Jim Smith – Click Here for Jim’s Website
Jim Smith graduated with a degree in mathematics from California State University, Sacramento, and entered the real estate profession in 1979 after working 10 years as an accountant for the AT&T subsidiary in San Francisco. After selling homes in the San Francisco East-Bay Area from 1979-1989, he worked as the sales manager for the San Ramon office of a national residential real-estate organization. In 1991 he moved to San Luis Obispo and founded a mortgage brokerage business with his wife Jan. As the principal broker of Smith Lending Group, he specializes in locating low-rate affordable financing for homeowners and home buyers throughout California. During his many years working in real estate he has helped thousands of people buy and finance homes. Jim has been actively involved in community service with his Rotary Club for over 25 years. He lives in San Luis Obispo where he enjoys spending time with his family, touring in the local wine country, playing pool, and an occasional game of golf. DRE# 00470946 NMLS# 239727
Kim Williams – Click Here for Kim’s Website
Kim Williams graduated from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo with Master’s degree in Psychology in 1999. After a brief psychotherapy practice on the Central Coast, she transitioned into real estate finance in 2003. Kim began her finance career as a home-loan assistant at a large mortgage banking operation in San Luis Obispo. She quickly acquired the skills to effectively handle all types of home loans. After obtaining her California Real Estate license in 2004 she began originating loans at JP Morgan Chase, where she funded a wide variety of conventional and government loans all over the US. As the “big bank” home loan options began to undergo dramatic changes in 2008, Kim decided to partner with long-time mentor Jim Smith at Smith Lending Group. Kim feels that her success in the loan business comes from the blending of her two passions –the desire to help people and the thrill of handling a task from start to finish. She and her family live in San Luis Obispo. DRE# 01423516 NMLS# 263247
Lou Escoto – Click Here for Lou’s Website
Lou Escoto was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, earning his CA Real Estate license in 1991. He began his loan origination career in Northern Santa Barbara County that same year. From 1998 – 2007 Lou managed a successful team of loan agents for a large mortgage brokerage in Orange County before moving back north to SLO County. In addition to funding conventional, FHA and VA residential loans, he has been involved in numerous commercial projects from multi-million-dollar retail to SBA loans and has originated and funded thousands of loans for clients throughout the state of California. His core values are to develop and maintain a high level of trust from the beginning of the transaction through to the closing. Lou’s primary focus has always been customer service by being available at all times and implementing creative mortgage solutions. In his spare time Lou spends time with his family and enjoys being very involved with his son’s education and youth sports programs. Lou also enjoys an occasional game of golf. DRE# 01103220 NMLS# 274721
