Top Originator Spotlight: Inlanta Mortgage’s Dave Hartman

Also, I wanted to be the one controlling my income, not my employer. A friend was starting a mortgage company, so in February of 1998, I got my license to originate home loans. I have never looked back or doubted that decision. My career in the mortgage business has proven to be super satisfying as well as challenging. It keeps me engaged and moving forward. I have made several lasting relationships with clients and referral partners over the years. In fact, most of my best friends are related to my business in some way.

MPA: What are some of the biggest challenges you have encountered throughout your experience in the mortgage industry?

DH: There have been a few times in my career that have been challenging and when I’ve been worried, but, in the end, it always worked out well. One example was the subprime crisis and the subsequent housing devaluation in 2008, but thankfully the industry worked its way back. I kept plugging away, leaning into my database of clients and my network, continuously looking for home loans to originate. Then rates dropped, and both refinance and purchase business came back.

Another challenging time was when the COVID pandemic began in early 2020. Mortgage rates rose very sharply for a few weeks. It seemed like the world had just stopped. Then, mortgage rates declined, bringing in an influx of business with new homebuyers and homeowners seeking to refinance their homes. I was also able to develop more relationships with realtors, as well as with divorce attorneys and financial planners to boost my referral business.