As a Loan Originator for Summit South Mortgage, Chris Carini has helped over 1,000 families with their home purchases and refinancing. “As mortgage brokers, we represent over 20 different banks and lenders, giving us the flexibility to offer loan products that banks and other lenders don’t have access to,” he explained. “This allows us to be creative and aggressive.
Having more options gives us a huge advantage in a highly competitive industry.” Carini knows that buying a home can be a hectic time. “I like to eliminate the hassles associated with getting a mortgage,” he said. “Buying a home can be a stressful process. We try to make the process smooth by staying ahead of the game and anticipating any issues that may come up.”
Referrals are a big part of Summit South Mortgage’s business, and Carini takes pride in that fact. “All of our business comes from referrals,” he stated. “Most of our clients are busy professionals who don’t have the time to research mortgage loans and rate shop with several different lenders. We have earned a huge level of trust among our clients and referral partners, so we don’t have to spend a lot of time convincing our new clients that they should do business with us. Instead, we spend our time on what matters most, which is finding the best loan and interest rate and walking each client through the process of getting the right loan to accomplish their goals.”
Another service that Summit South Mortgage offers is reverse mortgages. Carini says some clients are surprised to learn that this service is available to them. “We have about 10,000 people a day turning 62 in the US,” he said. “The FHA reverse mortgage program can be a great asset for seniors to tap into their home equity. This has been a great tool we have used to help people to stay in their homes and eliminate mortgage payments.”
Many clients Carini works with are new to the Knoxville area and are sometimes surprised at all Knoxville has to offer. “Knoxville is a great place to live. We have a thriving downtown, mountains, lakes, four seasons, great public schools, no state income tax, a strong job market and affordable home prices,” Carini acknowledged.
“I work with lots of clients who are thrilled to be moving here from other states. My conversations with these newcomers really make me appreciate how lucky we are to live here.”
Giving back to the community is important to Carini. Having three young children plays a role in the organizations he supports. “I am partial to organizations that help children,” he explained. “Tennessee Achieves, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital are a few of the organizations that are important to our family. They make a difference in the lives of children, and we want to help and be a part of their solution.”
If Carini is asked for advice from friends, family or clients, he tells them to meet with a financial advisor and create a plan. “I view a plan as a roadmap to your financial success,” he explained. “Without a plan in place, you could be traveling aimlessly without actually getting to where you need to be. Formulate a plan and follow through on it until you arrive at your financial destination.”