Business Spotlight: Maine Pointe Lending

The foundation of any successful business is always outstanding customer service and that is precisely
what Skylar Welch of Maine Point Lending is striving to achieve. 

Welch, a residential mortgage broker, provides Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA and construction loan options for purchasing and refinancing homes and is the only VettedVA Lender in the state of Maine. She has the knowledge and experience required to navigate the complexities of home loans and has been recognized as one of the top loan originators in America. 

But for Welch and her business, Maine Pointe Lending, defining success is truly all about being someone that clients can trust to have their best interest at heart at all times and delivering exceptional and personable service to everyone that seeks her help and expertise.

“I truly care about my clients, and create a memorable and personal experience,” Welch said. “I also am able to close loans extremely quickly and am always available for my clients, who are the main point of the transaction. We make it a personal, stress-free, easy process with a local, reliable, friendly mortgage broker by providing lots of loan options, great rates and fast service.” 

According to Welch, what motivates her the most is genuinely liking what she does each and every single day. 

“For me, I work a lot of hours because I love helping people to get into a home and to change their life,” she said. “I’m local and I’m very responsive. I don’t work banker’s hours and many times we can obtain same-day approval where some loan applications at banks can take 60 to 90 days. My goal is to give those I work for a personal experience and no additional fees and lots of options.” 

She says everyone looking to buy a home should call Maine Pointe Lending first to be qualified for a loan prior to entering the real estate process. 

“Every single real estate agent will ask them if they have been prequalified. I can help them find the perfect loan program for them, what they are qualified up to, and most importantly help them find a purchase price that gives them a comfortable monthly payment,” Welch said. “They can then take this info back to their real estate agent and be completely prepared and ready to start the homebuying process to find their dream home. I also have been in the market for a long time and know all of the best agents in the area and can help connect them with the perfect fit to help them with the buying process.”

Maine Pointe Lending is a family
run, family built business. Owner
Skylar Welch and her family are
residents of Windham. PHOTO
BY CHARITY CLARK
PHOTOGRAPHY 

Welch launched Maine Pointe Lending in October and employs a staff of six after years of working in the business of loan origination. She says the employees of her new company constantly monitor the local real estate market and work with a variety of lenders to maximize buying power for all of their customers.

“We are always keeping up to date on all of the loan options out there, as well as market updates. Rates are currently at record lows, so it’s a great time to refinance and offering a super, easy streamlined refinance for veterans,” Welch said. “Because I am a broker, I am able to shop around to find the best available rate and program for the client.”

A licensed mortgage loan originator, Welch said Maine Pointe Lending has clear advantages that anyone looking to purchase or refinance a home should explore. “You’ll work with a mortgage loan broker and provide lots of options,” she said. “Our overhead is low and because of that we can offer lower rates. We have streamlined the paperwork and application process making it super easy and available digitally. We offer a quality, extremely responsive and personable experience. We are never trying to sell anything to anyone and want to simply help everyone find the best option. I want every client to feel like they are my only client.” 

Maine Pointe Lending is at 202 US Route 1, Suite 102 in Falmouth. Call 207-949-3568 or find them online at www.mainepointelending.com They’re also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/skyeclosesmaine/posts/1612565075590101?notif_id=1605205062864493&notif_t=page_post_reaction&ref=notif <

Business Spotlight: Dr. John Herzog of Orthopedic Specialists, LLC

By Lorraine Glowczak

Many people who experience pain in their hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, and feet will frequently end up with surgery. Most people do not realize; however, they have alternative treatment available to them now in the exciting world of stem cell regeneration. Dr John Herzog, a Raymond resident just may have the answer for you.

Dr. Herzog’ is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with 40 years’ experience. He’s performed over 10,000 surgeries - everything from replacing knees hips and shoulders to reconstructing trauma victims. For the past 10 years he has focused exclusively on regenerating torn and degenerating tissues and joints with advanced stem cell procedures.

Herzog’ says the basic problem is that when joints start to degenerate, or rotator cuff begins to tear is that there is poor or no blood supply to the area that’s damaged. The beauty of using own body, is that it produces its own custom compounding pharmacy, otherwise known as your own stem cells. This process is much like robbing Peter to pay Paul by generating new blood supply.

For example, in plantar fasciitis or tennis elbow the blood supply is very poor in this region of your body and cannot get the nutrients, oxygen or stem cells that it takes to repair it. What the doctor does is essentially taking stem cells from your blood, your bone marrow, or your fat and - with a centrifuge process that purifies the blood supply, separately stem cells and platelets. Once it is purified and separated, it is injected into the area where the pain persists. This regrows the blood vessels and creates a new irrigation system to repair tissue naturally. Aging and disease are a result of poor blood supply. 

Dr. Herzog is a third-generation osteopathic physician which he states with great pride. “As an osteopath, you are a holistic doctor,” he stated. “We know how to use a knife, medicines, and our hands to improve their patients’ lives.” Utilizing osteopathic manipulation is also an important part of Dr. Herzog’s successful formula. 

In fact, Windham Chiropractor, Dr Roy Moore received a PRP treatments from Dr. Herzog and had a few years and had a positive and fast healing experience. “I was experiencing pain in my right elbow and I was trying to treat it for about six months without success,” Moore explained. “I went to Dr. Herzog who performed PRP on my elbow. It took about two to three weeks before it was completely back to normal, but I have not had any pain since that treatment a couple of years ago. I would call it a 100% success and I would highly recommend exploring these alternatives if one is feeling pain and may considering surgery.”

The future of medicine is utilizing your own body’s custom compounding pharmacy that is your stem cells and Dr. Herzog promises to remain on the cutting edge of stem cell treatment and utilizes the technology of your own body. He claims he plans on being an active osteopath well into my 70s possibly my 80s Dr. Herzog states with the help from my stem cells. “Who knows,” he said with a smile, “There’s a guy in Tennessee that’s in his 90s and he still does brain surgery.”

If you are experiencing pain and want to learn more this cutting-edge medical alternative, contact Dr. Herzog at 207-781-9077 or peruse his website at www.orthocareme.com. Most insurance policies are accepted.

Business spotlight First Portland Mortgage by Michelle Libby

When it comes to mortgages, having a professional who knows the ins and outs of the business can make all the difference. The mortgage professionals at First Portland Mortgage are specialists and can help with a home purchase, refinance, investment properties, government loans and construction loans. They’ve been doing mortgages, and mortgages only, for almost 30 years.

While their local physical presence is an office on Route 100 in Falmouth from which they serve the entire state of Maine, they also compete on line with a robust website and application platform called Blink, through which the entire process can be automated to the greatest extent possible. First Portland’s employees actually answer the phone and are available nights and weekends as well.  That’s not something you can expect from your bank or credit union!  

“We’ve been around so long because of the focus we’ve had from the beginning on low rates without diminution of services,” said Eduard van Loenen, who’s been the company’s president since founding the company so many years ago.

First Portland Mortgage provides residential mortgages for one to four family homes. Whether it’s a first home, an upsize or down size home, or an apartment building for up to four families, the professionals at First Portland Mortgage walk customers through the process and are advocates for the buyer in a transaction.

Besides the standard conventional loans, government loans, and jumbo loans, they also take on portfolio loans in house for those who might not meet the regular requirements for traditional loans. In addition, they provide creative construction and renovation loans to help finance their clients’ dreams.

“Because we only do mortgages, and specialize in them, we can be highly efficient and cost effective.  These benefits are then passed on to the customers in the form of lower rates”, said Kristeen Smith.

Rates can of course change from minute to minute, depending on market trading of mortgage backed securities, but First Portland always has the most current rates posted on their website.  Rates can also vary from client to client depending on credit scores. The minimum credit score for all programs is 560. The best rates for a conventional loan are for those with 740 or better and for government loans it’s 680.

First Portland is proud of being known for low rates and high service. After all these years of being in business, many of their clients today are children or even grandchildren or other relatives and friends of their many previously satisfied clients.  “There’s nothing we like better than to get a referral from a happy client”, said Smith, adding, “we are in the business of helping people qualify for a mortgage”.

Using First Portland’s online platform called Blink, customers can get pre-qualified online and work with this sophisticated tool throughout the process.  Folks are of course also invited to call, stop by, or do a combination of these to get the process started.  “We make it really easy to do business here. We don’t make promises we won’t deliver on,” said Smith.

While bank and credit union loan officers are not required to be licensed and maintain annual continuing education credits, First Portland’s mortgage specialists are all licensed after 20 hours of training, and then do continuing education every year in order to maintain that license.

Kristeen Smith has seen purchase deals fall through because the home buyers did not take the trouble to get pre-qualified before going house hunting.  This pre-qualification strengthens the buyer’s possible offer because sellers like to see that the buyer already has financing in place. Smith says, “we’re so easily accessible and make the pre-qualification process very quick and painless, so why wait doing that important step?”.

Refinancing loans for debt consolidation or to purchase another property?  First Portland Mortgage would love to help. They personalize the mortgage process to meet the needs of the client. They work anywhere in the State of Maine and are always available.

For more information, visit www.firstportland.com or find them on social media.

Business Spotlight: Plummer Senior Living by Michelle Libby

A new senior living apartment complex is opening November 1 in Falmouth, on the site of the Sampson D. Plummer School, 192 Middle Road. Blending the charm of a historic building with modern conveniences, this new community will provide residents a carefree place to live independently with access to shopping, trails, the Mason-Motz Activity Center and a whole lot more. 

The project is a conglomeration of owners: John Wasileski, who owns the nearby Oceanview, Kevin Bunker from Developers Collaborative and Matt Teare and Chris Wasileski from Sea Coast Management. Benchmark is doing the construction and Gawron Turgeon Architects, P.C. designed the space especially for seniors. 

Each of the 34 apartments has a special quirk or piece of school nostalgia from a chalkboard railing to the original wood floors. One apartment has the old stage and a curved wall along with the large classroom windows that have been refinished. There are many original school doors used for the entrances to the spacious apartments. The apartments on the second floor have very high ceilings. 

The smallest apartment is 500 square feet and the largest is 1,300 square feet. Four of the apartments are ADA compliant and will accommodate a wheelchair or electric scooter. Each apartment comes with a parking space with extra space for visitors. 

The apartments have individual heat pumps and the original building has baseboard heating that is controlled by the building. 

“It’s a lifestyle that enriches independent living,” said assistant property manager Danielle Purington. “I think it’s the location and accessibility to the services that seniors need or want that makes it stand out.” 

Construction began in spring of 2016 and should be completed by November 1, 2017. The property aims to help the “middle market” seniors who make too much for low income and not enough to pay for the high-end rentals. 

Developers Collaborative specializes in historical businesses and the refurbishing of schools into living spaces. This is the first senior living space, but the company also refurbished the Nathan Clifford School and Rosa True both in Portland.

“It’s neat how they work through the spaces,” she said. 

One of the amenities to living at Plummer Senior Living is an on-site services coordinator, who will be available in the main office five days a week to help be a liaison to connect residents with services in the area; like transportation for groceries, medical appointments or to have a meal plan delivered daily or weekly. 

“If they don’t know how to navigate things, this person can help,” said Purington. 

There is also a community room, which will be open to all for socializing, monthly meals, movie nights and anything else the residents would like. There will be landscaping all around and professionals will take care of that and maintenance and snow removal. 

“As we see who the residents are, we will plan things like art shows or a sewing circle,” she said.

“There is a real need,” said Purington. People want to stay in the area, but can’t afford to. “People need a place to live independently within a community where it’s not going to break the bank.” The lifestyle and the carefree living are worth the time to see Plummer Senior Living. 

Right now renters have a great selection of apartments on all three floors. And the first floor of the new wing accepts pets. DC Management is handling the marketing, leasing and management.

For more information or to schedule a tour, visit www.PlummerSeniorLiving.com or call Danielle at 207-772-3225 or email Danielle@DCMaine.com.