Is it time to take the plunge and buy your first house or investment property? Or, maybe you need to refinance a current home loan? The Mortgage Team at Elevations Credit Union would love to be your guide during this journey. Mortgage Loan Officer Kelley Spight has assisted members at the Fort Collins Midtown Branch since December of 2017. Learn more about her approach to loan origination rooted in over 40 years of finance experience.
Kelley Spight likes to go with the flow. Why? Her laid-back approach to making connections and building relationships with Elevations members works.
“I have the mindset that if it’s meant to be, we’ll work together,” Spight said. “I’m here to help. I’m certainly not high pressure. I like talking to people. And I like that I work for a company that allows me to put a member first. That’s pretty unique.”
A lengthy career in the finance industry
Fresh out of high school, Spight started working in the Customer Service Department at Wells Fargo Bank where she did bookkeeping via United Bank. She eventually migrated into consumer lending, commercial accounts, checking/savings accounts and prepared commercial loan documents. Eventually, an opportunity opened up in the mortgage department, and she jumped at the option to try something new: loan origination.
Spight said she was nervous at the beginning, knowing she was working on commission. However, that’s when she discovered her passion for helping Coloradans become homeowners.
Spight worked for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage for 38 years, until she reached retirement eligibility. Since she wasn’t inclined to retire yet, she decided to join Elevations in 2017 to help members with their residential home loan needs, from refinancing current home loans to securing new mortgages.
She said she likes and respects Elevations’ values because the credit union is both community and member-driven. From assisting local scholars through the Elevations Foundation, to reaching out to mortgage-holders after the Boulder fires, Elevations operates in a way that Spight admires.
“Everything that we do every single day, we, as a company understand how we’re going to affect the community, how we’re going to affect that member,” Spight said. “And, we always take the right path. It is extremely heartwarming.”
Helping potential homeowners be ready
Although she enjoys the entire loan origination process — from meeting members for the first time, to gathering paperwork, researching the best loans products and eventually celebrating at the closing table — it’s the first-time homebuyer that’s eager to learn what it takes to be a homeowner who really allows Spight to use the wealth of financial knowledge she’s gained over the years.
“Just the other day, I had somebody who wanted to get herself set up for when she’s ready to buy in a couple of years,” Spight said. “So we can go through credit, savings — and all that kind of stuff — and what a payment might look like. That is really fun. People are entrusting you to help them get prepared, which to me, is awesome, because I have the knowledge to share with somebody to get them ready to purchase a home.”
Spight says that during this process she also gets to learn more about the person, their family and most importantly, share in their excitement of fulfilling a lifelong dream.
When shopping for a mortgage, Spight said it’s a good idea to find not only a lender that offers the loan type you want, but also a loan officer who meshes with your personality. After all, you will be working together closely for a few weeks, months — or possibly years if your dream property hasn’t been found yet.
“I encourage people to shop at least two to three different institutions to see where the best fit is,” Spight said. “I want them to know they made the best choice when they come to Elevations.”
Then, get a mortgage pre-approval. This helps buyers understand how much of a home they can afford and expedites the purchasing process when you do find the perfect home and want to move forward with making an offer.
Most of Spight’s appointments these days are with repeat buyers. Over the years, first-time homeowners will eventually upsize to accommodate a growing family or downsize as they transition into empty-nesters. Some ambitious Elevations members choose to purchase second homes, vacation properties or investment properties.
From first-time purchasers to seasoned property owners, Spight is happy to visit with them all.
“The best compliment I could ever get is to have worked with somebody, who not only comes back to me, but also refer a family member or friend,” she said.
Always time for family and fun
Family is a priority for Spight. She has seven siblings, all of whom live in Colorado. She and her husband of 41 years, Steve, have two adult married sons and three grandchildren, with a fourth on the way.
In her downtime, Spight loves to spend time with her immediate and extended family members outdoors in the sunshine.
If you ask her about her weekend, it might include a sleepover with the grandkids, playtime in the yard or taking the little ones for a ride in the golf cart. Of course, they always make time to stop and say hello to the geese and hunt for lost balls on the course next to their Fort Collins home.
If you’re ready to learn more about the mortgage process, contact Kelley Spight (NMLS# 420438) by phone at (970) 617-4034 or email kelley.spight@elevationscu.com. She’s also happy to visit in person with members at the Fort Collins Midtown Branch at 2025 South College Avenue.
