THE GORDON GUIDE
ABOUT US
Hello, I'm Nicole
For those of you who don’t know me, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Nicole Gordon and I have spent the last 19 years working in the mortgage industry. Over that time I have done just about everything from consumer direct sales to cofounding a mortgage company as its head of operations to underwriting. For the last four years I have been a loan originator and branch manager here in Charleston, SC. I live in Mount Pleasant with my husband and my three daughters. I love real estate, both as an investor and a mortgage professional.
As many of you know, the covid world has been tumultuous for the mortgage industry. For some perspective, in Q4 of 2020 the mortgage industry originated almost 1.4 trillion dollars worth of mortgages. In 2023, for the entire year, the industry did 1.5 trillion. As a result mortgage companies went from making around $4,000 per loan to losing almost $3,000 per loan, a change that happened in less than 2 full years. Most mortgage companies are still losing money on each loan originated today.
“All great changes are proceeded by chaos.” – Deepak Chopra
As I mentioned earlier, I have been doing this a long time. I was in the business the last time things radically changed, during the great financial crisis. The changes that resulted from that period (Dodd-Frank and historically low rates among other things) are what led to the rise of non-bank mortgage lenders. These non-bank lenders (Quicken Loans, Movement Mortgage, Loan Depot, etc) picked up tremendous market share over the next decade and became the leaders in the space.
It is my opinion, as of today, that non-bank mortgage lenders are no longer set up to continue that dominance and growth. Higher interest rates and fewer originations have led to pricing compression, and non-bank mortgage lenders are getting hit the hardest. I share the same goals as most loan originators. We want to be the person people come to for the best service. We want to be the person known for finding a way to get the deal done. We want to be known for doing both of those things, while maintaining really competitive pricing. Today, the best way for me to do that is as an independent mortgage broker.
As an independent mortgage broker I can work with over 250 different lenders, who will compete with each other, to give my clients the best possible rates and terms. Non-bank mortgage lenders also send their loans to these same investors, but they are forced to spend millions of dollars on compliance and technology that is ultimately absorbed by the borrower. By working directly with those companies I can remove the middle-man and the bureaucracy and pass the savings along to my clients. Additionally, I will no longer need an assembly line of people to help me get a loan closed. This will allow me to spend more time making sure the needs of each client are adequately met.
Hello, I'm Kenzie
I am licensed loan officer, born and raised just outside of Seattle, Washington, I grew up surrounded by the mortgage industry. My dad has owned a mortgage company for over 20 years, and my mom worked her way up to become a VP at one of the nation’s largest lenders—so you could say home financing is in my DNA.
I started my career in 2018 at the front desk of a mortgage company and quickly worked my way up to a lead processor. After moving to Charleston nearly three years ago, I expanded my knowledge by transitioning into the real estate side of the business as an executive assistant for a top Charleston real estate team. That experience gave me valuable insight into the local market and reinforced just how important it is to have a lending partner who truly understands the process from start to finish.
That’s what led me to The Gordon Guide and the opportunity to work alongside Nicole Gordon. After watching her save deal after deal and seeing firsthand the level of dedication she puts into every client, I knew I wanted to be part of a team that prioritizes transparent communication, creative solutions and personalized customer service as an independent mortgage broker, I have access to 250+ investors who compete to offer my clients the best possible rates and loan terms. Without the corporate RED TAPE and an assembly line of departments handling each loan, I’m able to be hands-on throughout the entire process, ensuring my clients and agent partners receive the attention, candid and efficient communication, and competitive pricing they deserve.
While I’m always learning and growing in this ever-changing industry, one thing is certain—I’m here to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible. Whether you’re an agent looking for a reliable lending partner, a first-time homebuyer, or a seasoned investor, I’d love to be a resource for you and/or your clients!
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