experience
Every Galaxy team member wants to earn and maintain your trust from the moment you contact us. We strive to communicate thoroughly and often, anticipate and prevent problems at every opportunity, and stay on top of the many changes in mortgage regulations and programs. Our banking relationships are strong and our commitment to you is unwavering.
Lending expertise and business success
Jay Luber, founder and president of Galaxy Lending Group LLC, is a mortgage industry veteran with 25 years in residential lending. Jay has held senior positions at Valley National Bank, Bank One, and North American Mortgage where he managed 10 offices and 250 employees funding $700 million in loans per year. In January 2000, Jay formed Lifestyle Lending Group LLC, which he grew into a successful mortgage lender serving metropolitan Phoenix. Satisfied customers rated Lifestyle Lending a “top ten mortgage banker” three years running in Ranking Arizona: The Best of Arizona Business, the state’s largest business poll published by Arizona Business Magazine. Jay sold his Company in 2005 to First Horizon Home Loans and stayed on for three years as a vice president.
The best loan and solid advice. Regardless of market ups and downs, Jay has built his reputation providing outstanding value to clients. He consistently sets high standards for fast, responsive, courteous service. You can count on the Galaxy team to do its best to serve you well! Please e-mail Jay your questions or comments so that we may continue to deliver a superior customer experience.
INVITE: Frequently interviewed and often quoted, Jay is widely recognized for his mortgage know-how and economic perspective. Contact Jay to speak at your company’s next meeting, workshop or conference.
Customer satisfaction and quality lending
Brad Stallings, vice president of Galaxy Lending Group LLC, offers 20 years of mortgage experience focused on giving every borrower the right loan and a positive experience. For the majority of his career, Brad managed the East Valley operation of First Horizon Home Loans. Under his leadership, Brad’s branch closed an average of $100 million in loans annually, with $40 million generated by Brad personally.
Customers come first. Providing the highest level of customer satisfaction is of paramount importance to Brad. His customers trust him and believe in his ability to provide the best financing at a competitive price. Brad joins a Galaxy team that shares his belief that the customer must always come first.
Depth of experience and a solid work ethic
Kim Kriel, senior loan officer at Galaxy Lending Group LLC, has worked in the mortgage industry for the past nine years. She began her career in lending as a loan officer for Lifestyle Lending Group, a mortgage banker. When Lifestyle Lending merged with First Horizon Home Loans, Kim was promoted to builder accounts manager. Kim oversaw new home financing for four Phoenix area builders including Maracay, Element, Tiffany, and Universal Homes. She and her team closed an average of 200 loans a year.
Communication and clarity. With a degree in economics, Kim understands the real estate industry and financial markets. As a former educator, she has the ability to simplify the loan application process and explain mortgage programs in terms her clients can understand. She is a seasoned specialist in government loan programs including FHA, VA, and USDA financing. Kim’s record of success is measured by her long list of satisfied borrowers.
Customer-driven business development
Dave Venezia, vice president of Galaxy Lending Group LLC, began his career in the mortgage industry in 1990 as a loan processor and loan closer with Carl I. Brown and Co. in Kansas City, MO. Transferring to Phoenix in 1992, Dave became a successful loan officer developing a solid base of happy clients and strong referral relationships with real estate and title companies. In 1997, Dave opened his own mortgage brokerage firm, which he expanded within two years from $12 million in annual loan production to more than $60 million per year. He later sold his company to Hamilton Mortgage Company. As a regional manager at Hamilton, Dave helped grow the company from six branches and 40 employees to 24 branches and over 300 employees producing more than $1 billion in annual loans. Dave also has worked in management for BNC National Bank and Met Life Bank, two large FDIC-insured depository institutions.
Exceptional service for every customer. With experience on both the banker and broker sides of the industry, Dave offers a thorough understanding of mortgage operations and a proven ability to satisfy clients’ needs. He has personally originated or supervised the origination of over $1 billion of Arizona residential home loans. Dave understands the local real estate market and has helped his Arizona clients to weather many economic cycles. Dave looks forward to providing exceptional service to each and every customer.
Total commitment to customer service
Teri Engelbrecht, licensed loan officer at Galaxy Lending Group LLC, has 25 years of mortgage experience and a steadfast commitment to service excellence. She has helped more than 4,000 Phoenix area homeowners purchase and refinance their homes. At Valley National Mortgage, Teri’s first job in the mortgage industry, she managed two of the Valley's top builder accounts for 15 years. Striking out on her own, Teri ran her own mortgage business serving past clients, new clients and Realtors in our community.
Always available to consult her clients. Teri’s number one priority is to provide superior customer service. She makes sure that her clients fully understand their mortgage options and helps them choose the best mortgage to fit their long-term goals. She is dedicated to providing a high level of contact and quality communication for all parties involved in every transaction. Knowing that time is limited for busy homebuyers juggling work, family and outside activities, Teri is pleased to consult her clients whenever they need during evenings and weekends in addition to regular business hours.