To help our members get to know one another, NRMLA publishes periodic member spotlights featuring professionals from across the reverse mortgage ecosystem.
Meet Lisa Lansdown, senior loan officer at Peoples Mortgage, Inc., who lives in El Cajon, CA.
Lisa has worked in banking, real estate, marketing and the mortgage industry during her career. “I worked my way through college as a Teller for Home Federal Savings and Loan and after graduation promoted to the marketing department as an “Assistant Asset Manager” during the “Garn Act,” says Lisa. “Today, I happily work with my favorite demographic in the growing world of reverse mortgages. I am now in my eleventh year exclusively originating them.”
How did you get into the reverse mortgage world?
My fondness for our mature population was more than five decades imbedded in my basis. One day, I was speaking with my longtime boss, business friend and mentor, the late great Tim Gilker. I told him I was really interested in learning more about reverse mortgages. Tim told me he thought it was a perfect fit for me. I investigated the products and after getting educated on reverse mortgages, I became a convert. Gerry Johnson, who was already originating them in our company, encouraged me too. Gerry introduced me to account representatives and answered many questions. All in the spirit of supporting a fellow loan officer.
What reverse mortgage issues/topics are you most focused on now?
In the 11 years I’ve worked in our section of the mortgage industry, there has been an enormous amount of growth in available products. These products allow so many more homeowners to utilize funds for a better current and future life. Making myself available to educate anyone interested in learning more has and will continue to be my focus. I believe education is critical. It is no longer the “Wild West” of mortgages as I have been told it was in the 60’s and 70’s +/-. These are solid financial vehicles that allow a new level of money management on personal assets that previously were untouchable without complete liquidation or taking on more mandatory payments.
Why did you become a NRMLA member?
I was very fortunate that our company already held membership in NRMLA. I wasn’t aware of all that NRMLA was doing in our corner of the mortgage industry but when I was attempting to assist an 80s+ year old widow who had a reverse mortgage to deal with, one that had previously been taken out as an individual by her late husband, I found out how capable, supportive and available the NRMLA team was. This was not my client, but an attorney friend asked me to see if I could help. This story could have been long and unpleasant with a not so happy ending. Instead, it was resolved thanks to the NRMLA team stepping in to use their contacts and resources. The challenges were put to rest, and the widow remains in her home today. I am and forever will be grateful to NRMLA for their support and look forward to the time I can give back in some capacity.
What do you love most about working in the reverse mortgage industry?
I absolutely love working with the people around me, my clients are fabulous, sometimes not in the best place initially, but we work through difficulties as best we can. I get to know them, and, in many cases, we remain friends after the transaction is past. They all know they can always call on me. If I can answer the phone I do, if I can’t, I will get back to them as soon as possible. Most of them are aware of my private horse rescue and most of them have at least one pet. So, beyond the reverse mortgage we often have a common love of animals. As for working with my company team, I am privileged to be on Peoples Mortgage, Inc. “Reverse Mortgage Panel” and to work with the members of the “Elite Team” under Vice Presidents Stacy Orozco and Justin Toenjes. We truly do have a great group of committed warm professionals that are a joy to work with.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
In a word, rescue. I cannot stand cruelty or abuse in any form and sadly over the years I have been made far too aware of it, especially where horses are concerned. My late mother and I took on initially a group of a dozen odd minis, ponies, horses and one old extra tall Amish carriage horse. The rescue grew from there, mostly through online auctions. Sellers in Southern states would ship horses that didn’t sell, off to slaughter in Mexico. It is horrendous, and I stop there, encouraging others to become self-educated if interested in what happens to approximately 120,000 equine a year. As of today, we have pulled over 50 horses of all sizes and backgrounds out of auctions. A few came by other means. Thankfully, we were able to place approximately half of them with quality homes, and remain adamant these are forever homes, or they come back to us. Yes, it is a fair amount of work, but someone once said, so is anything worthwhile. They are beautiful creatures with different personalities. We have one gifted pony, Beethoven, that in the beginning before we used horse proof locks, would run around and open the stall gates of the other horses he liked, but a couple of the “mean” girls who had kicked at him, could only watch as he wouldn’t open their doors. Our private rescue also includes goats, that’s another story. In short, they were pushed out of a trailer on a side road and left to fend for themselves, five dogs, lots of cats, and by choice in 2025 some chickens, three geese and a duck named Jeffrey. I am a firm believer that from my career to the rescue, that one person can’t do everything but if everyone does a little, it will make a big difference! And I am very honored and grateful to be living my life making others’ lives better.
