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Ian Smith is Vice President of Mortgage Lending at Rate in Charlotte, North Carolina (NMLS #1465241). Born and raised in Charlotte, he graduated from UNC Charlotte and got his start in the mortgage industry as a processor, learning every step of a loan from the inside before ever sitting across the table from a borrower. That behind-the-scenes foundation still shapes how he works today: clear expectations, no surprises, and a file that's built right from the start. Over the years, it has helped hundreds of families become homeowners.

Known across the market as thecltmortgageguy, Ian works with buyers at every stage and in every situation. He helps first-time buyers navigate down payment assistance programs, guides self-employed borrowers through income documentation, and structures financing for investment properties, DSCR loans, and new construction. He's also well versed in FHA, VA, and USDA loans, so whether someone is buying their first home, growing a rental portfolio, or building from the ground up, there's a path that fits. The part that never gets old is the photo of a family holding their keys in front of their new home.

Away from work, Ian skis, mountain bikes, and takes long walks, and he splits his time between Charlotte, New York City, and Garden City, South Carolina. Wherever he is, he's never far from a phone call with a client who's one step closer to the keys.