Meet Nikki Meyerink, Venture President at Select Lending Services
The Outlook is Bright at SLS
For our April Partner Spotlight, we had the pleasure of speaking with Nikki Meyerink, Venture President at Select Lending Services (SLS). The twenty-year veteran in real estate explains why SLS -- a joint venture with CMG Financial and Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty – is such a powerful combination. “The formidable pairing of CMG as our lending partner and Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty as our real estate partner is simply unmatched in the industry,” explained Meyerink.
CMG Financial provides the operational support SLS needs to find the right loan for every home buyer looking to purchase or a homeowner looking to refinance. “As a direct lender with local underwriting and processing, we can sustain a high level of communication with the client and the realtor partner as the norm, not the exception,” described Meyerink. “This also allows us to pilot new products before other lenders.”
Meyerink continued, “In addition to originating all conventional, government, and jumbo loans, SLS loan officers have access to CMG’s propriety products like HomeFundIt, the online down payment gifting platform, and the All-In-One Loan, the first-lien HELOC designed to help pay off the mortgage faster.”
It’s been a long and windy road to get where Meyerink is today. Her professional journey began in the field of architecture. While she studied to become an interior architect in college at the University of Oregon, she was surprised to find the industry rather unfulfilling once she was immersed in it. Quite randomly, her next career move was into the retail space working at a western apparel store called Double H Western Wear. “I absolutely loved it,” exclaimed Meyerink. “I moved up quickly within the organization, first becoming and manager and eventually a buyer, and stayed with the company for over 10 years.”
The mother of three eventually decided to take a break to stay home with her third child. “I enjoyed being a stay-at-home mommy for a beat, but I eventually got bored,” commented Meyerink. “I had a friend at Agape Home Mortgage who asked if I wanted to come on board as a processor and that’s where I first got my feet wet in the real estate business.”
Meyerink quickly ascended within the company, becoming a loan officer and ultimately branch manager of the Salem office. Meyerink had finally found her true calling. “Real estate was right up my alley,” expressed Meyerink. “I found I had the unique ability to lend an empathetic ear while also possessing the analytical skills to be extremely effective for my clients. Not everybody does a great job at both.”
Meyerink made a few moves, both personally and professionally, between her time at Agape Home Mortgage and her current role at SLS, including stints at Sterns Lending, Directors Mortgage, and Axia Home Loans. She also had a stretch of time at All Western Mortgage in Las Vegas when she and her husband moved for his job with the UFC. “When we moved back to Portland after two years in Las Vegas I had lost all of my local contacts,” explained Meyerink. “Fortunately, I had a friend that offered me a position as the in-house lender for Coldwell Banker Bain and it was perfect timing so I gladly accepted.”
Meyerink was content with her latest career move until Hasson President, Lynae Forbes and CEO Steve Dudley, invited her to be a part of their new venture. It took nine months of courting before she agreed, but she couldn’t be happier with her decision to join SLS. “This in-house lending relationship ultimately improves the overall buying experience for clients, pairing our agents and loan officers with the best products available in the marketplace,” said Meyerink.
“We are currently in a higher rate environment and the market has slowed but a tsunami is coming. Now is the time to sharpen skills, cultivate contacts, double down on marketing and talk to a knowledgeable lender. The right advice will garner the most business,” concluded Meyerink.
Connect with Nikki Meyerink at Select Lending Services
Phone: 541.991.3591
Facebook: @urtrustedmortgageadvisor
LinkedIn: @nikki-meyerink-aa6a6224