate America as a vice-president for a software company, Dawn joined Home Lenders of Georgia in 2005. Her strong business acumen and experience motivating successful high-performance teams made her the best fit to lead as the company's vice-president. Dawn and her team are known not just for providing excellent service, but also for the lifelong relationships they have cultivated with local clients and REALTORS® alike. "When I started in the mortgage industry, I found that sense of reward and accomplishment I was looking for," Dawn recalled. "It's about the direct impact I can have on the customer. I am the decision-maker and that gives me the ability to be flexible on rates, closing costs, and find them the right product. I am able to help clients achieve their dream of homeownership and financial security even in the most difficult circumstances." David and Dawn understand that real estate is undoubtedly one of the building blocks of personal and multi-generational wealth. As mortgage professionals, they strive to make homeownership possible for every family⁠— an achievement they hope will have significant effects on clients for generations to come. As a native Spanish speaker, David is particularly passionate about supporting the Latino community and empowering underserved communities. Throughout their almost two decades in the business, the duo has helped local families thrive, while creating a value-add for REALTORS® and ensuring their utmost success. "We run our company as a family business with compassion and care," Dawn explained. "At the end of the day, we do what is best for the client, not what is best for us and for our pockets. I think it's important for REALTORS® to find partners like us who are invested in them and who will get their clients into their dream home."

Written by Leora Ruzin There are many in the mortgage industry who consider their businesses to be a family affair. The power of family is so prevalent in mortgage, even the professional mortgage organizations embrace the culture of family and work side by side with family members. Family is integral to the story of David Muñoz, broker-owner at Home Lenders of Georgia. David’s upbringing was not exactly traditional, and it is because of this he welcomes family in his business. David truly lives by the philosophy of Carpe diem. He seizes every opportunity before him. David was born in the remote mountains of Costa Rica and grew up tending to the dairy farms surrounding him. At the young age of 14, he journeyed alone to the United States to live with Methodist missionaries. After six months he returned to Costa Rica to obtain his student visa and returned to the US permanently when he was 15. As a teenage immigrant who knew little English, David could have fallen into the trap many do who emigrate and accepted the status quo society relegated him to. Not the life David envisioned. He stepped up to the challenge and embraced the task of ingratiating himself in his new home and culture. Along the way, he learned and mastered the drive that has brought him to where he is today. In 2004 David, now a husband and father, partnered with his wife Dawn, to start their business in the basement of their Georgia home. This came only a few years after making the decision to become loan officers. In their years in this industry, David and Dawn have weathered virtually every storm, including housing industry collapse and economic recovery. Today Home Lenders of Georgia is one of the top broker shops in the state. David, who had very little education and knew nothing about mortgages, made it his mission to help others learn how a mortgage can help them become financially free. As David stated, “I remember sitting at a client’s home looking at a Good Faith Estimate trying to understand the numbers and trying to explain and convince my civil engineer homeowners that refinancing their $550,000.00 fixed-rate mortgage into a six-month Libor ARM made perfect sense for their finances. Starting in this industry, it was just an opportunity, and I took advantage of it and I am still taking advantage of it as I develop as a leader.” David often leans on his strengths to run his business, and it is no surprise his greatest strength is the passion he has for the journey of becoming a homeowner. His drive powers his vision and he is keenly aware of the influence he can generate behind the vision by using the power of his Wisdom. David explains, “I have the ability to obtain the attention of those in my surroundings and I am able to influence my followers, like those in our sphere of influence, members of my company, or peers, to see what I see, to believe in what I believe.” David’s comments do not reflect bragging or overconfidence. Rather he understands how important his role is in the greater sense and does not waste any opportunity he has to educate others. He firmly lives by the motto, “for Wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” What drives David? What is his WHY? As David describes, “What drives me is the passion to be everything I can be. I want to leave everything exposed and on the table. I love progress and enjoy seeing the fruits and results, but even better the prestige of knowing I can do anything in life not for me only but most of it for others. To show someone else how to prosper. To teach someone else how to use their own individual smarts to reach goals and expand their horizons. I am driven to listen to nature and the natural law. I am driven to observe and analyze to find answers.” As someone who is always looking for a win-win scenario, David reflects on his career, and what has made him successful in business. He understands the importance of being a leader who does not sit back and let others do the hard work. He is an active participant in the decision-making within his company and assumes full responsibility for the results. As he thinks back on his struggles as a leader, he acknowledges where he has fallen a bit short. “After the mortgage meltdown, “there was a fear within the mortgage broker industry that mortgage brokers were going to go away. I had multiple national lenders calling to advise me to join their institutions because there was no hope for us as brokers. Their advice had the opposite effect to what they wanted. Their words gave me the fuel to stay with my business. Looking back today, I believe I should have expanded my business even greater because I would have had my business in a much better position. Not that I am complaining where we are now, but I feel that I should have been more aggressive back then.” Because David chooses to take advantage of every opportunity, he has risen above the challenges to achieve true success. As someone who has fought hard to live the American Dream, he remembers well where he came from and wants to pay it forward to others who seek his counsel and guidance in their homeownership journey. Throughout my many years in this county,” David shares, “I have had many successes and reached many personal and business milestones. My greatest success is a combination of personal and business success. My success has to do with taking advantage of the opportunities this life, this country, and my drive has given me.” David never slows down, regardless of the weather ahead and always strives to see the positive. “I am blessed to be in an industry that is versatile and offers opportunity for everyone,” he says. “Many opportunities are given to those who are willing. I believe, as a business owner and leader in our industry, I carry a visionary gift. I am passionate about providing opportunities for anyone I encounter and helping those who are willing to take advantage of the opportunity.” David is not one to shy away from speaking truth about the issues facing the mortgage industry. He knows as a leader his role is to effect positive change. As he looks to the future, he sees his company as a beacon for others. He fuels his personal drive and uses the experience and resources of his teams to make others successful. His personal goal is to take advantage of every opportunity before him. As one might expect, the goal of his company is similar. “What is our main goal?” he says, “to provide opportunities of self-development and financial development to the members of our company so they can thrive as true professionals and provide for their families. Equally important is to extend the opportunity of prosperity to our business partners and our clients. I think the wording of our company mission statement says it best, ‘Our desire is for the prosperity of all families in America.’” David identifies communication and collaboration, especially in our current market, as important traits to prosperity, saying, “Our industry will not survive unless we communicate well, unless we bring value, and unless we earn trust. These traits can’t be applied unless we build relationships, strong relationships. This is my favorite thing about our industry. Having honest relationships with our clients, business partners, and members of the company is a must.” TIPS FOR SUCCESS: Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who have tremendous drive, passion for life, smarts, and passion to see beyond the natural world. From the beginning, identify the main goal complementing the mission and understanding the steps to take to accomplish the goal. Lean on the ones who have done it; the ones who will help you and advise you as to how to reach your main goal. Do not reinvent the wheel. When David looks at his wife and two children, he sees the future. His passion to take advantage of every opportunity is instilled in everything he does, even outside of the office. Whether it is when he is coaching his son’s baseball team, working on his farm, or running the business with Dawn, he is cultivating opportunity. If he could go back in time, he would have told his younger self to “embrace and practice discipline and as that discipline is developed, to pause, to enjoy the place where you are in life, to enjoy the moment you are in, and to enjoy the relationships around you. You never know how long those moments or relationships will be present in your life.” When David was asked what his Vision for Success is, he reflected on his spiritual faith and the power of direction and Wisdom. As he says, “Vision for success is given by the one and only Wisdom who speaks every day early in the day. She will point out very clearly the path to take. Sometimes she will point out to an individual who will help you how to get there. Sometimes she will point out who to speak to or how to speak. Sometimes she will give you a whole plan or strategy as to how to create or resolve something. Sometimes she will let you see the complete vision for what you are doing or about to do. Sometimes she will give insight and counsel you on your vision.” Next time you are in a room with David, perhaps you can ask him if he has time to tell you more about his story. The odds are he will make time for you, but if you want to sweeten the deal, tell him you will take him fishing. While sitting on the banks of a river, he can share his wisdom with you.

By Lisa Lossie At just 15 years old, a church missionary group brought David Muñoz to the United States for the opportunity to get a better education. He left his family in Costa Rica and eleven years later, he took the oath and became an American citizen. "David truly believes the United States is the land of opportunity and is blessed to be an American and he does not take that privilege lightly. Even though he loves his home country, Costa Rica, he is passionate about the American flag and its meaning. Because of the love he has for the United States, the American anthem gives him goosebumps every time, especially at the Braves stadium," says Dawn, his wife of 22 years. “We love living in this community,” says David. “It’s peaceful and you can see all the stars at night or calm your soul while you listen to crickets or bullfrogs at night or awaken in the morning to the singing of roosters. It’s the perfect combination of living in a luxury suburban community but with all the amenities that country life gives you, horses, cows, chickens, and vegetable gardens.” After purchasing the farm in 2018, David had a dream. He got up at 2:30 in the morning and started drawing the house he envisioned. The dream became a reality when their dear friend, a builder brought it to life, a true dream home! “We wanted to get out of a neighborhood so we could give our children a farm life,” says Dawn. Now they have a chicken coup with 22 chickens, organic eggs, Rex the rabbit, and Gracie their rescue kitten. With a love for animals, both of their children are enjoying farm life. “Manny loves the idea of farming but also he loves tilling dirt with his John Deere tractor or mowing the yard so that he can get paid $40 every time,” says David. “He has a special love for animals, especially his chickens, and started selling farm fresh eggs.” Manny and his dad also share a special bond over sports. Since Manny started playing baseball at age 5, David has always been by his side, helping with the team or coaching. For the past three years, Manny has played for the travel baseball team, The Georgia Jackets. He is also playing football for NAFL, and David is right there along his side coaching. Hannah started riding horses when she was four years old and loves gymnastics. She loves animals and wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. “Hannah has a natural talent for drawing,” says David. “Her imagination is amazing when she has a pencil and paper in her hand. She is super outgoing with adults and friends.” The Muñoz family moved to Milton in 2016 so their children could attend King’s Ridge Christian School. Manny and Hannah are 14 months apart, but everyone thinks they are twins. “Manny’s name is his nickname. His real name is Cesar Emmanuel Muñoz. I named him that because of the blessing God gave me, finally being able to have a baby,” says Dawn. “Hannah Grace is named after Hannah in the bible when God had Grace on Hannah and gave her a son after she pleaded him.” Faith is a big part of their life, and they are teaching their children to live God’s word. “Always do the right thing no matter how hard it is,” says Dawn. Finish what you started. Remember that God gives us our victories. We are who we are because of God. We are equipped with everything we need in life, so we get what we work for.” Travel is also a big part of the Muñoz family life and their children have been on the go since they were babies. Every year they head down to Costa Rica to see David’s family and experience some new adventures in the land of Pura Vida. “David learned English in rural North Georgia,” says Dawn. So, when you talk to him, you can hear a Southern Spanish accent. I think people are confused, is he from the South or is he from another country!” They also enjoy getting down to the Keys where David and Manny love to fish. But home in Milton is truly where their heart is. “Stop by and say hello if you see us out and about. My husband has never met a stranger. My children take after him. If anyone ever needs anything come to us and we will help regardless of what that may be. Just excuse David for wearing dirty shorts and a shirt and his dirty John Deere hat,” jokes Dawn. I love the fact that my children not only have us as parents, but we also have the parents of my children’s friends and teammates who will treat them as their own children. We love that no matter the social status of the individual that lives here, everyone is down to Earth.” If anyone needs a friend, the Muñoz family always have a door and heart open for anyone in need.

2021 was a distinctive year for the housing market for many reasons. The market expanded tremendously, with an estimated 6 million homes were sold just last year. Homebuyers entered the market with historically low housing inventory along with a substantial increase in house prices. Homes were selling at a rate that has not been seen since the late 1990s and is now on track for the highest level of home sales in 15 years. So, who is buying homes, what is their approach to home buying, and why are they buying? Millennials are the new homebuying generation and are the fastest-growing portion of home buyers. From young tech professionals to people wanting to start a family, millennials are racing to own homes. Their generation has outnumbered baby boomers and applied for more mortgages than any other generation last year. They accounted for 37% of the overall U.S housing market, with 82% of younger millennials (ages 22-30) and 48% older millennial buyers (31-40) holding the biggest share of first-time homebuyers (NAR, 2021). In addition to buying homes, millennials are also shaping the real estate market. They have high standards for what they want in a home, and according to www.squareyards.com, “developers should keep a close eye on their preferences since they will shape the real estate market incoming months.” The millennials have officially put down the charcuterie boards and have stepped into the world of home-buying. There is no argument when it comes to the statement that millennials have a much different home buying approach than that of the generations before them. Due to the covid pandemic, online options for buying a home grew to be more diverse and easier to access and navigate. From property listings being posted online, to virtual real estate tours, the entire process is now offered through the internet. For a majority of millennial home buyers, their first step was to look online at properties for sale, and while others first contacted a real estate agent, still 95% of buyers used online tools at some point in their search process (NAR, 2021). It is even possible to research and apply for home loans online (JBKLUTSE, 2019). The mortgage industry is becoming more modernized, and millennials are adapting quickly. While it has been said that millennials were late to the home buying process due to student loans and credit card debt (Forbes, 2019), they now have a growing desire to own homes. Buyers who purchased a home last year, not only wished to own a home of their own, but also wanted to move because of changes in jobs, family situations, and the need for a smaller or larger living area (NAR,2021). The pandemic forced households to spend more time at home, which drew buyers into the housing market due to the increasing demand for housing services. Lower interest rates likely also stimulated the housing demand. The housing market grew tremendously in 2021. Millennials made up a majority of the market due to the urge to buy homes because of changes in their lives, and they used online tools to navigate the entire process. However, while starting your home search online is convenient, the best practice is to get in touch with a loan officer to get a pre-approval. This is a significant preparation tool when starting your homebuying journey. A pre-approval shows you’re a serious buyer, helps your offer stand out, and can ultimately help speed up the transaction. Most importantly, a pre-approval identifies how much ‘home’ you can afford. This step saves you valuable time and allows you to target your home search to your price level. The housing market is growing and changing each and every day, start your pre-approval today so you can be one step closer to the home of your dreams.

Written by Dawn Muñoz, Vice President of Home Lenders of Georgia. When it’s time to buy a home determining who will handle your mortgage is an important decision. As an initial first step, you will want to decide whether to use a mortgage broker or a direct mortgage lender, so understanding the differences between the two is crucial. A mortgage broker is a financial professional who brings borrowers and potential lenders that they have an existing relationship together. Typically, the broker will have a conversation with the borrower to better understand their unique current financial situation. They will review important information such as credit score, income, assets, investments, and liabilities. In addition, the broker will consider the borrower’s future financial goals and will make suggestions as to what type of mortgage may be best as well as how much the customer can realistically borrow. They will work with the borrower to comparison shop for a lender that is a perfect fit. A good broker will have a network of lenders at their disposal, even for complex financial situations. Mortgage brokers are paid based on fees. In most cases, the loan origination fee charged by the lender is paid to the broker. It is important to note that a Loan Officer that works for a mortgage broker must pass a national test and obtain their license and will be required to take continuing education courses yearly to stay abreast of industry changes and laws. A mortgage lender is a financial institution or private business that directly loans money for home purchases and refinances. Some borrowers choose to go with a bank they already do business with. Each mortgage lender will have its own set of rules for each loan that may be different from what the current industry dictates. Borrowers will need to fit exactly into those guidelines. Depending on the size of the lender, the borrower may or may not have direct access to the person processing their loan. In the absence of a mortgage broker, the direct lender keeps the loan origination fee in addition to earning interest throughout the life of the loan. The choice between a mortgage broker or mortgage lender is always that of the borrower and while neither choice is wrong, it is important to weigh the pros and cons as they relate to you personally.

Written by CaZ - Women With Vision Magazine "The devil whispered in my ear, 'you are not strong enough to withstand the storm.' Today, I whispered back, 'I am a child of God, a woman of faith, a warrior of Christ. I am the storm.'" This quote has an interesting history, or perhaps non-history is more accurate. The concept is clearly taken from biblical lore, and often to this day includes an element of faith referenced by millions across a broad base of religious dominations. The core message has been quoted and revised across the millennium, always changed slightly, and always communicating a message of strength and resilience. In modern days, the attributable quote is considered to be this: “Fate whispers to the warrior, ‘You cannot withstand the storm.’ The warrior whispers back, ‘I am the storm.’” – Jake Remington Today, we share these words as Dawn Muñoz knows them and uses them daily to reinforce the vision she lives and shares with her husband David in their family-owned mortgage company, Home Lenders of Georgia. In speaking with Dawn to prepare to tell her story, her passion and belief in this quote was clearly stated, so much so I had chills listening to her speak. She is a strong woman, a natural leader with a solid business mind, and no one who knows her would deny this description. She is also a warm, loving, and kind person who fills many roles, including mother, wife, employer, mentor, and friend. “In my office,” Dawn shares, “is a copy of this quote right next to the picture of the girl standing up to the Wall Street bull. Both empower me when I am down. I look at the picture and I feel like it’s me standing against the bull. “I am reminded not to let my knees buckle when the devil whispers. I whisper back a loud NO! You are not going to get after me today as I say to myself ‘come on girl, suck it up! God did not make you weak." Dawn credits her mother with instilling strength and a do not quit work ethic saying, “She was a hard worker who usually held down two jobs to provide for our family. I never saw weakness in her. Oh, sure, she cried but then pushed through, dried the tears, and got back up to figure out what had to be done. I think of her example when I see myself as the girl standing up to the bull and my spirit fills with strength.” Growing up in a low socio-economic status while attending school in a rich district contributed to a less than ideal childhood for Dawn. She left home immediately after high school and admits to making many mistakes in her first year in college with regard to finances, causing her to return home during her second year to work to pay off credit card debt. This delayed her education for years until she was able to get back on track. In typical Dawn fashion, however, once back on track she stayed true and finished with an undergraduate degree in business followed by an MBA, both from Oglethorpe University in Georgia. Leadership Lessons Never one to let adversity stop her for long, Dawn’s strengths as a leader, including passion, an ability to inspire, an empathetic nature, and a strong need to drive to success were honed in those early years growing into a young woman. Of the hard-learned lessons she mastered, Dawn names this as the greatest, “Don’t try to be everything to everyone. Find your niche and work the hell out of it. Always listen to your gut and do the right thing even when it’s hard. The reward is greater than you can imagine. Don’t give up. Don’t give up on yourself or your dreams. You were made for more.” In the beginning, whenever a client or agent would call me with an ‘I need magic’ scenario, I would commit to it. I had many, many sleepless nights because of this. Would I get it done? You bet I would but at what cost? Now, if someone calls me with an ‘I need magic’” scenario, I am no longer interested in being the hero. If it makes sense, if it fits within guidelines yes, I will do it but I no longer take the approach of making something happen. In 2005 when she and her husband David decided to open their mortgage company, she joined him, leaving her position as VP for a software company behind. Dawn was ready to leave corporate America and a role in which she found little satisfaction or fulfillment. As she remembers the time, “The industry was dominated by overpaid men who worked as little as possible; just enough so they could get by. When I had the opportunity to join my husband to help him grow and succeed, I jumped on it. I started as his processor. I loved it. Oddly enough, I loved the detail of the paperwork. I loved putting together a package, submitting it to underwriting, and then clearing conditions. I enjoyed the challenges we had dealing with underwriters. This was back in subprime days so we were working with companies like Countrywide and First Horizon. In 2007, we were awarded top broker by Bank of America wholesale. In 2008, the mortgage meltdown started to affect our business and there were days when I was not sure we would make it. But we did. We kept our expenses low. We adjusted with the times. It wasn’t pretty. It was scary but I was not going to quit. Fast forward to 2021, we are now licensed in six states and opening a second branch here in Georgia. Slow and steady wins the race.” Dawn speaks easily about what she likes best about the mortgage industry: genuine opportunities to help borrowers. As a person who enjoys talking to people and is interested in knowing everyone’s story and where they are coming from and why they are moving. It’s not a surprise to learn it is normal for her clients to stay in touch, even after her part in the transaction is complete. Dawn explains it this way, “There are many loan officers in this business who do not take the extra five minutes to explain the process or explain to the client why one option would be better than another. These are conversations I have regularly. And typically, at the end of our conversation, they continue to reach out to me for advice, asking questions about their life and financial decisions not related to giving them a rate.” “I believe it’s important for us to provide a safe place and guarantee integrity. I expect my company and my employees to always do the right thing for the client. I will always do the right thing no matter how painful it is and conflicting it may be or how it may impact me financially. At the end of the day, I always do what is right for my clients and my employees.” Dawn, amid her many virtues as a leader, is also a realist. Her main goal for the business is to empower her employees to make them better than she is and have them running the company someday. In Dawn’s vision for success, she surrounds herself with people who inspire, with art that inspires, with quotes that inspire. “It has been said the biggest battle is the one between your ears. Learn to take control of those thoughts creating doubt or fear. Fear does not come from the Lord. As a business owner, I hire people who are better than me. As a woman, I love other strong women. I have no issues working with strong, sensible businesswomen.” “I think more and more consumers will educate themselves on working with a mortgage broker versus a retail lender. I think consumers want the personal attention you don’t receive from larger organizations. We are small and I like being small. I like it when a client calls and asks, ‘Do you remember me? You did a loan for me five years ago. And I can say, ‘Yes of course I remember you. I put you in your first home.’” Women, historically in business, have too often been our own worst enemies when it comes to breaking the barriers to enter the boardroom. Not so for Dawn. As a strong woman leader, she embraces rather than feels threatened by other strong women. In fact, she prefers to populate her world with strength and courage. “Often for a woman, ego is less of an issue than with men. I can easily entertain someone’s criticism or hostile comments and allow their words to roll off of my back. I’m not easily offended and welcome criticism. And this may say be bad to say, but I think the general consumer wants to deal with a woman, especially a confident woman like me who is trustworthy and empathetic. I don’t have to sell. We have a conversation. I give them advice I don’t have to compete for business with a loan officer who is kind of selling them a rate. Dawn tells a great story about when she first started working in her career before working in mortgage. She and another woman with more experience were hired at the same time for two parts of the same job. Each approached their role differently, with nearly opposite points of view. Dawn, fresh and new and imbued with a strong get-it-done work ethic and natural leadership abilities, went looking for tasks when none were assigned. Her senior partner waited for the assignments and did nothing more than the job assigned. A week after being hired, her manager called her in and announced he was giving her a $5,000 pay raise. He apologized, saying he had started the other woman at a higher salary and should not have done so. It was apparent who was the go-getter and should be rewarded. In the end, she began with the company as an administrative assistant and left as a vice president. That story epitomizes the confident and compassionate leader everyone who works with Dawn Muñoz sees and experiences. And yet, there’s more. Dawn, like many of the career women we profile in the WWV Magazine, is also a mother and wife. Her goal in life is to have balance and spend more time with her children. Nine-year-old Hannah and ten-year-old Manny are miracle babies, by Dawn’s definition. She had her children while in her late 30s due to difficulties conceiving. She believes firmly her children were born when it was their time to join the family and she is a better mother now than she would have been at a younger age. When Dawn and husband David made the decision to open up shop as a mortgage broker, they had less than $10K in the bank. “It was nerve-wracking, for certain,” Dawn shares, “but 16 years later as I look back, I know it was the right decision. David felt the time was right to go out on his own as a broker.” For Dawn, encouraging David to take this leap of faith came instantly. Starting their own company while for sure was a risk, was not much of a leap to take. They both earned their licenses in 2004 and by May of 2005, Dawn’s own last straw came as she realized the men in comparable positions had a base salary and a bonus structure while she had a much lower base salary and every quarter her bonus had to be approved AND even then, did not equal what the men were earning. “I’ve been working side-by-side now with my husband for 16 years and you know, crazy as it sounds, I enjoy seeing him every day. We each have characteristics the other does not have. Over the years, we have learned to stay in our lanes.” One of the greatest blessings Dawn finds in running a business is also one of her greatest challenges. Dawn suffers from guilt, worrying she is not spending enough time with the family. This is her ongoing challenge, one not above to be solved with one blanket answer. As a confident and compassionate leader, the role of mother is weighted on the side of compassion. Balance is found by allowing the children to be a daily part of the business in as much as a child can be. They meet the clients and the employees and often help out when preparing mailers to send out. They understand this is how their parents provide for them. Dawn schedules dates to have lunch with them and do fun things together. For them, this is a normal way of living. You go to school, you come home, or you go to the family office, you find a moment when your mother is not working and share a bit of your day, or you pitch in tying ribbons around a gift or stuffing a mailer with staff. And so, she is teaching them the same powerful lessons she learned as a child with, she hopes and prays, more compassion than was sometimes shown to her. On a final note, Dawn shares what is likely an open secret: she is passionate about gift-giving. “Another lesson I’ve learned in life is when to be a pit bull and be aggressive and when to give people grace. I’ll speak up and say what needs to be said and then I show grace and remind people, whether it’s employees, kids, or clients, to look for the other side of the coin before going in to attack.” “Giving gifts is a part of giving grace. I love blessing people in need. If I could ask for more success financially, it would be for me to have the ability to give more. I know it’s better to give than to receive and I truly live by this motto in life. My employees will tell you, I often leave a gift on their desk. It’s not always something big. Just this morning I left a gift for a young lady who has been working for me for about one year and has taken on a lot of responsibility. She is committed to delivering excellence. I found a plaque with this on it: Beautiful Girl–you were made to do hard things so believe in yourself. I could see she was giving her all and felt she needed recognition for her hard work.” Her response was priceless, "You always seem to know when I need to hear something like this." That simple statement sums up the confidence mixed with compassion that Dawn draws upon and shares every day on business and life.

Written by Jodi Varnado According to the National Association of Realtors, the residential real estate market is the best it has been in fifteen years. Even amid the height of the pandemic over 2020-2021, homebuyers were met with low interest and mortgage rates. As we enter 2022, you might be considering, is it the right time to buy a house? Can I afford it? Where do I start? The team of professional mortgage consultants at Home Lenders of Georgia are ready and eager to help you purchase your dream home! Home Lenders of Georgia has been serving the Dalton community for seventeen years. Their consultants possess a passion for people, valuing their customer’s well-being over the success of their business. The phrase “people-driven, not sales-driven” is a perfect sentiment to describe Home Lenders of Georgia’s approach to consulting. Homebuying can be a very emotional process, and Home Lenders of Georgia knows and expects the responsibility of guiding you through the difficult decisions that come with choosing the right loan and mortgage to fit your personalized needs. Home Lenders of Georgia specializes in Conventional Home Loans, FHA Home Loans, VA Home Loans, VA, FHA, and Conventional Refinances, FHA 203k Loans, Fannie Mae Home Style Loans Renovation Programs, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mas Affordable Housing Programs, USDA Loans, and Non-QM Programs. Through Home Lenders of Georgia’s website, you can submit a complete, secure online application for all mortgage programs. After applying, one of Home Lenders of Georgia’s mortgage consultants will contact you with the answers you are looking for. Home Lenders of Georgia prides themselves on outstanding customer service through individual attention. Their experienced staff is accessible to clients seven days a week, striving to match you with the perfect program to meet your personal short and long-term financial goals. Home Lenders of Georgia can compare and contrast the differences between the many mortgage-rate options and loan programs available to you, including Fixed Rate, Adjustable ARM, Interest Only, Graduated Programs, FHA Home Loan, VA Loans, USDA Loans, and Jumbo Loans. The homebuying and home-refinancing processes can become overwhelming and complicated, but the team at Home Lenders of Georgia will support you throughout this exciting time. The team will guide you through financial questions, including, how’s your financial health? What’s your budget? What’s included in the home sale? How much do you need to save for a down payment? Does this home cover your needs? Their consultants will also help you avoid emotional homebuying, buyers’ remorse, and will make sure you are in a safe financial position. They even close loans in an impressive twenty-five days or less! Home Lenders of Georgia invests in the community, partnering with organizations such as HOPE Atlanta and Virtuous Women Life Academy to provide support and education to those in need. Partnering with these outreach programs, whether through financial donations or volunteering, allows Home Lenders of Georgia to educate the community on debt, credit score, homebuying, and homeownership. The staff plans to volunteer more in the new year and begin a Home Lenders of Georgia YouTube channel to create educational videos, including tips for purchasing and what to expect content. If now is the time to consider buying a new home or you are ready to refinance your current home, contact Home Lenders of Georgia today. Their office is located at 102 N Glenwood Ave, Dalton, GA. Home Lenders of Georgia also serves the Alpharetta community at 1865 Lockeway Drive, Suite 605, Alpharetta, GA. Visit homelendersga.com for more information or call (770)-953-8004 to set up an appointment. Let Home Lenders of Georgia help your homebuying dreams come true in 2022! Home Lenders of Georgia’s Financial Checklist: 1. Closing Costs—This cost includes loan origination fees, discount points, appraisal fees, title searches, title insurance, and survey fees. 2. Down Payment—This payment is the difference between your mortgage amount and the purchase price of your home. 3. Insurance—This can be Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) or a Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP). 4. Earnest Money—This amount is an upfront deposit that is applied to your down payment or closing costs. 5. Property Tax—This tax is determined by the municipality you reside in and is based on the property’s value. 6. Furnishing and Appliances—Although you might have to buy appliances or furniture for your new home, it would be best to do this after closing.