After a year of immigration turmoil, one originator believes brokers can do more to help Latinos
It has been a year of turmoil in the markets, leading to uncertainty for mortgage customers. Few sectors had to deal with more chaos and uncertainty than in the Latino community.
Changes to immigration policies and increased enforcement have led to many longtime residents being deported, and others being fearful of what might be next. One mortgage broker is doing his part to help the Latino community overcome its fears.
Joe Almeida Jr, CEO and mortgage loan originator with Redefine Home Loans, said that when it comes to helping this community, it comes down to having a plan to help them move forward.
“We do a lot with the Latino community, and we noticed that the number one objective that we must overcome has nothing to do with rates, has nothing to do with money,” Almeida told Mortgage Professional America. “It has to do with how we can remove fear. Help them put together a solid plan that will help them buy their first home or an investment home successfully.”
Not looking for a hero
Almeida said one common misconception among brokers working with the Latino community is that they’re looking for someone to come in and save them.
“I think one of the greatest mistakes with the Latino community is that the majority of the loan officers try to be a hero,” Almeida said. “They are not looking for a hero, they're actually just looking for empowerment.”
Another thing that Almeida has seen in this era of rapidly expanding technology is that the Latino community still prefers in-person communication.
“The Latino community is still very face-to-face,” he said. “They understand technology, but they don't want to be in technology. As long as you understand that part, you will always have a market.”
It’s a complicated time in the community, and Almeida said, regardless of whether these potential customers are documented or undocumented, there is an opportunity for brokers to help.
“They are hiding here, so you have to overcome that problem,” Almeida said. “A lot of them have all their documents. Some of them are undocumented, so you have to be able to approach them on a human level, not on a political level. Regardless of which side of the spectrum, whether you're Republican or Democrat, what I tell everybody is, my vote doesn't belong to anyone.
“Every time I approach it this way, I can touch the human side instead of touching the situation, because at the end of the day, all the narrative is to make us fight. And the moment you remove that fight, remove that fear, you can put a solid plan together.”
Providing hope
Almeida said he tries to educate buyers about the possible consequences of any immigration action and encourages them to move forward toward home ownership.
“If something happens, you can still sell the house, take the profits home,” he said. “And if something doesn't happen, at least it leads you to a green card, it leads you to a better situation. And most importantly, being Latino in a homeless society is even worse than just being homeless. So the identity of finding exactly what is the best plan moving forward is key to removing fear.”
He said that getting members of the Latino community into homes allows them to change the trajectory of their lives. It will enable them to truly live the American dream.
“We need to go back and sell the American dream,” Almeida said. “Buying a home is beyond patriotism. Buying a home should be your true American dream for one reason: nobody can push you away from the house. When you own the house, you want to have a way to sustainably buy the house, keep the house, and create momentum.”
As Florida explores reducing property taxes, Elizabeth Cassidy of Edge Home Finance said shifting the burden to investment property owners could help local families access more homes while easing the strain on residents’ budgets.https://t.co/pU3eOLQuix
— Mortgage Professional America Magazine (@MPAMagazineUS) October 17, 2025
At a time when division between political parties has caused animosity in this country, Almeida believes one way to heal some of that division is to get more people into homes and help them change their situations. He wants brokers to make it their mission to make that happen.
“If you want to stop the problem in America, and you want to create ways to stop the division, all we need is more families inside of more homes raising their kids, to create stability in the community,” he said. “I believe every loan officer should take this as a purpose, not just a way to make money. I am here to cause that kind of change.
“If you understand that the power that you have in bringing a family together is so important. You will see that what you have is not just a career, but a life-changing way to empower a family's life forever. And that should be the true motto of a loan officer.”
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