Eps #5 - Building Trust Through Exceptional Service: Billy Swofford's Mortgage Philosophy

Meet Billy Swofford, a mortgage broker with Edge Home Finance who brings a refreshingly personal touch to the often complex world of home financing. After trading the bright lights of Las Vegas for the charm of Davie County eleven years ago, Billy has built a reputation for exceptional service and unwavering commitment to his clients.

What sets Billy apart isn't just his access to 160 different lenders, but his fascinating journey to the mortgage industry. From his roots growing up on a farm to managing grocery stores, creating wedding cakes as a pastry chef, and working in various other fields, Billy has developed an impressive attention to detail that serves his clients well. This diverse background gives him a unique perspective and the ability to connect with people from all walks of life.

The frustration of being passed between multiple representatives during the mortgage process is something Billy eliminates entirely. He personally stays with clients from application to closing, working alongside just one processor to ensure consistency and clear communication throughout. This approach has proven especially valuable for first-time homebuyers, whom Billy particularly enjoys guiding through unfamiliar territory. There's nothing he finds more rewarding than helping someone who didn't think homeownership was possible make that dream a reality—even if it takes 14 months, as one memorable case did.

Unlike larger operations where business growth often comes at the expense of personal service, Billy intentionally limits his expansion to maintain direct involvement with every client. He's committed to sustainable growth of about 25% more clients each year, but would rather scale back than sacrifice the hands-on approach that defines his practice. This dedication extends to his availability—don't be surprised if you text him on a Sunday and receive an immediate response. Ready to experience mortgage lending with a truly personal touch? Reach out to Billy at billy.swofford@edgehomefinance.com or 702-336-1326 to discuss your financing needs.

Billy Swofford 

Edge Home Finance 

702-336-1326

Billy.swofford@edgehomefinance.com

https://edgehomefinance.com

Chapters

• 0:00 Meet Billy Swafford from Edge Home Finance
• 1:29 From Farm to Finance: Billy's Career Path
• 4:38 Client Experience at Edge Home Finance
• 7:52 Personal Business Vision and Growth Goals
• 10:22 Contact Information and Connection Points
• 12:29 Episode Wrap-Up and Podcast Information

Transcript

Announcer : 0:01

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Karen Wood.

Karen Wood: 0:11

Well, hello Billy, how are you?

Billy Swofford: 0:14

Good morning. How are you? I'm good.

Karen Wood: 0:16

I am doing well. I am excited that you have joined us. We've got Billy Swofford here with Edge Home Finance today and he is a Davie County resident, so we're excited to have him on the Good Neighbor podcast. So tell me, Billy, tell a little bit about you and your business and how you got started.

Billy Swofford: 0:37

So I have been here going on 11 years in Davie County. Came from the West Coast with my wife and two daughters and we love Davie County, we love it here. We're so happy we made the decision to come here and so I have been in the mortgage business for a few years now. I do residential and commercial. Residential and commercial mortgages. We do pretty much any loan imaginable there is for a home need and work with a lot of different lenders and a pretty large company, about 1500 employees that we have agents all over the United States. So, yeah, I love helping people, love the mortgage business and that's kind of what I do right now.

Karen Wood: 1:29

Okay, awesome. So you came from the West Coast. Where on the West Coast did you come from?

Billy Swofford: 1:34

Las Vegas.

Karen Wood: 1:35

Get area of. Davie County.

Billy Swofford: 1:45

Yep, we're advanced, that's right.

Karen Wood: 1:48

I love it, one LA to another.

Billy Swofford: 1:51

That's right.

Karen Wood: 1:52

That's so fun. That's so fun. So in your brokerage or your firm I assume you're more of a brokerage that you have access to a lot of different lenders, not just a single company.

Billy Swofford: 2:04

Correct. Yes, so we. Right now we have access to about 160 different lenders. So you know, that gives us the opportunity to be kind of independent and really shop around for what a client needs that meets their specific requirements, their goals, and break down something that really fits into their situation.

Karen Wood: 2:28

Okay, awesome, awesome. So before the mortgage industry, what did you do before that?

Billy Swofford: 2:34

I have been kind of all over the board. I grew up on a farm so I was, you know, I grew up on a farm so I was immersed in that for a long time and I got into the grocery business for quite a while, managed grocery stores. I am a pastry chef so I used to do wedding cakes and catering quite a bit, and I've been in the fuel and lubricant business, used to sell fuel and a lot of bartending and restaurant work along the way.

Karen Wood: 3:22

Wow, you have a vast background and it's fascinating Literally from all ends of the spectrum. The pastry chef has me intrigued.

Billy Swofford: 3:26

That's really cool. I had a lot of fun with that for quite a while, yeah.

Karen Wood: 3:31

That is really, really cool. So in doing that with like, with grocery, all the things that you've done have a lot of detail work involved in them too, which I'm sure has lended itself well literally over into the lending business and the mortgage, because there's a lot of detail that goes into that.

Billy Swofford: 3:48

There is, there is a lot of detail, yep, yep, absolutely.

Karen Wood: 3:51

Planning detail and all that good stuff. So I'm sure that's translated well for you over there.

Billy Swofford: 3:57

We need the details to get things done properly and get you the right you know into the right situation. So, yeah, details are good, right, right.

Karen Wood: 4:23

As far as your company, you know, obviously you have a lot of choices and places that you can shop for lending. What are some other things that set you apart with home edge finance?

Billy Swofford: 4:38

So we just I mean, we have so many employees and everybody kind of works for their self, but we have such a vast area of people that we can reach out to and you know, have you come across this situation? What, what, what, what have you heard about this? So so many people are there to help and we have trainings available. You know, with our company, every day, I can, I can, I can find any information that I need to. It's right at my fingertips and we just have people there that they their goal is for you to succeed. They want to help you, you know, make the right choice for your client and be have all the information available to you. So that's that really kind of you know, does set us apart.

Karen Wood: 5:31

Right Right to you. So that's that really kind of you know does set us apart, right right. So one thing that I hear a lot of people talk about that they get frustrated with sometimes is that they feel like they are talking to a lot of different people throughout the process. So how do you guys streamline that to where that person doesn't get overwhelmed or feel like maybe they're saying the same thing to several different people?

Billy Swofford: 5:57

Yeah, so and that is true A lot of people they have that They'll go to one person to fill out an application, then they get passed on, they get passed on, they get passed on, and it is a lot. So, with you know, with me and with our company, I am there with you from start to finish and then even after into the future, and the only other person that you will talk to will be a loan processor that works with me, and I am still there with them. We'll both be included on emails to the client and they'll be kind of talking to both of us as a team, but that's it. There's no one else that you're going to need to talk to. It is just me and my processor, and we're there with you the whole time. Nobody else is going to be involved. So that's very nice.

Karen Wood: 6:48

That's awesome, because some of the other companies that you will find maybe online and stuff like that you do your loan application, then you get pushed on to this person and then the next and the next and you're communicating with two, three and four different people and it's kind of like once they pass it to the next one, they don't really communicate or know what's happening. You know on up the stream and it can get kind of frustrating. I'm sure you know on up the stream and it can get kind of frustrating, I'm sure you know, for the client as well as just everyone involved.

Karen Wood: 7:23

So that's very good to know that there's less people involved and you're there the whole time, so what's happening from start to finish, and can help with those issues if they come up along the way and not you know, because time is of the essence when it comes to this kind of stuff.

Billy Swofford: 7:34

Absolutely, it's of the essence, and if you don't know something, then you don't know and you don't know how to fix it quickly and efficiently. So, yeah, it's very important that I'm involved in, you know, the whole aspect.

Karen Wood: 7:48

Yes, love it, love it. So do you have a vision for your business? Do you look to stay just like, as far as your own, just an individual broker working with Edge Home Finance? Do you plan to expand, or what does that look like?

Billy Swofford: 8:03

So for me personally, I do not want to. I don't want to grow so big that I need to have people working for me. I like to be hands-on with everything, do everything myself and just be involved 100%. So for me, my goal is always to grow year over year by 25% 25% more clients year over year. That's my short-term, short term, long term goal. And then you know, if I ever get to a spot where I say, you know what this is, it's too many clients? No, I would. I would scale down and, as opposed to bringing someone on, OK, OK.

Karen Wood: 8:49

Who's your favorite kind of client to work with?

Billy Swofford: 8:52

I would have to say a first-time homebuyer, because it's really fun letting them know there's so much involved and letting them know all the aspects, helping them understand what they're going to be paying for, why they're going to be paying for it, and showing them that we can use some strategic strategies to do some things. So that's that's really my favorite. And and especially somebody that doesn't think they can get into a home and then and then we make it happen. That is, you get a lot of makes you feel real good, you know.

Karen Wood: 9:28

Yes, what's the longest timeframe that you've worked with a client, from initial contact of meeting you to closing on a home?

Billy Swofford: 9:39

Gosh, I would say probably 14 months, about yeah. Yeah, they had some some some special needs that we had to take care of and we knew it was going to be a long process, but we both stuck it out and it took about 14 months, but in the end it works out, so that, to me, is worth it. I do not mind putting in as much time as it takes to get you what you need.

Karen Wood: 10:11

I love it. I love it. And something else that I love that I heard you say before, which was and it makes sense, why you love working with first time homebuyers, is you don't mind getting that text or phone call and what someone would consider off hours from that typical Monday through Friday or in the evening, or even on the weekends.

Billy Swofford: 10:32

I know, and the thing is for me, I always have my phone. If I'm at home on a Sunday, it's no bother for me to answer a question. I think I probably had three different clients that we did things yesterday and Saturday this weekend. So it's no big deal for me at all. I'll take calls after hours Saturday, sunday, I don't care when it is, I'm going to talk to you.

Karen Wood: 10:57

I love it. I love it and that says a lot, because sometimes it can be frustrating with that. You know any client. You want an answer, or need an answer, at least you feel like in your own mind in your own time, and so the fact that you're willing to do that's awesome. Yes, I think it's awesome. Well, tell everyone the best way to get in touch with you if they have immediate needs or even thinking about buying or in the near future.

Billy Swofford: 11:23

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you know the best way to get a hold of me is through phone or text and or email, you know, honestly. So you know anybody can reach me at email is Billy. swofford @ edgehomefinance. com. And you know, send me an email, shoot me a message and we can, you know, go from there. You want to give me a call? Phone number 702-336-1326. Feel free to call or text and we can see what we can do for you.

Karen Wood: 11:56

I love it. I love it. Well, Billy, thanks for spending a few minutes with me today. And what is that fun saying that you always introduce yourself with?

Billy Swofford: 12:06

Anyone on edge today?

Karen Wood: 12:09

I love it, and today is a Monday. I don't feel like I'm on edge, so this has been awesome. Thank you again and we look forward to chat with you, hopefully again in the future, maybe getting even more detailed on what's happening in the marketplace Awesome.

Billy Swofford: 12:23

Thank you so much. I appreciate your time.

Karen Wood: 12:25

Sounds good.

Announcer : 12:29

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpdaveycom. That's gnpdavie. com, or call 336-559-3044.