The Alimond Show
Welcome to The Alimond Show --join us as we share our entrepreneurial guests' stories, uncover their secrets to success, and explore the unique paths they've taken to build thriving businesses in our community.
In each episode, our host, Aliyah Dastour, sits down with a diverse group of local business owners, from the corner cafe to the boutique shop, from tech startups to family-run enterprises. We peel back the curtain to reveal the trials, triumphs, and transformational moments that have shaped their entrepreneurial journey.
Discover the passion, perseverance, and innovative thinking that fuels these businesses, as well as the challenges they've overcome along the way. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking inspiration or simply a curious listener interested in the stories behind your favorite local spots, The Alimond Show has something for everyone.
Our guests share their experiences, insights, and valuable advice that can empower you to turn your own dreams into reality. We discuss topics like marketing strategies, customer relationships, community engagement, and much more, offering practical takeaways you can apply to your own business or career.
Join us every week as we celebrate the unsung heroes of our local business community and explore the vibrant tapestry of entrepreneurship in our area. Tune in to The Alimond Show and get ready to be inspired, informed, and motivated to support and nurture the businesses that make our community thrive.
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The Alimond Show
Courtney Deoraj - Mortgage Marketing and the Power of Personal Growth
Courtney Deoraj's story is as unexpected as it is inspiring. This powerhouse mom didn't just shift gears from criminal justice to the mortgage industry; she turbocharged her career to co-own Maryland's premier mortgage brokerage. Get ready to be captivated by her personal anecdotes of overcoming hurdles, balancing a thriving career with motherhood, and the critical importance of setting boundaries for mental health. Her journey is not just about professional triumphs, but also the resilience and the personal growth that come with them.
Picture a day where your routine is on autopilot, but is that always a good thing? Courtney and I dissect the pros and cons of cruising through our daily tasks and the undeniable value of stepping back to recharge. We venture into the world of mortgage marketing, examining innovative strategies like virtual assistants that keep the wheels turning smoothly. If you've ever wondered how to maintain that delicate balance between ambition and personal fulfillment, this conversation will reveal how one woman masters the art of helping others secure their dream homes while nurturing her own family life.
But this episode doesn't just stop at personal achievement—it's a profound look into the impact of kindness and community service. Imagine the joy that comes from seeing your children involved in acts of generosity, from feeding the homeless to helping improve someone's financial future through credit repair. Courtney's emphasis on small, meaningful acts of service is a warm reminder of how our contributions can echo through the community. And as we wrap up, we'll leave you with a powerful charge: to dream big, embrace resilience, and make strides towards greatness, just like Courtney does every single day.
I'm Courtney Deirage. My husband is from the islands. Everyone always asks. So, courtney Deirage, I work for Coastal Lending Group. We are a mortgage broker in the state of Maryland, virginia, pennsylvania a whole bunch of them going down the East Coast.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, that's a lot. You've got the whole East Coast thing yeah.
Speaker 1:Not all of the East Coast, but most of us.
Speaker 2:Awesome. And now tell me a little bit about yourself. Like your story. How did you end up being a loan officer and how did you end up having your own business?
Speaker 1:So I actually went to school for criminal justice. Um, when I was in college, my college lost its accreditation and I was 130 credits into like 145 that I needed. So while I was in college, I worked for the state of Maryland and it was by far the worst job that I ever had. So a friend of mine was like, hey, I know some guys, some loan officers, they're looking for an assistant. And I was like, sign me up right. So when I got into mortgages, I was doing like processing loans and like some underwriting stuff and things like that. So I had another kid back in 2017. I have a lot of kids so I lose track sometimes. How many? Four, okay, four, and I'm only 34.
Speaker 2:Oh, my goodness, you look great. I didn't even think you were a mom. Oh well, thank you, I'm only 34. Oh, my goodness, you look great. I didn't even think you were a mom.
Speaker 1:Oh well, thank you. So I went into what they call like the broker world and I didn't want to stay where I was. Started working with two guys John and Jeremy. Heaven sent Completely changed my life, my entire trajectory you know what I mean Of where I was going. So that's kind of it. And then Jeremy and I had branched out for a little while. We opened our own brokerage. We grew it to the number one broker in the state of Maryland and then back in 2022, we linked back up with the other God sent guy, john, and we kind of essentially like almost merged our companies together.
Speaker 2:So now we just have you know, and how has that process been like merging it Was that, like hard it was hard.
Speaker 1:It was so hard and, I think, another reason why it was so hard because, again, I like to make humongous life changes when I have children, right. So I had a baby in July of 22. Congratulations, thanks, and we did it right around that time. So I was like, just had the baby, I was postpartum mess, oh man, and we just merged them together. No, I'm sorry, it was 2021.
Speaker 2:Okay, but yeah, oh, oh, man. And how are you balancing that? Like, what resources did you use to help you or what? How are you handling all?
Speaker 1:um, I don't know. I have been on autopilot for most of my adult life because I had my first child five days after I turned 18 years old.
Speaker 2:Um your baby yeah.
Speaker 1:Yup. So him and I have kind of like grew up together but I I just feel like I've just been on autopilot. But I will say like now I am a recovering people pleaser and now I'm like humongous on like boundaries, saying no. Like you know, before I I was honestly like kind of stretched so thin. Um, back in I think October of last year, I was like you know what guys like I just I need a break and I left from my company for like six months and then, um, the place I went, it was great. You know what I mean, or I didn't have any issues, but like I knew somewhere in the back of my head like I just I miss my people. You know what I mean. So I just took that time, I kind of reevaluated, reset and I'm like you know what I am, I have to stick to this. Like I have to say no, like I have to set boundaries, like I cannot allow for life to pull me in so many different directions. I'm like I'm going to be like 35 with a heart attack if I continue like you know what I mean Like on the path that I was on, because I just I'm here, they're everywhere, like my older son plays sports, so, like I'm here, they're everywhere.
Speaker 1:Like my older son plays sports, so, like my other kid has, you know, some issues. I have a six year old, you know. So I want to be at the field trips. I, you know, want to be volunteering my time, you know, doing all the mom things, piggyback with the baby. You know, my husband works a crazy job, so I just I feel like I've just been on autopilot, but like, through some therapy, some reading, some hardcore, like you know, soul searching skills, I'm like I can't continue on this path. So now I just try my hardest to just, you know, stick to those boundaries, and I have to because, like, my job is very, very demanding, as is.
Speaker 2:Yeah no, and it sounds like mental health is something that is very important to you. Can you talk to me a little bit about that?
Speaker 1:Um, so I was a train wreck for most of my younger twenties and it took for me I think I was about 24 years old when it finally clicked that like you have came very far, you know, like don't forget where I came from, you know what I mean, but like I've came very far and I think when I was about 24, I was like I can't live like this anymore and I went through like five years of like intense therapy while trying to juggle at the time. You know being a single mother, having a crazy demanding job, you know the struggles of just everyday life but honestly, just through therapy, I literally everyone always asks me like how do you do what you do? I truly I don't have an answer. I don't have an answer Like I just I'm on autopilot and I just do it.
Speaker 2:you, know how do I get to?
Speaker 1:autopilot. Is that a good thing? Do I have to do autopilot? I don't. I don't think so, because some days I'm do it. You know how do I get to autopilot. Is that a good thing? Do I want to do autopilot? I don't think so, because some days I'm just like what am I doing? You know what I mean, but like I make it to see another day and I just keep going.
Speaker 2:Man, I hope that you can get like a nice little vacation or something you know. My husband takes me on vacation all the time.
Speaker 1:Perfect, because he or something you know my husband takes me on vacation all the time because he knows that if he doesn't, like I'm gonna lose my mind. Okay, well, I'm glad we travel a lot. Like I'm like I don't want you to like buy me anything, like take me somewhere, I don't care where it is, like let's just get in the car, let's just go, let's hop on a plane, let's go and like, thankfully, him and I both have great families, so perfect, despite the fact that, like we do have a lot of kids, like we also have a lot of help. So that does make it a little bit you know less chaotic, good man, yeah.
Speaker 2:And then, as far as your business, what are you doing right now for marketing, like, how are you getting your services, what you're doing out there.
Speaker 1:So I honestly I don't really do a lot of marketing and that's where I kind of fall short at Like I am great at my job, like I said, like I literally grew a mortgage brokerage to the number one, you know, in the state of Maryland. Like I'm great at what I do, but I don't think that I do enough marketing. Okay, I mean I do. You know some social media stuff. Like I'm just now kind of like getting my feet wet with, like you know learning how to make like appropriate reels. Like you you know what I mean, kind of like using those things, but it's literally just all stuff that like I'm learning off of Instagram.
Speaker 2:I mean that's okay, everybody starts out somewhere and I mean it sounds like you're doing great, I mean anyways so I'm sure that would only make it even better for you?
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, I need to, I. I I really do need to, but I just I fall short there.
Speaker 2:It's okay, I mean, you can get some help you can hire somebody to help you or something you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was actually just talking to my boss about that the other day. You know he's like you need a virtual assistant, like that's what you need. You need a virtual assistant, you need somebody that's doing all this stuff for you, because you're going at a thousand miles per hour every single day. That's right.
Speaker 2:So even he knows he's like you need a virtual assistant.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm working on it, I'm working on it, I'm like I'm going to your long little list there.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, yeah. And now, where do you see yourself in the next five years?
Speaker 1:Like as a person and with your business. I so look in real estate and in mortgages, right, like everyone wants to be, like, oh, I'm in the top 1%. Like I want to be the best real estate agent, or you know, or the absolute best loan officer. I want to do 30 loans a month or whatever. All that sounds great in theory. I don't want any of that. I want to continue on the path that I'm on. I want to be able to maintain my sanity, be a great mom for my kids, be a good wife, be able to show up for my family while still making a decent living. So, five years from now, I would hope that, like the market stabilizes a little bit, god willing, right, and then really just just building and being able to like consistently do you know, eight or 10 loans a month. Like I don't. I'm not after like the money. Like I'm after the freedom. Like I don't. I like making a difference in people's life and I think that through my business, I resonate with so many people who are like in my generation. Right, like they haven't really bought their first home. Like they're like, oh God, I want to do it because I'm running and it's a waste of money. But like I'm a mess and I'm like, listen, girl, I'm a mess too. I'm just good at my job. So I think that, like I resonate with people, so hopefully, five years from now, I'm still, you know, on that same path.
Speaker 1:Like I have a little brother, he's 20. Well, I have two little brothers, but my one little brother is 25, 24. He works with me now, right, so I'm like, dude, get your license. You have a solid group of friends. Right, like, five years from now, they're all going to be doing this. Like we could really build, you know, something incredible together. And like, yeah, and that's, that's really my goal. Like I don't desire to be somebody who's working, you know, five in the morning till 10. And I've already done that. I don't want to do that. I want to be able to like originate my loans. You know, be there for people, make a difference for people. My husband and I do like a lot of volunteer work, like I don't care to, you know, to be like just just to be able to say like, oh, I'm in, like the whatever number right, I don't care about climbing a corporate ladder.
Speaker 1:I don't care about, you know, doing all the things. Like I care about making a difference in people's lives, being able to be a good person for the people who need me and helping people to be able to, like, get in their first home or their second home or, you know, refinance a home or buy an investment property, whatever that looks like. And that that's pretty much it. Like I, the way that my life is set up. Like I don't try to think five years from now. Like I'm like, oh God, what am I doing tomorrow? Like what's going to come next Tuesday?
Speaker 1:I feel, like living day by day. Yes, yeah.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh. No, I love that. It sounds like you really care about people. Yeah, you want to help, Like I love that.
Speaker 1:Well, and the thing with me, too, is like I started in processing and underwriting, right, so like I'm very, very good at like finding like the gray areas, like gray areas. Like I'm very good at figuring out how to like make things work. And it's funny because I had no desire to ever be a loan officer right Like, my brain is an operations brain, like I have managed operations for a decade at this point, you know like, but I kind of became like the accidental salesperson so like when I started working with Jeremy years ago. He's like salesperson so like when I started working with Jeremy years ago. He's like, wait, you're like really good at this and I'm like I'm good at sales. And he's like, yeah, he was like because you're like the least salesy person ever, and I think people like that about you, Like you're not.
Speaker 1:I feel like when people talk to like people in the financial world, it's like super overbearing, right, like they're like oh God, like, and I'm just like girl, like I'm here to tell you I don't have an 800 credit score, I don't have $150,000 in the bank, like I don't have all of my stuff together, like you probably think like I'm a regular person. I am just in this position, and I'm here to help you with people.
Speaker 2:No, you're just real with people. I love it. No, I love it.
Speaker 1:And well, and that's the thing too, Like I was talking to a client of mine the other day and they're like you know, they were working with another lender and they were like they were just so pushy and I'm like, look, either you're going to buy the house or you're not. Right, Like I'm going to give you the options, I'm going to tell you the best thing that we can do. And you know, even when I have people like we call it shopping right, Like they're comparing my interest rates against someone else's interest rates, whatever, so I'm like, listen, I'm not going to run 700 quotes for you every single day. It's just it's. I don't have it in my capacity. You shop whichever lender that you want to. I have 120 of them that I can shop. So you go, do your thing. You bring me your highest and best. And if I can't beat it, listen, worst case, I'm going to tell you have a great deal. Best case, I'm going to be like I still got you, girl, Come on, let's close your loan.
Speaker 2:No, I love that about you actually, you kind of remind me of me a little bit, because I'm not like that. People are like you need to be. You kind of remind me of me a little bit, because I'm not like that.
Speaker 1:People are like you need to be and I'm like I can't. They're like you're good, but I'm like, anyways, yeah, I'm like mm. Exactly. No, no, I love that, I love your style, like I'm so here for it.
Speaker 2:Like absolutely 100. Well, we're licensed in the US. Yes, she's licensed there. And now tell me about the volunteer work you said you and your husband love to do that. What do you guys?
Speaker 1:do so. My husband came here from Trinidad when he was 12. His parents brought him here, thank God, because I don't know what my life would look like if they didn't move him away from all their family and bring him here.
Speaker 1:So we went to high school together. He actually had a crush on me in high school, right, and it's like the running joke now between, like you know, like all of our high school friends. So he got into volunteer work years ago because where he came from, I mean, they literally like they live in villages, right, they're super poor. They don't really not necessarily like his family but, like you know, the majority of people.
Speaker 1:Right, right. So he got into volunteer work years ago. Just, you know, every Sunday he would go down into Baltimore city and feed the homeless. So we did that for quite some time. When COVID happened, we were like I don't know if I can really, you know, but we would still, you know, send things, we would still do things. Then we started doing like back to school drives and stuff like that. He works in the inner city. So we literally like we get together, you know, me, him, his brother, his mother, a couple of maybe like three or four of our friends, and I mean we're just buying bulk book bags and all the school supplies you can think of, like we send a lot of stuff home to Trinidad where he lives Well, obviously not where he lives, but like where you know where his family lives and I mean we just try to give back where we can. I mean we're not, you know, we're not rich, we don't, you know, I'm not. What is that word? A philanthropist? Is that what?
Speaker 2:it is yeah.
Speaker 1:So like we're not them by any means, I wish that I could be not in my five-year goal. For sure, you never know, Right, but if it hit the lottery I would be you know, like. But I think it's good though, because it kind of like carries on through our kids, right Like my 13 year old daughter, my 16 year old son.
Speaker 2:He's like I'm just gonna, you know, play my PlayStation hang out with my friends, you know, do whatever right.
Speaker 1:Typical teenager stuff, but like the, the two girls they're, like you know, can we go feed the homeless? And so I'm like you know small differences, right. Like you, you can't change the world, but you could change somebody else's world. Last summer, um, when we did our last back to school drive, they, there was a little girl there and she was literally like this is the best day of my life because we had, like you know, like hair bows and it just we. His brother drives trucks for a living, so he like backed his trailer up and we just loaded the entire truck, you know, with everything, just like bins and baskets, and I love that, oh, oh.
Speaker 1:I'm sure those little girls were so happy you like, made their probably whole like. I know day, that day, yeah, maybe life right my gosh that's so sweet.
Speaker 2:I love that you guys are. I know like, yeah, maybe some people aren't the richest, but the fact that you have like such a heart of gold and want to give back like that just speaks volumes and I agree that it's going to transcend yeah, I mean your kids yeah, like, even for like holidays and stuff like that.
Speaker 1:like I don't always go like when they go down to like feed the homeless, but you better believe I'm in the kitchen, you know, making cooking up a storm, right, right, right. So it's like, while I can't always physically be there like the people that I love are, you know what I Like, I'm still making a difference somehow, but they do it often, like his, um, his brother, also DJs, so like he'll, you know he'll, he'll set up shop down there you know, like in the middle of Baltimore city, and he's playing, you know, like most of these people are like 25 to like 40 years old, so he's playing like 2000s, you know.
Speaker 1:R&B, the classics, the hits, yeah yeah, and you know they're just in line dancing, you know just happy to get some food, and they do. They have like other people who step in and do they do like clothes and shoes and all kinds of stuff. I mean Christmas time they dress up as you know, santa, elves, frosty the Snowman, like it's a whole shebang.
Speaker 2:I love that. No, that's so cool, that's awesome.
Speaker 1:Makes me want to go to Baltimore and like experience, like the DJ sets, but Santa Claus like just throwing it down all crazy like okay, this beats my like normal like boring, like okay, let's watch a Christmas movie, like I want to like talk to people, I mean even like Thanksgiving, like I'm talking turkeys, ham stuffing, mashed potato, like anything that you can think of that, like you know, we don't, they like we don't. This might not sound the best, but like if, if we're eating it, like we're feeding it to you, like just because, like you know, we're more fortunate, or whatever the case may be, like we're not just giving you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which they would still be extremely grateful for you know, but like no, like the whole thing, that's awesome.
Speaker 2:Yeah, thank you guys for doing that. That's awesome. I really do think that that's making a difference in the community and, yeah, helping people, especially when they don't have maybe a home or family that they can get together, the fact that you guys take time out of your days to to do that despite and and like.
Speaker 1:Another thing too, like kind of corresponding with my job, like trying to make an impact in the, the community, right, like I'm not a credit repair specialist, but like I'm really good at reading credit, like I'm really good at telling people, you know, what to do with it, like how to get in a better spot.
Speaker 1:So a lot of times, like I'll have real estate agents reach out to me and they'll be like you know, I know that Sally's not going to be ready to buy, but like can you take a look at her credit, like figure out what we can do, what, how we can help her, you know, even if I have to get her in a rental for a little while or whatever the case may be. So even like small things like that, like it's going to take me, you know, an hour out of my day. I may not ever hear from the person, ever again, you know. But like if I can put somebody in a position to, to, to try to better themselves and to get them, you know, to a better spot, like I'm guilty for it, Like even though.
Speaker 1:I'm a recovering people, pleaser, like I'm guilty for it. I'm like, yep, I'll take it on. I got you.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, that's just so in your heart. I think, like when you were a kid were you always like this.
Speaker 1:I know you said you were like kind of like troubled or whatever, but like did you always just be like I want to help my friends or like I want to do whatever I can? So I feel like I've always been like this and it hasn't always led me down the best paths. Um, I have wasted many years of my life like trying to get people to be you know better or whatever. But I feel like I've always kind of been you know how I am, who I am. But I think my husband kind of like makes me like almost kind of like inspires me to do it more. You know, like in high school he used to do my work for me because I wasn't like super smart, so I would. You know we had like next tells.
Speaker 2:I was like chirping after school like right, right.
Speaker 1:And I'm like, do you know the answer to 12B on this math stuff? And he's Indian right. So I'm always like god, my kids got the Indian brain, like they're super super smart and like he's really smart, so I love that yeah like that's just you, girl.
Speaker 2:I love that you just brought me back like a whole. Like you just unlocked another memory in my brain with the next one. Yeah, like my parents always used it all the time and all I could hear was like yeah, or like he doesn't answer.
Speaker 1:You know you could like hit the alert thing and it would like ring to it. Yeah, yeah, I'm like my mother will not let me go outside until this is done. Emergency Answer.
Speaker 2:Oh man, oh man, and how many employees do you currently have?
Speaker 1:We have 44, I think that's pretty big. Yeah, we have a lot of loan officers. We have a pretty big support staff as well, but it works. That's awesome. Would you say that it is?
Speaker 2:a little bit more challenging for you when there's more people to manage.
Speaker 1:It is because I can tell you, managing like 20 employees before we kind of almost essentially like merge the companies together, like managing 20 employees and 20 personalities, is a whole different ball game than like 40. So it's it's challenging sometimes, but I will say that, like now that everything is like up, running smooth sailing, minimal you know, hiccup, things like that, and people have kind of learned that, like now that I came back like I'm not the go-to person for everything anymore, um, so it hasn't been. I'm sure that's a bit of a relief for you, right? Yeah, it is. I was stretched very, very thin, very thin.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, I'm glad that you're not being stretched anymore.
Speaker 1:So thank you yeah, no, I'm in a good place, it's my job.
Speaker 2:No, I'm happy for you and I hope that it only continues to get easier for you, since you've put in the work and the time. Yeah, it's only up from here, right? Yeah, I hope.
Speaker 1:Knock on wood Right.
Speaker 2:Right, yeah, and now for my final question is if you could leave our listeners with any piece of advice or a message, something that's in your heart, what would that message be?
Speaker 1:Oh, that's a good one, because I live by song lyrics and a good quote. Give it to me, I do. I mean, I am just a firm believer in you got to keep going. Like you fall seven times, you stand up eight. Like, if you know one, like my absolute favorite quote is like the one by Martin Luther King where it's like if you can't, you know, run then walk. If you can't walk, then crawl, you know. But you just you have to keep going, for you know. Since I have been, you know, an adult age, that's one thing that's always kind of just stuck with me. Like it doesn't matter how hard it is. Like my favorite thing is when someone's like oh my God, it's gonna take too long. You know the time is gonna pass anyway. What do you have to lose? And like I'm just a big person on like dreaming big, doing big and not settling. Not settling like not in any aspect of your life at all whatsoever wow, you're a fighter there.
Speaker 2:Yeah well, thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and your knowledge and your journey.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's it's been a lot, it's been a lot and it's been a lot, but we're, we're trucking through it.
Speaker 2:That's right. We all got our little journeys and hardships that we're all dealing with. So just thank you so much for sharing your experience with us and our listeners.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no problem, I'm glad to be here. It was, it was cool.