Whitney L. Fite is the president of Angel Oak Home Loans LLC
What was your first job in the realty industry? I was a loan officer at a three-person mortgage brokerage shop. It was trial by fire, but looking back on it, it was a great way to learn a lot fast!
Where did you grow up? I’m one of the rare Atlanta natives, and spent most of my youth in East Cobb.
Growing up, what did you want to be? My earliest recollection was wanting to be a race car driver. My dad and uncle took me to Road Atlanta, and I was hooked!
What do you do to relax when you’re stressed? Spend time with my family at Lake Oconee.
If you could have lunch with a well-known figure (living or not), who would it be and why? Rudy Giuliani. I was recently able to see him speak at a leadership seminar and was very impressed. I would love the opportunity to pick his brain on his approach to leadership.
Where is your favorite place to hang out? No question, the lake.
What do you love most about the industry? Building relationships with and helping people. It’s a very relationship-based business.
How do you distinguish yourself from the crowd of agents? Differentiation is big for us at Angel Oak. It starts with staying true to your core values and business model. We are a traditional retail mortgage lender that relies on a referral from an outside source (typically realtors) to earn our business. Happy referral partners and clients = increased business. Its simple but true.
What is the most difficult aspect of your job? Coordinating all of the details required on a real estate transaction is a lot of responsibility and can find yourself in stressful situations with all of the moving parts. People come to us to help them navigate the many challenges and complexities associated with getting a mortgage. This is a responsibility we take very seriously.
Where do you go to network and meet new clients? In my role as president, I am more focused on ensuring our licensed mortgage advisers have the necessary tools to build a consistently loyal referral network. Most of our efforts are focused on a “grass roots” approach to supporting their individual neighborhood areas and markets.
What has been your greatest accomplishment? Professionally I have been blessed to be surrounded with great people. What really makes me feel good is seeing the people around me achieving great success. Fortunately, I am surrounded by successful people that allowed me to serve as a mentor to them at some point in their careers.
What was the last good movie you saw or book you read? “Unbroken.”
What is your favorite restaurant? Chops.
Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Atlanta? I know it as the old IBM Tower but I think its called One Atlantic Center now.
What kind of car do you drive? A Mercedes.
Smartphone or paper? Smartphone.
What is your favorite city after Atlanta? Charleston
In 10 words or less, what is your advice for someone new to the industry? Under promise, over deliver and follow though.
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