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Cover – Robert Stettler and David McLaughlin – Inlanta Mortgage

Robert Stettler and David McLaughlin

No Horsing Around

By Ed Bertha

Photography by Giovanni Lunardi

Layout by Christian Lunardi

Based in Brookfield, Wisconsin, Inlanta Mortgage is a thriving mortgage banker in business since 1993. They offer Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac agency products, as well as a full suite of jumbo and portfolio programs. The company is an agency approved lender for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, FHA/VA, FHA 203K and USDA. Inlanta Mortgage also offers numerous state bond agency programs.

While Inlanta Mortgage may be relatively new to the Florida Suncoast, Team Stettler’s Robert Stettler and David McLaughlin, are two of the team’s industry veterans who bring a combined fifty plus years of experience in residential mortgage lending and real estate transactions to the firm. Their mission is, and always has been, to provide their clients, referral partners and associates with an exceptional experience.

Robert Stettler grew up outside of Philadelphia as an only child. His mother, a single mother, worked in the banking industry. As such she was dedicated to her career to provide for her son. Outside of work she made sure Robert kept his focus and stayed on the straight and narrow.

Fatherless, Robert’s grandfather filled the void. “My grandfather, a manager at a shoe store, was also a hard worker. He was always the first one to work and the last one to leave. Nothing was complete until the customer was happy,” Robert shares. “I went to work with him every day when I was young. It taught me what work ethic was all about, and also math. I could work a cash register at the age of 5 and give correct change every time,” he says smiling.

David McLaughlin was also born a Philadelphian. His parents moved to Sarasota when he was five. David loved the beach and playing sports, something that later would play into his career. His father, now working at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club, instilled the importance of work ethic into the young lad.

“My father is the hardest working person I know. He always insisted on working hard and getting an education. I was the first person in my family to go to college and he worked hard to give me that opportunity,” David reflects. “He worked hard to send me to St. Martha’s and Cardinal Mooney and made numerous sacrifices so that I could have a better life. I love and respect him for the values that he instilled in me,” he adds.

David sums his mother, a care giver now retired, as “Kind and loving. She always reminded me about KARMA. If you do something nice for someone it will always come back ten-fold. Furthermore she taught me to treat people as I would want to be treated. That always stuck with me. I apply that principle every day in my business.”

For entirely different reasons Robert and David attended Temple University, where they ended up as roommates. Robert chose the school because of proximity to home and their business school. David’s passion for sports landed him there as a Division 1 field goal kicker.

Robert entered the finance industry with American General Finance after graduating from Temple. After five years he began his mortgage career with Green Tree Lending. His love of working with numbers coupled with the satisfaction of helping people get the loan they needed to secure their home drove him to the mortgage field. An inquiry from Wells Fargo brought him to Sarasota. During the downturn, as others fled the business, Robert’s business at Wells took off. He went from closing 150 mortgages a year to over 400 during that time!

“It’s very, very rewarding to see how happy people are when they get the keys to their house. The day someone buys a home it is their dream home and there is a ton of excitement whether it is a $60,000 first home purchase or a multi-million dollar estate, it’s all the same to the buyer. It is their home and future place to create lasting memories,” Robert says. Asking what is the most important personal satisfaction he gets from completing a mortgage?, he quickly answers “Getting a person into their home on time. Making it all happen while controlling the process to ensure things go well.”

Before entering the mortgage industry David was a successful Realtor in Sarasota. In 2008 he opened Cityscapes International Realty Group of Longboat Key. It was a small high end boutique that specialized in residential and commercial real estate. “When people were closing their companies, I embraced the change and opened Cityscapes. That experience made me a better person and it led to joining my college roommate Robert Stettler in the mortgage industry.”

In December 2011, David teamed up with Robert at Wells Fargo and Team Stettler was formed. “I always liked numbers and enjoyed helping people. My slogan while a Realtor was to enhance the economic well-being of my clients. When the opportunity to get into the mortgage business presented itself, it was a good fit.” Asking the same satisfaction question David answers, “I love making a difference. I consider myself the concierge of the mortgage process. I enjoy simplifying the process and educating the client so that they can make the best decision for themselves. It is a great feeling when the customer gets the keys to their dream home. Very satisfying.”

At Wells the duo and their team flourished, setting a standard for other mortgage professions to aspire to.

Prior to Inlanta Team Stettler was the number one mortgage originator for units produced at Wells Fargo four years in a row for the entire State of Florida. They also ranked as high as ninth in the nation for all Wells Fargo loan originators. David shares, “Experience matters. In today’s complex lending environment it helps to work with a team that has closed more than 6,500 loans. We get the job done.”

Outside of work David likes to spend time with his family. Along with wife Kristen the couple have two children, son Zack, a sophomore playing soccer at IMG, and daughter Sofia, a student and model. He enjoys traveling, snow skiing, working out and walking on the beach. “I also enjoy watching and playing sports. I was a youth soccer coach for nine years. It’s fun watching my former players have success at the high school and club level,” he says with a smile. David continues, “As a former athlete it was rewarding giving back and teaching the boys values of hard work, discipline and life lessons. Now I watch my son play soccer at IMG.”

Married to Jennifer, Robert has two sons, Radik, a rower and Alec, a cross country runner. How does Robert unwind? He likes to run, cook, read, watch sports and snow ski. Locally he is Chairman of the Board and Board President for the Sarasota Scullers Youth Rowing Program.

Robert’s passion is horse racing. “I love horse racing. Every year I go to the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont and Breeders cup,” he beams. How did he get started? His grandfather and great uncle took him to the horse races every weekend. In 1997, at an auction in Ocala, he bought his first horse. Problem was he had never owned a horse and didn’t know what to do, but the good folks in Ocala helped him out. Now raising his own thoroughbreds in Ocala, Robert travels to Miami to watch his horses race.”

David, with a seriousness on his face shares, “This business is always evolving, more so than ever. The Frank Dodd financial reform act changed the way mortgages are done. There are more changes coming. We are always up to date and help and ensure a smooth process for our customers.” Robert closes with, “We want to be your home financing partner that you trust to serve your friends, family and community.”

Team Stettler, now setting the bar at Inlanta Mortgage.

Robert Stettler
(813) 748.1534
RobStettler@Inlanta.com [1]
NMLS#: 663828

David McLaughlin
(941) 724.7653
DavidMcLaughlin@Inlanta.com [2]
NMLS#: 868815

Inlanta Mortgage
1543 Second Street, Suite 101
Sarasota, FL 34236
teamstettler.inlanta.com
http://teamstettler.inlanta.com/Default.aspx

Copyright © 2015 REAL Exclusive Magazine [3]
Links to this article are encouraged

Photography used under license from Giovanni Lunardi Photography [4]
Photography Copyright © 2015 Giovanni Lunardi Photography

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