Meet Ubaldo V. Leon III | Mortgage Loan Originator – Luxury Home Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ubaldo V. Leon III and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ubaldo V., we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
As a child, one could say that I was the “Ugly Duckling” of my peer group and being a Gay Ugly Duckling in a conservative town made things worse. I learned early on in life to march to the beat of my own drum and become self reliant. As an adolescent I’d worked for fortune 500 companies in “Corporate America” where the culture was very much one of seeking validation from superiors, unhealthy competition between peers and mundane activities that seemed to be ego driven scavenger hunts for others. I realized in that moment that I didn’t want to work in an environment which was eerily reminiscent of my experience in Highschool all to make someone else rich.

My mother had always said to me “be a leader son, not a follower” and so in taking her advice; I studied, got my license and became a mortgage broker. It certainly was scary not having a salary to support myself. As a self employed individual I knew that I’d only eat if I put in the hard work and dedication required to become a well respected, success in the industry. The most difficult piece was having confidence in myself but I knew I had a strong work ethic and that everything would depend on that work ethic and on my ability to do the right thing for others which is at the cornerstone of my core values as a human and of my mortgage business. I also knew that the success of my business would be based solely on the outstanding work I preformed for my clients and that referrals would be the life blood of that business so …as long as I did an excellent job, everything else would fall into place. I knew there would also be no cap to what I might be able to earn as my own boss which was super appealing despite the underlying anxiety of not having a salary as a safety net.

My mother also said “I don’t care if you’re a garbage man son, but be the best garbage man you can be.” I put that mantra into everything I do as a mortgage professional to this day. I have built a successful business that has resulted in funding over 1 billion dollars in mortgage loans and helped countless families realize their dream of homeownership in the process. Success does not come easy as the blood sweat and tears are a real truth, especially in the Real Estate industry which requires both an uber thick skin and the need to work hard to be bigger better and stronger to best serve our clients and referral partners! It’s most important that, no matter what industry you end up in as a self employed individual, you choose to be a student of your profession on a daily basis and that you never lose sight of your core values and willingness to help others. If you help others, and know your job inside and out, the money and success will come without a second thought.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
As a mortgage professional it’s easy to get lost in a world of numbers and “yes you’re approved or you’re not quite ready, let’s work on that credit of yours.” at the end of the day, I am most proud of the people I touch on a daily basis and… whilst closing a transaction on-time is always important, The true reward comes from a client reaching out randomly and explaining how I’ve changed their lives in some profound way because I was able to close their loan when nobody else could or sending a picture of their kids running around the yard of their new home. This energy is the “food for the soul” that makes me most proud of what I do.

My job has afforded me the ability to connect with everyone from the first time home buyer, to Dallas Socialites, to Hawaiian Natives, to some of the writers and producers of some of our favorite movies and television shows, to Oscar Award Winning actors and actresses in Hollywood. It’s all the same as far as I am concerned as long as I am enriching their lives, helping them figure out cost effective solutions to financial issues and watching them grow and build wealth through home ownership. There truly is nothing more rewarding than being able to help others, in such a significant way. It does not matter whether my clients are looking for financial reward, a place to call home or both. My biggest reward is to see each and every client smile and to know that they are undeniably happy.

The biggest challenge we have in todays market environment is correctly educating the community. There are so many news outlets selling “sensationalist” articles and many of them describe a doomsday world in which the sky is falling and markets will crash like they did in 2008. This is simply not the case and so the real challenge is educating clients, basing commentary on facts and historical data and then helping them through the decision making process.

Communication is another important challenge. Realtors and others involved with the transaction want to hear from their mortgage professional often and a lack of communication is the number one pain point of any realtor involved in a transaction. My team and I strive to communicate efficiently and often with our agents as it can make or break a transaction and have a profound effect an on-time close of escrow. Having many escrows going simultaneously, this as you can imagine be a tough challenge but…I’ve learned to overcome that challenge through building a great team, delegating what I can and then I am freed up to be utilized to my highest and best use as the person driving the ship. So build a team you trust, teach them your core values, train them on communication style and learn to “let go” where appropriate. As a result your clients will end up way better served than if you’d tried to do everything on your own.

Ours is a business based on numbers and trust so when you’re looking for a mortgage professional to close on the biggest investment you’ll likely make in your lifetime, building the right team is paramount. It’s our goal not only to provide the excellent rates and loan products our team is known for but… to build a relationship and a trust with clients and referral partners that will last a lifetime. We want the world to know that our brand is based on becoming the most trusted mortgage team in the industry with a basis in the education of our clientele and the implementation of Integrity, Efficiency and Innovation which are the core values at the cornerstone of our business.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting the area we would have dinner at Craigs in Beverly Hills which is one of LA’s best old School restaurants. We’d have sunset cocktails on the rooftop of the Waldorf Astoria and would likely have spent the day earning that steak by driving the Malibu Coast or Hiking Runyan Canyon to work up an appetite. Miceli’s in Cahuenga pass is also a fun place if you’re the type who like to have your waiter sing an opera song to you while they serve you or… if you’re in for a night of sophistication and dressing chic, Vibrato Jazz Grill is a favorite hot spot.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Of course I would say that my mother deserves so much credit for who I have become as a person. A business can only become as successful as the heart behind it and she taught me how to have a BIG one!

I would also like to thank Dennis Duban of DLD accountancy, the most experienced accountant I’ve come across in 21 years in the business, for taking me under his wing as a young professional many years ago forming a bond both personally and in business that would be unbreakable. His example of resilience and determination is unmatched and I’ve watched him work countless hours (even on his birthday which happens to be tax day) to serve his clients and to ensure that they are undeniably happy! Having an example like him to look up to made all things possible.

Website: ubaldoleon.com

Instagram: @skooterleon

Linkedin: Ubaldo V. Leon III- https://www.linkedin.com/in/ubaldo-v-leon-iii-63453446/

Facebook: Skooter Leon

Yelp: Ubaldo V. Leon III – http://www.yelp.com/biz/ubaldo-leon-rpm-mortgage-los-angeles

Youtube: Ubaldo V. Leon III- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRJHnteNhC6W2U5sBx0dcA

Image Credits
Please provide Photo Credit to: Gina Sabatella Photography