Hi Emeka, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Hi, my name is Emeka Ndukwe and this is my story. I’m a first-generation Nigerian / American that lives in Dallas. I was born in Lafayette, Louisiana and was raised in Dallas (my parents moved to Dallas when I was 5). I grew up with two younger brothers (I’m the oldest). I graduated from North Garland High school and earned a football scholarship to East Central Oklahoma. After 2 years in Oklahoma, I decided to transfer to UNT to be closer to home. My first year at UNT I got injured during spring practice and this effectively ended my playing career. This would turn out to be a blessing in disguise’.
Without football, I had to quickly figure out what I could do to set myself up for the future post-graduation. With that in mind, I reached out to the UNT Athletic Department to inquire about internships within the program. After a few discussions, I was able to convince the Athletic Department to take me on as an unpaid intern. Building on my experiences at UNT, I entered the workforce shortly after graduation. Over the next 8’years I worked in Accounting / Finance Jobs at various companies in Dallas (Blockbuster video corporate, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group & Brinker [Chilis & Maggiano’s]. During my last year at Brinker I bought my first home and this experience really shaped the career I have now.
The home buying experience was significant because I had no clue what I was doing. When I met my loan officer, I didn’t feel like he really cared if I understood everything that was happening during the transaction. When I had questions, my lender was unresponsive and rarely gave me the clarity I was looking for. When I finally closed on my home in 2014, I made a promise to myself that I would learn EVERYTHING about the home buying process and help others avoid a similar experience. Three years later, I obtained my mortgage license and became a mortgage loan originator. Over the last 5 years, I’ve helped clients understand every step of the loan process with absolute clarity.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I would say the biggest obstacle has been carving time out for myself and my family. I recently got engaged and have been extremely intentional about finding balance, which I’m sure my fiancée appreciates – but it’s easier said than done. Luckily for me, I have a support system that enables me to reach my full potential professionally
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I partner with my fiancée, Masera Turkson, who is a Realtor with the TribecaGroup at Compass. You can think of us as a “one stop shop” to address your home buying, lending and refinancing needs. We can help you with: Loan Process Education, Loan Pre-Approval, Refinancing, and Specialized Loan Programs.
Our Mission: Navigating a real estate transaction can be a time-consuming, stressful, and confusing process. With over 10 years of combined experience, you can count on us to be your trusted advisor for every step of your real estate transaction.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Home values increased 12-13% in last year and based on the most recent Google Trends data, the number of people searching for homes in Dallas has never been greater. For buyers who are waiting for the market to cool off, that strategy may cost you more in the long run as home values and interest rates continue to rise.
Contact Info:
- Emeka Ndukwe
Residential Mortgage Lender
VIP Mortgage – Dallas |NMLS# 1451677
M: 214.986.4365
Email: Emeka@VIPmtg.com
Website: https://www.vipmtg.com/emeka - Masera Turkson
REALTOR® | Compass Real Estate
M: 952.564.9667
Email: masera.turkson@compass.com
License # 631982
Image Credits
Emeka Ndukwe
Masera Turkson
Brooklyn
