After graduating with a degree in mathematics and a minor in French, Rick Elmendorf was working as a real estate appraiser with his brother when he heard a radio ad about lending. “Appraising gave me unique insight into how lenders use collateral and how the numbers work,” Elmendorf explains. “So much in a transaction (purchase or refinance) hangs on the appraisal, so it’s nice to have that experience.”
A senior vice president of mortgage lending with Guaranteed Rate, Elmendorf is celebrating 30 years in the business, where he’s an expert in VA loans and was ranked among the top three nationwide for VA loan productions a few years ago. The Scotsman’s Guide has named him in the top 1% of originators in the country since 2005 and the top 50 loan officers in the nation from 2014 to 2019. The author of the book “The Loan Officer Revolution” and author of “3% Lower,” he has published articles, given speeches, provided interviews and been on numerous podcasts. A certified military relocator (CMR) and certified military and veteran lending professional (CMVLP), he has received an “A” grade from pcsgrades.com and was named a military influencer in Washington, D.C., in 2019.
This past year, Elmendorf worked on rebuilding his team and grounding himself on what the industry needs and how to become the solution. “There is such a lack of good information that I’ve started a blog, www.rickelmendorf.com, and YouTube channel, youtube.com/rickelmendorf, to focus on empowering consumers with a major emphasis on VA lending,” he says.
Although Elmendorf is a serious gamer who enjoys playing piano, singing and participating in pickleball competitions, the most important part of his life is not work or his hobbies, but his deep Christian faith.
Guaranteed Rate, Inc. is a private corporation organized under the laws of the state of Delaware. It has no affiliation with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture or any other government agency.
