Ed Francois

Ed came to the area right out of college in 2013 when a friend offered him a place to stay. He started as an underwriter, became the go-to person because he actually talked to clients instead of hiding in a back office, and moved into loan origination because he understood the guidelines inside out. Now he's excited about home equity — helping people refinance, reinvest, or send their kids to school without the stress most people expect from mortgages.

Rate is one of the top three or four companies modernizing the mortgage industry with real technology. The difference shows: Ed walks clients through the process with clarity instead of mystery. Most people think you need 20% down; you don't. Most people think they're not ready to buy; many are. Ed's job is cutting through the noise so people stop disqualifying themselves. These days, Ed is particularly excited talking to people about Home Equity Lines of Credit and showing them what they might not know they can do.

The mortgage industry still runs like the 1980s. Ed doesn't.