I’ve been a Valley of the Sun resident since moving here with my two daughters and son in 1997, and I currently live in a beautiful Central Phoenix neighborhood with my husband, an accountant. The following year, I was offered an opportunity in mortgage lending, which was a great fit for my finance background and love of sales! In those early years, I serviced the Dan Schwartz Realty agents and their clients. During this time, Mr. Dan Schwartz offered my boss space in his building for a lending branch with the proviso "as long as Marie De Leon is the branch manager!" I could assist people with their home purchase and manage a branch, eventually becoming a mortgage broker myself. I was provided a lending office inside one of the busiest real estate firms in Arizona - Dan Schwartz Realty had over 800 agents! From that day my office expanded as did my ties with agents and brokers, many of whom have become lifelong friends. After several years of managing this branch, I passed the state tests, rented my own building and became a mortgage broker myself, continuing to grow and learn. As manager/broker with several staff whom I trained, I spoke with underwriters, bank presidents and agents -- life couldn’t be better! But, like all things, a change in the housing market in 2008 caused me to switch from "the mortgage broker" to "the realtor". Naturally, I was hired by Dan Schwartz Realty -- it was my home! Shortly after, they were bought by HomeSmart, so I have proudly been a part of the new team since. My experience in ALL sides and stages of a real estate deal from lending to contract writing and all associated aspects of a property purchase has helped me to become the well-informed, well-rounded and savvy agent that hundreds of clients have chosen to hire for their first home, thirtieth home, investment property purchases (you get the picture). I am an aggressive negotiator highly trained to protect my client in all aspects of the transaction. I am available to answer any question --quite thoroughly and in detail -- and it would be my absolute pleasure to represent you on your listing or purchases.