The first time I met Fawn we filmed an instagram reel together.
It got 10,700 views.
No joke!
She had never made one before and I had found this hilarious idea where we just laughed the whole time and then she pushes me off a chair. It did have to do with local lending… in some way! Ha!
Fawn is so relatable and kind. She’s also in the mortgage industry and lives in Dripping Springs and so of course you need to know her if you are thinking about buying or refinancing a home!
Meet my friend, Fawn…
How long have you lived in Dripping Springs?
I moved to Dripping Springs from Arizona in 2015. My husband at the time was retiring from the military, and we were looking for a place that had good schools for our kids. We initially were looking north, in the Round Rock area, but we stumbled upon Dripping Springs by accident. Once we visited it we were in love!
What do you love about living here?
So many things! First and foremost, the community.
I have met so many amazing people and made so many great friends. There is a sense of community and support that I have never felt anywhere else.
I also love the beauty of the hill country. There are so many outdoor (and indoor!) activities to do and so many things to see, all within such a close proximity to us. We are truly blessed! Whether you like to hike, bike, spend your day at a swimming hole, or a watering hole, in Dripping Springs, you are close to it all! We have quaint little shops, delicious little local restaurants, and all of the wineries, breweries and distilleries that you could possibly want!
The schools of course are one of the great things about living here. Both of my children have graduated from DSHS, and both got into really great colleges. In their freshman years at college, they both commented on how much better prepared they were for their classes than many of their peers. They came out of high school with all the skills they needed to succeed in their next level of education, both academically and socially. The educators they interacted with while in DSISD were influential in their success! To this day, I am still in contact, and even friends, with many of their teachers and coaches!
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
My favorite thing to do is spend time with my family and friends. My kids and I like to discover new local restaurants, and brunch is our favorite Sunday after church activity.
As for me, I love to shop! Finding and supporting unique local boutiques is my jam! Don’t get me wrong, I love bargain hunting at TJ Maxx and Homegoods too, but there is something cool about supporting local businesses and also finding unique items that not everyone else has!
Hiking and swimming are probably two of my favorite outdoor activities. During the spring and summer, I try to spend as much time as I can out on the greenbelt, or on the lake. Once I realized how accessible it is, I started spending a lot more time on Town Lake, either kayaking or Stand Up paddle boarding. I am still getting the hang of it, so no pictures, please, LOL!
How long have you been a local mortgage lender?
I have been a lender since 1997. I have had a local office of some sort in Austin since I moved here in 2015. I actually just opened a beautiful new office in the Westlake area in April of last year that I manage.
What do you love about your career?
I have very humble beginnings.
My parents never owned their own home, and when I was younger, I thought only “rich people” owned homes. Believe it or not, when I first got into the mortgage business, I didn’t even really know what a mortgage was.
The thing that I absolutely love about my career is that I get to help people from all walks of life realize that they can not only own their own home, but can actually create and accumulate generational wealth in doing so. It is proven that there is a direct correlation between home ownership and wealth accumulation.
There are also statistics that tie academic performance and community involvement to home ownership. The fact that I can be an integral part of that becoming a reality is honestly what makes me love my job the most. I can not imagine a move impactful and fulfilling career for myself. It is my life mission to help as many people realize the dream of howe ownership as possible.
Tell us about your time in the Navy…
I left for navy basic training 2 weeks after graduating from high school.
As a kid who’s parents didn’t have a lot of money, college didn’t seem to be an option for me at the time. I joined with the intent of serving long enough to get my GI Bill. I went to Orlando, Florida for basic training, then on to San Diego for my job training.
Don’t laugh, but I am actually a trained electrician! I had really high scores on the math and science portion of the ASVAB, and that landed me a job I never even imagined. After my schooling was complete, I was assigned to a ship repair facility in Pearl Harbor, HI.
At 18 years old, I went on my first trip out of the continental US! It was beyond my wildest dreams! I lived there for the next three years, and I loved every minute of it!
How does this help you in your career in mortgage?
Those four years in the navy were the most influential years of my life.
They taught me so many things that I was not expecting. Of course there were the typical things like discipline and teamwork. But there was so much more! I learned perseverance, self- confidence, a love of service and serving others, and I learned that with a positive attitude and strong will, anything is possible. I took that with me after I separated from the service in 1995, and applied that to almost everything in life that came after.
While working on my degree at Oakland University in Rochester Hills, MI, I got my first job in the mortgage business. I had no idea what mortgages were or what I was getting into, but I went in with excitement and an eagerness to learn! I started as an administrative assistant, and within 4 months I was moved to the post closing department. I worked hard and learned as much as I could, and was quickly promoted to an underwriting assistant, and then a loan processor.
By my three year mark, I was a loan officer. It was the ability to be coached and accept guidance from those above me that really helped make that possible. I have had some amazing mentors in my career, and some of the best were the superior officers that I had in the Navy. I really do feel that I owe everything I am today to my time in the service.
What do you love being involved in here?
When my kids were in school, I was very active at the schools. My son played football, and for all four of his years in high school, I was an active member of the football boosters.
For the last three I served on the board, one as the Chairman of the sponsorship committee, and two as the Vice President. I was also active in helping to get the local chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes off the ground. The local director was actually one of my clients! Being able to be active in the schools made me so happy, because it allowed me to be present for my kids, while also giving back and being connected to the local community.
I love supporting a very important charitable organization in our community called Foster Village as well. I have been a volunteer for them in the past, and continue to be active by sponsoring their annual gala and answering the call when help is needed.
Where do you recommend newcomers go to get connected with the community?
Dripping Springs is such a warm and welcoming town, getting connected shouldn’t be difficult! But I will say that church is a great way to get started! I suggest trying out several of the local favorites, and find one that fits their family. I truly believe that this is where you will most likely find your people!
I also suggest getting involved in any neighborhood groups that are already established. I met my best friend in Dripping Springs at a Bunco night that was set up by a social committee in Highpointe. I saw it posted on Facebook when I was new to town, and went without knowing a soul. By the time I left that Bunco party, I had no less than 5 phone numbers of women who wanted to be a resource for me, and we are all still friends to this day!
Finally, find something that you are passionate about and find a way to do more of that! This is such a giving community, there is an organization for pretty much every cause you can think of! Find one and get involved! From Austin Pets Alive, to an entrepreneurial Womens Networking group, and everything in between, there is most certainly a way for anyone to get involved and connected!
Where are your favorite local spots to hang out?
Where do I begin??? There are so many, it is hard to pick just one! But if pressed, I would have to say that Treaty Oak on a beautiful spring afternoon is my favorite. The scenery is majestic, the food is amazing and the ambiance, although ourdoors, is the best! Sometimes they have live music, and between that and large play area for the kids, it just makes for the perfect family outing.
Another favorite of mine is The Shady Llama. The view is simply stunning! They always have great food trucks, and the kids love the wide open playscape area. Not to mention the Llama!
How can we follow you on social media?
I am on Instagram at Texas_Loan_Lady. I use it to post stuff about me and my family life, as well as timely and useful information about mortgages and the home buying process in general. If you follow me, I’ll follow you back!
I love connecting you with amazing people in Dripping Springs! If you are looking to vacation here and need some recommendations of the local spots to go then let me know and I can help! 512-569-8480
Looking to move here or sell your home in this area? I’m a local Dripping Springs Real Estate Agent and can help! I also can help you buy or sell homes all over the Texas Hill Country and in Austin! Just reach out and we can chat about it! 512-569-8480 or laurenclark@magnoliarealty.com
