Cardinal Financial takes pride in empowering homebuyers with the access, insight, and knowledge they need for a lifetime of home loan confidence. For Producing Branch Manager Heather Reiter, helping clients get into their dream home is fun and fast-paced. “I wear many hats at work. Each day is different, but at the end of it, my goal is to get my clients to the finish line smoothly with a mortgage loan ready to go for a new home or refinance,” says Heather. “Then between all of that...I'm a mom, wife, chauffeur, and a microwavable chef. I have an awesome team at my job and with my husband. It takes all of us to juggle what we accomplish every day.” 

Heather hadn’t planned on a career in the mortgage business, but her life took an unexpected turn. “My junior year of college I took a summer job so I could stay in Springfield,” shares Heather.  “Little did I know, being hired by David Lurvey that summer would introduce me to the mortgage world. He thought I would be great at originating mortgage loans, so I followed him to a local bank and started my loan journey in 2009. I jumped in with both feet and never looked back. I was fortunate to have a great mentor who helped and pushed me. To this day, I’m still close to David’s family and appreciate that he opened this door for me.” 

Working in the mortgage industry has its challenges, but Heather rises to the occasion by finding solutions for her clients. “Every loan has a problem to solve. Sometimes it's needing money for closing costs or a down payment. If that happens, I have down payment assistance programs I can try to put borrowers in or talk with Realtors on upping a sales price to get a seller credit,” says Heather. “Other times it's getting debts down so a buyer can afford a higher-priced home. Then we look at paying credit cards off at closing, adding a cosigner to a loan, or taking a lower rate and bringing more money in to get a payment lowered. Every deal is different and you need someone that knows how to work the system on the really tight deals.”

 

Heather not only works with homebuyers, but also with many real estate agents. “I work with agents 24/7,” Reiter says. “A good share of my day is taking their calls, texts and emails over current transactions, potential buyers, or questions they have on upcoming listings. It’s a group effort on real estate transactions. It takes all of us to get a deal done!” 

Many homebuyers have a lot of questions regarding mortgages and the purchasing process. Heather understands the stress that individuals and families may be feeling. “Buying a home can be stressful, but I try my best to put the buyers at ease and have a good time while we do it,” says Heather. “I do expect documents upfront because I want my t’s crossed and i’s dotted so we know if there are any potential issues. I try to get my buyers through underwriting before they even find a house. Sometimes it doesn’t work out that way, but that helps keep things moving forward smoothly. Plus when you’re up against multiple offers, knowing a client is already through underwriting can help make their offer that much stronger!”

 

At Cardinal Financial, clients are valued and respected as individuals and questions are welcomed. As Heather says, “I don’t know what you don’t know…so ask questions! I want my clients to feel comfortable with their decision on purchasing a house. Whether it's a certain payment we need to shoot for, a rate we're trying to get, or a closing amount we need to be within. Every client's needs are different, but I want them to feel empowered and confident with their purchase. It doesn’t matter if the loan is $35,000 or $800,000, I’m there to help guide them, answer questions and take them to the finish line as smoothly as I can!”