Meet Christine Truong | CMG Financial Loan Originator, MLO NMLS 1761926, CMG NMLS 1820

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christine Truong and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and my family is originally from Vietnam. My parents fled Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon in 1975 to escape communism and became refugees in the U.S. My parents came here with just the clothes on their backs and growing up as an immigrant family, I saw how hard they worked to sacrifice and save up every penny they had. Along with my grandma, we lived in a small 2 bedroom, 1 bath apartment in the city for a few years. I remember when my parents were so proud to finally buy their first home, a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2 story house in the suburbs. They left everything they had in Vietnam and arrived in the U.S. with nothing, but through their dedication, they persevered to live the American dream.

As the first generation born in the U.S., I learned through my parents’ plight that if we want anything in life, we have to work hard for it. Nothing is free and we can’t feel entitled for anything to be handed to us on a silver platter. I understand that the harder I work, the more successful I can become.

Owning a home is an essential part of the American dream. During my line of work in the mortgage industry, every family that I’m able to help place in their new home brings me joy and reminds me of the feeling of accomplishment that my own family had.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I don’t think anyone goes to school thinking their dream goal is to become a loan originator. With original plans of going into pharmacy, I have a degree in biology at the University of Houston. Instead, I worked in outside sales for a distributor for 11 years, then was laid off. Getting laid off was the best thing that happened to me because it pushed me out of my comfort zone. I was offered an opportunity to join my friends’ new mortgage brokerage, Motto Mortgage Plus. After gaining some experience in wholesale lending, I switched to working with a private mortgage banking firm and direct lender, CMG Financial. Like our realtor partners, there is a lot of sales work such as self-marketing and networking involved in building your business in loan origination. Nowadays, an online presence such as on social media plays a huge role in exposing yourself to homebuyers. Most of my business is from referral partners and social media.

As a loan originator, I’m able to help individuals, investors, and families borrow money to accomplish their home financial goals through purchasing or refinancing a 1-4 unit residential property. Whether they’re a first-time homebuyer or seasoned property owner, I counsel potential borrowers through the loan process, educating on the different types of loans offered and their terms.

I love what I do! I have an amazing job and I get to work daily with a great team at CMG Financial. Our work is diverse, satisfying, and no day is ever the same. We get to assist clients with their home financing needs and on a daily basis, we get to connect with great people. I’m able to build long lasting relationships with my clients and referral sources.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Houston is a major foodie city – any type of food that you’re craving, Houston has it! If you’re my best friend visiting, I would have every meal already planned out and restaurant reserved. I truly believe Houston has the best and most authentic Vietnamese food in the nation (sorry Orange County!), so Chinatown/Bellaire area would be the first stop. Thiên Thanh has Northern Vietnamese dishes and serves a version of the popular rolled rice noodle dish, bánh cuốn. Then Pho Sapa for noodle soups and Saigon Pagolac for a 7-course beef meal. If it’s crawfish season, Crawfish Cafe in the Heights for Viet-Cajun.

You can’t visit Houston without eating BBQ or Mexican food, so Truth BBQ and Flora would be on the list. For sushi, you can’t go wrong with Kata Robata or Uchi. Coppa, North Italian, and Da Marco for the best pastas. If you want a GNO or date night, then dinner at Gratify then after dinner drinks at sexy lounge, Clarkwood, are a must.

For city attractions, a lot of Houstonians are unaware of the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, you can catch a live quartet show or art installation underground there. You can also watch thousands of wild bats emerge from under the bridge at sunset on the Waugh Drive Bat Colony bridge. Houston is a great hub that attracts big artists, so I would look up upcoming concerts, comedy shows, or sports games.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m lucky to live and work in Houston, TX, where we have an amazing housing market. Texas in general fared better than the rest of the nation in the last recession; our economy rebounded fairly quickly. I’m able to thrive in my role as a Loan Originator helping families accomplish their mortgage financial goals because we live in such a great state.

My success is mainly in part of the supporting role of my husband. We both have full-time jobs; he is a business owner, so he understands the importance of focus and commitment in growing a business. There are times when I can’t make dinner, walk the dogs, or have to work on weekends, and he steps in to help where he can. There should always be a good work-life balance, but sometimes work will take precedence over our personal lives and he understands. I’m grateful to have a supportive husband who can deal with my work ethic!

Website: https://www.cmgfi.com/mysite/christine-truong

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loansbychristine/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ctruongloans

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loansbychristine/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/christine-truong-cmg-financial-houston-2

Other: https://www.testimonialtree.com/details.aspx?u=207237