Dominion Mortgage Brokerage and Property Solutions – The Mortgage Queen and her dominion

BY WAZARI JOHNSON

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

2 Timothy 1:7

Renna Johnson aims to be a major player in the strengthening of Jamaican real estate market, with Dominion Mortgage Brokerage and Property Solutions.

Even with the reality of COVID-19 looming over the globe, the Jamaican real estate market has not been severely impacted.

There are a number of reasons why Jamaica is a great place to invest in real estate; Jamaica has little restrictions to foreigners who wish to own homes here. Owning real estate in Jamaica can yield almost 60% in revenue in any period over five years. This percentage is evident based on the recent appreciation of Jamaican real estate.

Another great reason to invest in Jamaican real estate is that real estate in Jamaica is more affordable than other Caribbean islands. Prices range anywhere from $1,300 USD – $1,500 USD per square foot for a beachfront home in Jamaica, but in Barbados a beachfront home can range anywhere from $6,700 USD upwards.  In Jamaica, real estate offers lucrative investment and income earning opportunities; monthly housing rent rose by 0.5% in 2016 based on the nationwide index released by The Bank of Jamaica.

In our interview, Reena explains why she chose the name “Dominion” for her mortgage brokerage business “I always knew whatever name the business was given, it would be because of its significance to me. The name Dominion actually resonates with me in a couple of ways on different levels.  My middle name is Dominique, the French feminine form of Dominic, meaning of the lord, or belonging to God. Also, in the beginning, our fore parents were given dominion over the land and all the creatures in it.  It was therefore a natural choice for me. It easily plays into the scenario.

I love what I do and I wanted to continue doing it, but in a context that offered me more flexibility and allowed me to explore how I could better cater to the needs of my clients.  I’m humbled by the fact that when I assist someone to access a mortgage to purchase a property, an equity loan to improve a property, or for education or other purposes, I am impacting their lives in a significantly meaningful way.  It carries with it tremendous responsibilities not only for the client but also for the mortgage company and myself.”

The “Mortgage Queen” is soaking in every experience so far since she has started her journey with Dominion.  She shared with me what her adventure has been like so far.

 “Like many sought after journeys, it has brought excitement, I’m passionate about the plans I have been formulating for years. Seeing them unfold is like getting a gift.  It also has its challenges, and the buck stops with me. If I have to extend myself to ensure something happens or gets done, then that is what I do. This is nothing new. 

It also comes with its own level of uncertainties, I am no longer an employee with a guaranteed salary, and so I need to pull out all the stops to generate revenue.  Have there been anxious times?  Yes, absolutely!” 

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

I asked Renna what she thinks makes Dominion stand out, “I am a seasoned mortgage professional, well knowledgeable about the loan origination process and highly capable of getting relevant solutions. I listen to my clients and seek to bridge the gap between their wants and needs, with understanding and clarity of the process for them. I reassure my clients that I will act on their behalf without compromising my integrity. 

I operate steps ahead of my clients, anticipating potential concerns and working out possible solutions.  If I believe a case is strong enough to give someone a fighting chance, I will go to bat for my clients.  At the end of our business encounter, my clients should walk away more informed, more confident and more empowered as they continue their life’s journey.”

I usually like finding out from the people that I interview if there is anything they would have approached differently on their entrepreneurial journey. When I asked Renna if she had any regrets, or if there were things she would change, she shared her thoughts,

“Work and life balance is being spoken about more in recent years, and many companies have taken and are taking steps to encourage and teach this in the workplace. This is essential especially to maintain and enhance all your relationships. It’s one of those things I’ve had to learn and work at doing. I must say, knowing when to stop and say no feels pretty good.”  

Renna looks forward to the future with great expectations and she has other plans in addition to Dominion. This is what she shared with me. “I have aspirations of venturing into different aspects of the real estate marketplace and agricultural production/ agro-processing.  I believe I have something to contribute to the landscape and look forward to doing just that.”

You can visit Dominion Mortgage Brokerage website www.dominionmortgagesja.com or find her on Facebook and Instagram.