Dale Bilton is an open book; unless, of course, you ask him how to fund what may be the industry’s most difficult mortgage types.
Late last year I met with the commercial broker legend for lunch in downtown Toronto. He’s got a treasure trove of unique mortgage stories, but it was one offhand remark that has stuck with me since.
I asked him to share the secret.
When speaking for this short story, I asked once again, if he’d dish the dirt, as it were.
Unsurprisingly, Bilton was as mum as ever.
Perhaps it’s that secrecy that has helped him become one of the industry’s leading commercial players over the past 20 years.
He does an average of 40 deals a year, with an average mortgage size of $500,000-$2 million.
Like most, Dale Bilton got his start on the banking side before transitioning to the broker industry.
He honed his craft originally as a residential mortgage broker, before hiring a team to handle that side so he could focus on commercial. And he’s been at it ever since, funding one interesting deal after another.
Of course, Bilton won them over and got the deal done in a week; he still works with the client today.
When asked what the most rewarding aspect of working on the commercial side is, Bilton’s response was unsurprising, given some of the files that have landed in his lap.