Meet Greg, an Elevations Mortgage Loan Officer

Is a new home, mortgage refinance or investment property in your near future? Consider the Mortgage Team at Elevations Credit Union as your lending partner. Today we’re featuring mortgage loan originator Greg Roller from the Boulder Diagonal Branch. He’s been helping Elevations members with their purchases and refinances since 1999, and here’s how he approaches the lending process. 

When you’re ready to become a homeowner or find a better loan for your current property, Greg Roller is prepared to have a straight-to-the-point discussion. Besides being a mortgage loan originator, he jokes that he’s also part financial advisor, part therapist, and occasionally a disciplinarian. 

Why experience matters  

“The last thing I’m going to do is set someone up to fail,” he explained. “I don’t want to tell somebody they’re good to go, have them go put an offer on the house, get excited about it, and then I tell them that’s not going to work. I want to set people up to succeed. If it looks like it might work, we’ll do everything we can to make it work.”  

After reviewing a member’s finances, income and debt, if Greg thinks it’s not the right time to take on a large loan, he will be direct and tell you. However, there is a silver lining. A no isn’t forever. That’s when financial counseling to boost credit scores or adding longevity to self-employment can turn things around and make homeownership a possibility in the next year or two. 

Greg works with all types of home purchases — first-timers to seasoned investors — usually seeking conventional and jumbo loans, but can also assist with members inquiring about FHA and VA loans. 

Teaching members about the mortgage process 

Greg loves being a resource for the members he assists, and he prefers they come to him with their questions rather than trying to self-educate before their first meeting. Each home buyer is unique, and he can quickly discover what information they need and how to approach the best loan for their lifestyle, budget and plans. 

During that first meeting, Greg likes members to know there will be a candid discussion around finances, a topic that some people shy away from. He will ask: 

• Are you self-employed? Or, do you have an employer? 
• Do you earn commissions at your job? Or, a salary? Or hourly pay? 
• Is your income variable or set? Do you get bonuses? 

He will also ask about your current assets, other loans, debts, credit history, where funding for a down payment will come from and how much you currently earn. You don’t have to have the answers ready but rather understand that information will be gathered from various sources during the mortgage application process. 

It’s also a good idea to think about how much of a mortgage payment you’d like to have each month. The number should allow you to live comfortably and tend to other debts or lifestyle habits. 

“The last thing you want to do is be a slave to a house payment. You know, because it comes up every month, and it’s hard on you, it’s hard on your family, it’s hard on your relationships. It’s not fun,” he advises of taking on too much mortgage debt. 

Working with a comprehensive team 

When it comes to reflecting on why he’s enjoyed creating mortgage loans for Elevations members for over 20 years, it’s the flexibility and accessibility to all the people working behind the scenes to make a mortgage loan come together. Not all situations are picture-perfect, and having a team approach with many hands on deck makes all the difference. 

“We’re good, really good at weird or complex situations. And we’re good at saving deals that have blown up other places,” Greg explained of the Elevations Mortgage Team. 

Greg said many times he’s had members come to him after exploring loan options elsewhere, get less than satisfactory service, then finally get the direct care and attention they need at Elevations to get to the closing table.  

“And it makes us look good in the community. It’s good for our partners and our Realtors® because they trust us,” Greg added.    

Life beyond loan terms and interest rates 

Greg and his wife live on an acreage with pet goats, chickens and ducks. In addition to the critters, they have one daughter at CU Boulder and another in high school.  

When he’s not crunching loan numbers or tending to the pets, he enjoys boxing with the Corner Boxing Club and partakes in public fights at the historic Boulder Theater. 

If you’re ready to learn more about purchasing or refinancing, give Greg (NMLS# 809384) a call at the Boulder Diagonal Branch at (303) 807-4777 or send an email to greg.roller@elevationscu.com.