Carrie Nicholsky

I have been a mortgage loan officer since 2009, and VA loans have been part of my career from the very beginning. In fact, VA loans were the first loans I learned to originate, and my connection to VA lending has always been very personal to me. My sister and brother-in-law are both veterans, and they were instrumental in helping me get my start working with veterans and military families. My brother-in-law flew jets in the military, and I affectionately referred to him as the “Goose who didn’t die.” When I began originating VA loans, he became an invaluable resource and mentor to me. He helped me understand not only how the VA loan worked, but how to anticipate and navigate the different situations that could come up during a transaction. He even helped me develop a system for handling potential issues during the close of escrow so that I could be prepared rather than reactive. That guidance was incredibly important to me because, as someone who had not served in the military myself, I felt a particular responsibility to get VA lending right. Veterans earned this benefit through their service, and I believed I owed it to them to understand it thoroughly and know how to protect their interests throughout the homebuying process. If a veteran was going to trust me with something as important as purchasing or refinancing their home, I wanted to be worthy of that trust. When I started in 2009, VA financing was not embraced the way it is today. Many real estate agents and sellers were reluctant to even consider VA offers because of misconceptions about the program and fears that VA transactions would be difficult to close. I learned how to anticipate potential obstacles, communicate effectively with agents and everyone involved in the transaction, and help get VA loans to the closing table as seamlessly as possible. Those early experiences shaped the kind of loan officer I became. Over the years, my business has grown to include Conventional, FHA, and other types of mortgage financing, and I have helped both military and civilian families with their home financing needs. But VA lending will always be meaningful to me because it is where my career began and why getting it right matters. More than 17 years later, my philosophy about mortgage lending remains very simple: I genuinely like helping people, and I want to leave them better off than when I found them. For me, being a loan officer isn't just about taking an application or getting a loan closed. It is about listening to someone's circumstances, understanding what they are trying to accomplish, explaining their options, anticipating problems before they become problems, and finding solutions when a transaction isn't straightforward. When I have the opportunity to work with a veteran or military family, I never forget that I am helping them access a benefit they earned through their service. I may not have served myself, but I can honor that service in my own small way by knowing my job, doing it well, and taking care of the veterans and families who place their trust in me.