Nike Ojo

As the broker owner of Discovered Home Investment Inc with over 18 years of experience, Nike Ojo has long known that mortgage brokers are the go-to resource for consumers across the country. As a UWM Top 20 award recipient, Ojo believes that the wholesale channel’s best days lay ahead and there is no telling where we can go from here.  
What interested you in starting a career in the mortgage industry? 
The poor service rendered to my husband who is a real estate agent by his loan officer. He would wait for several weeks for an update and he felt he was really doing us a favor by closing our loans. Then I did my research and decided to go into the business to offer better service to our clients. I started out with an idea to only make loans for his clients but other agents and builder sales personnel that I worked with on other files now send their clients to me.  
What’s a career highlight you’re most proud of? 
Being able to educate clients, especially millennials, to achieve homeownership is the highlight of this career for me.  
What’s unique about your business? 
Being able to carry the clients along during the process, being reachable and ensuring the clients feel they’re extremely important in the process. I also attend all my closings with a gift and I recently started decorating purchase client’s yards with a welcome home yard sign. I just love seeing the smile on their faces when they get home from closing to see the yard sign.  
If you could change one thing about the mortgage industry right now, what would it be? 
Providing more training and resources for incoming loan officers. The AIME team has done an incredible job and I still believe people need a lot more support.  
Where do you turn for leadership advice? 
Brokers are Better Facebook group has been an important part of my business life since I joined. I never had any support when I started the business. Everything I know today, I learned on my own. It’s such a relief to know you can always turn to a particular group of women for advice who will freely give it.  
What is your business philosophy? 
When there’s a will, God will always make a way. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil 4:13  
What are the biggest challenges facing mortgage brokers & what’s your advice for overcoming them? 
The biggest challenges are the need for additional training and support. Also, brokers need more recognition of what we do and help to create this awareness to homebuyers. We need to continue educating the public about what we do.  
Why do you believe that brokers are better for consumers? 
We have and provide lots of options. We don’t work a typical 9-5 but we do work from start to finish. We aren’t just here to make a profit, we want to ensure buyers are placed in suitable loans based on their uniqueness. We aren’t a one loan fits all shop.  
If you could go back to your first day in the industry, what advice would you give yourself? 
Attend all available training and get a mentor.