Lender Advisory Board 

The Lender Advisory Board is comprised of top-producing participating lenders across the state with knowledge and experience of Florida Housing's homeownership programs.

 
Stacey Cropsey

Stacey Cropsey

SWBC Mortgage

Tampa

Being raised in Kansas City, I am a Midwesterner at heart I graduated with a Master’s degree as a school teacher and taught for 8 years. After my second daughter was born I needed a job with flexibility so I could be a Mom. I worked at a mortgage company while going to school, so I decided to go back into the industry. I now have been a loan officer doing what I love for 18 years. Being a teacher I had a desire to help teachers find a program that offered down payment assistance. I researched programs and began using the Florida Housing First Time Homebuyer Program. I am currently on the board of this program and it is my mission to help as many first time homebuyers that I can. I have two beautiful daughters that are the center of my world. I am also a huge workout advocate and hold a personal training certification. I love running on the beach in my free time and ending my days watching an amazing sunset with a chilled glass of wine. I truly love what I do and hope I can continue to make a difference in people’s lives.

Michelle-D'Auria 

Michelle D’Auria

Embrace Home Loans, Inc. 

Fort Myers

Michelle D'Auria is a Senior Loan Originator with over 30 years experience. Michelle prides herself on delivering an exceptional level of personal service to clients - from origination to the closing of the transaction. She has extensive experience with first-time homebuyer programs and VA financing.

Michelle-Garcia 

Michelle Garcia

American Pacific Mortgage Branch 4818

Orlando

Michelle loves to help borrowers obtain their goals of homeownership while building solid relationships. Michelle ensures that her clients, both consumers and professionals alike, receive quick and accurate loans to suit their needs. She prides herself in developing strong relationships built on trust, guidance, and competence. She is a Loan Officer who wants to help people get the house they want or refinance and save money. She will and always has gone above and beyond for all of her clients.

Deb Holloway

Deb Holloway

The Mortgage Firm

Rockledge

Deb is a licensed Mortgage Professional with many years of experience - yet stays up to date with the constant changes in the industry. Her knowledge of loan programs and ability to listen to her clients, Realtors and builders - has enabled her to become a top producer. This translates to properly structured financing and on-time closings for her clients.

The Holloway Team and The Mortgage Firm strive for complete customer satisfaction. Please call her for the personalized, confidential and professional service you deserve.

Mary-Keene 

Mary Keene

Guild Mortgage

Jacksonville

Mary has over 32 years in the mortgage business with experience from processing, closing and underwriting, to being a Top Producing Loan Originator. Her experience is there to help you attain your goal of Homeownership! Mary and her team look forward to working with you and the opportunity to earn your business. The greatest compliment she can receive from you is the referral of a friend or family member.

 

Luis Melgar

CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC

Naples

Luis Melgar, originally from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, relocated to Naples, Florida, in 2008. He currently serves as the Sales Manager for the Maxwell Mortgage Team at CrossCountry Mortgage. Since 2017, Luis has had the privilege of being mentored by some of the best in the industry, including one of the most successful Loan Originators in the country. With a fervent dedication to learning, Luis imparts his knowledge not only to his clients but also to his colleagues. His area of expertise lies in assisting First Time Homebuyers, leveraging a profound insight into the journey of acquiring one's inaugural home. Transitioning from a background in the food and beverage industry, Luis seamlessly applies his honed skills to deliver exceptional customer service to each of his clients. Married to his wife Gen, Luis is a proud father of two daughters.

Shari-Reeves 

Shari Reeves

Gateway Mortgage Group, LLC

Jacksonville

Shari strives to make your homebuying experience easy, reliable, and fast. Her experience in the mortgage industry stems over a 36 year career in the Jacksonville, Florida area. Shari’s experience throughout all areas of the mortgage industry gives her the knowledge needed to assist her clients with all aspects of their mortgage financing needs. Shari’s heart is drawn to first time home buyers. She feels blessed to help people achieve the dream of homeownership. Her promise to clients is to provide transparency, timely communications, and excellent service. She is committed to building stronger communities and families one home at a time.

willie-smith-hamilton-home-loans 

Willie Smith

Preferred Rate

Jacksonville

I work as a VA Home Loan Specialist. My focus is helping families realize their dream of homeownership and helping clients build wealth through the acquisition of real estate. I also partner with real estate agents that have similar goals and work ethics. I have been in the real estate industry for over 20 years. My knowledge base was groomed while I spent time at Bank Of America, Countrywide Home Loans and SunTrust Mortgage. I was blessed to work at these great companies and still employee several of their best practices in my current day-to-day activities. I help people who work in the real estate industry. I do so by providing real estate agents with proven-to-work marketing strategies that help grow their business. I show real estate agents how we can partner to creatively market and focus our time on results-orientated activities while maintaining freedom and quality of life. I help consumers by providing options and quality lending advice. My passion is helping military families take advantage of their VA home loan benefits. I help clients by providing honest, expert advice in a very simple and direct manner. My team is focused on making the lending process both informative and rewarding. We specialize in VA and FHA mortgage loans, FHA 203k, reverse mortgages, vacation home loans, and credit counseling.

Patty Steele

Patty Nicholson formerly Steele

NewRez

Valrico

Patty Steele is a Sales Manager with Caliber Home Loans and has been helping first time homebuyers since 1995. She started her career as a mortgage broker in Indiana. She then moved to Southwest Florida in 2004 where she went to work for a community bank working her way up to be their Mortgage Director. She was on the CRA committee for the bank as well. She moved to the Tampa area in 2010 where she worked for Wells Fargo Mortgage, Synovus Bank and then on her to current position with Caliber Home Loans. Her passion is educating buyers about the mortgage process and available programs to help them obtain their dream and make the process as easy as possible. Patty has been on the Lender Advisory Board for several years. She has been on the City of Tampa CDBG Grant Review Board for that past 2 years. She has an exceptional team of bilingual professionals that make the transaction smooth and efficient.

Laura Wells

Laura Wells

Capital City Home Loans

Tallahassee

Laura has been with Capital City since 2013, and has been originating loans since 2004. She holds degrees in both finance and economics from the University of Florida. Laura loves working with first-time homebuyers and assisting them with subsequent purchases. Her goal is to make the home buying process as easy and stress-free as possible. Laura has been a top producer of first-time homebuyer loans for over 10 years in the state of Florida.

Denise Zakeri

Denise Zakeri

DHI Mortgage

Palm Bay

Denise Zakeri has been in the mortgage business since 1980 and has extensive experience in all areas of the mortgage transaction, originating, processing, underwriting, closing/funding and shipping. She also has experience with all types of mortgage loans: State and county first time buyers, FHA, VA, USDA, conventional and many other various local affordable housing down payment assistant programs.

This knowledge base is used to assist home buyers understand the mortgage process which results in a smooth/peace of mind transaction towards homeownership.