Karen Jackson has been a residential mortgage specialist for Prosperity Bank for a little over a year.
WHAT DOES SHE DO?
She originates loans and handles refinances. “If someone wants to purchase a home or refinance their home, I handle the funding end of the mortgage. I get a lot of my work from REALTORS® and some builders. I get many calls through referrals.”
BEFORE PROSPERITY?
Jackson has been in lending for over 16 years. She was with Atlantic Coast Federal for over 15 years. She started out as a teller and loan processor and worked her way up to branch manager where she handled all of the lending. “I processed them and dispersed them. I did everything including car loans, signature loans, mortgages and home equities.”
WHAT DOES SHE LIKE ABOUT HER JOB NOW?
“Now, I just do nothing but the mortgages. Though, I do try and cross-sell the services at the bank when I do a mortgage. I like the satisfaction of starting something and finishing it and knowing the people are happy with their new house. It’s very satisfying. It’s a very detailed phase of lending, more than just coming in and getting a car loan.”
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Jackson is very involved with the Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS® and its Beaches Council. She also is a member of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, Beaches Chamber of Commerce and the Ponte Vedra Chamber of Commerce and serves on the military liaison committee for the Chamber. She is also a member of the Beaches Business Association. “I needed to have a place out here and have people know me so I could get referrals and have people call me just from knowing me and knowing that I can help with good customer service.”
HOW’S BUSINESS?
“Very good. We are still doing a lot of refinances, but I am also doing more purchases lately. People are starting to buy more since the first of the year.”
NEW PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET?
There is a new product called the interest-only loan where the home buyers pay only the interest on their loan. She said most home owners move after five years, so this loan would be ideal for them. “If you just pay interest only in five years you still owe the same amount, but the house has appreciated and is worth more, so it is almost like you paid principle. You have a lower payment and your house appreciates, so you make money.”
BIRTHPLACE
Topeka, Kan.
RESIDES
In the Cobblestone subdivision near Atlantic and Kernan Boulevards.
MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE?
In 1965 with her family.
FAMILY
She has three daughters, Jennifer, Deanna and Amy, and three grandchildren and one on the way.
HOBBIES
Playing golf and going to the gym.
CHURCH
East 44th Street Baptist.
FAVORITES
She sites “Pretty Woman” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” as her favorite movies and James Patterson as her favorite author. When she needs a day away, she likes to visit St. Augustine for the day and visit the shops and restaurants. When dining out, she likes to take a big crowd to Daruma Japanese Steak House to have a good time. When relaxing at home, she likes to tune into “Law and Order” and “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
— by Michele Newbern Gillis