Meet Aaron, an Elevations Mortgage Loan Officer

At Elevations, our experienced Mortgage Loan Officers are here to help you navigate the homebuying process. One of our award-winning Mortgage Loan Officers, Aaron Staufer, has real estate and mortgage in his blood. Find out how he got his start and why he is so passionate about mortgage lending.

How long have you been with Elevations Credit Union?

I’ve been at Elevations close to nine years now. Before coming to Elevations, a bunch of us Loan Officers were working at a big bank. During the housing crisis, the big banks were losing their appetite for home loans, so a group of us fled to the greener pastures of Elevations Credit Union.

Which location do you work out of, and what area do you serve?

I work out of the Louisville branch and our loan office in Broomfield. I serve members as far south as Colorado Springs and as far north as Fort Collins.

How would you define your role and what you do for people buying a home?

I’d say my primary role is education. I educate our members on the homebuying process and help get them into the best possible financial situation.

How long have you been working in lending?

I’ve been in lending for 11 years, and before that, I had my real estate license and was selling real estate. I’ve been involved in real estate transactions going back to when I was in college.

How and why did you get into this field?

My parents own a local real estate company, so real estate is in my blood. After graduating from college, I got my real estate license and became a Realtor®. That was in 2008, when the housing crisis began. It was a tough time to try to jump-start a career in real estate. After a year of that, I got recruited into lending by my manager, mentor and friend Cameron White-Ford.

Where did you grow up and go to school?

My dad was in the military before going into sales, so we moved around a lot as kids. When I think about my childhood, I think of Evergreen, CO. I spent about seven years there as a kid. I went to Monarch High School in Superior and got my bachelor’s degree from CU Boulder.

What do you like about mortgage lending?

If you ever get into the mortgage industry, you’ll either love it, or you’ll hate it. It’s very fast-paced and can be very intense. I absolutely love it. I love the pace, I love the challenge, and I love that every day is different. It’s a dynamic puzzle that demands everything you have to give.

Why are you passionate about mortgage lending?

It’s a good question, and lending is a weird thing to be passionate about. At a very basic level, it’s all about helping people — getting a buyer into a home or saving somebody money with a refinance. It’s gratifying to help people out with such a big life-changing decision. 

What sets Elevations apart from other financial institutions for mortgage lending?

Elevations Credit Union has always had the approach to remove barriers for me and our members. They ask the question, “How can we help?” They consider what’s standing in the way, and then they actively seek to eliminate those obstacles. I feel like I’m running a race with hurdles, but thankfully our management team is running in front of me, knocking those hurdles down. Because of that, our process is as streamlined as it can be, and the member experience is easier because of it. We hear our members comment, “That was a lot easier than I was told it’d be.” That’s a reflection of the simplified process that our members encounter.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love to play soccer, hike and play video games. I recently purchased a 2015 Ural Motorcycle and have been taking my dog for rides in the sidecar. That’s my new favorite pastime.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

The Post in Lafayette is my current favorite — great chicken and great beer.

What do you sing at karaoke night?

I can’t carry a tune. If I had to “sing” karaoke, I’d probably pick a Cake song only because Cake doesn’t sing. They just talk rhythmically, and I think I may be able to do that.

If you’re looking for help navigating your next home purchase or refinance and want to speak with Aaron (NMLS# 501268), you can call him at (720) 652-7108.