Daniel Perreira, Union Home Mortgage
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT | 2023 VETERANS DAY SPECIAL EDITION
PHOTOS BY NESTED TOURS | STORY BY ZACHARY COHEN
“Dan the Man”
Dan Perreira of Union Home Mortgage is deeply rooted in the Oklahoma community. He’s been a mortgage loan officer for a staggering 35 years, and aside from a short stint in New York City, he’s spent his entire career in the Sooner State. Yet, Dan’s journey began on another continent entirely and with a lifestyle much different than he experiences today.
Rooted in Discipline
Dan was born in Germany. After a trip through the foster system, he was adopted by his father, a native Hawaiian and a member of the US Army Special Forces, and his mother, a native German. Dan spent his early childhood in Berlin while his father served in Korea and Vietnam.
At nine years old, Dan moved across the Atlantic to Lawton, Oklahoma, alongside his dad, mom, and sister. In Oklahoma, Dan faced a new set of cultural realities. His English was poor, and he was unfamiliar with the everyday workings of American life.
“On my first day of school, I had to take lunch to school. Now, Germany and America are totally different. For lunch, I packed beer because I had been drinking beer with my grandfather since I was three years old. So, on my first day at elementary school, I got into a lot of trouble,” Dan reflects with a laugh. “The principal knew my dad, was also in the special forces, and spoke German. He talked to me and explained about the difference in culture. Then he shut the door, and he and I drank a few beers together. I didn't go back to class. He didn't get mad, my dad picked me up, and I started learning the different rules in America.”
Dan slowly settled into life in Oklahoma while maintaining the discipline he learned as a child in Germany. This sense of organization and dedication has served him in countless ways throughout his life, including in his professional life as a mortgage loan officer.
“To this day, I wake up at 4:00 a.m. and do the morning routine I have had since 4th grade. I do not deviate from it,” Dan says. “I wake up, read, do my chores around the house, and spend some time alone. I'm very regimented. I get everything out of the way, then sit down and plan my day. It’s a big positive in this business to be so regimented.”
Born to Serve
Dan leveraged his upbringing and the skills he sharpened during that time to become one of Oklahoma’s top mortgage loan officers. While he knew little about lending initially, he quickly developed a fondness for the business.
“I discovered success through my discipline, which my dad taught me, and my ability to treat people well, which my mom taught me. In less than 11 years, I became a senior vice president of CitiMortgage, running the largest division in my 30s. I got 14 promotions in 11 years. I went from being a loan officer to running the thing in 11 years.”
Dan’s rise to the top eventually brought him to New York City, where he led CitiMortgage. But life in Manhattan was a poor fit, and he ultimately decided to return to his roots as a loan officer in Oklahoma. Serving clients and REALTORS® has always been where Dan’s heart has been.
Serving the Community
Dan has now been in lending for over 35 years. Today, he is a Loan Originator and Team Leader at Union Home Mortgage.
As a loan originator, Dan is committed to customer appreciation, education, and service. For example, he spends around $1500 each month on a program that helps clients improve their credit scores. His pre-approval process is second to none. Many of his clients come from other mortgage companies that couldn’t close the loan.
“Because our process is so good, we can often turn a turn-down into an approval,” he explains.
Dan also leverages his experience with the military to be an advocate for active duty members and veterans. He is an expert in VA loans and VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans (IRRRL).
Leaving a Legacy
Outside work, you’ll find Dan spending time with his wife, Tempe (a top-500 REALTOR ®), traveling (Hawaii is his favorite destination), playing golf and tennis, hiking, and biking. Dan is also a devoted Christian, and his faith is a primary part of his life.
“My goal every morning is to lead a lot of people to the Lord. Every morning, I post something about my faith,” he shares. “My legacy is to lead a lot of people to the Lord and that people say, ‘This guy did it right.’”
For more information, visit www.uhm.com/dperreira.
