3 minute read
Diverse Supplier Spotlight: Diamond State Home Loans
BY COLIN HEFFINGER
“The battle for veteran homeownership—one handshake and smile at a time.” The VA loan program is designed as a benefit to help veterans purchase a new home at favorable rates. Despite this, veterans face increased challenges acquiring a home as perceptions in the real estate community blur the lines on how VA loans work. Darren Corder, president and owner of Diamond State Home Loans, has made it his mission to bridge the gap between understanding the full scope of the VA loan program and helping veterans secure the homes that they deserve.
Corder started Diamond State Home Loans in December 2022 after spending 20 years in the mortgage industry. Through his experience, Corder was able to discover challenges client groups were facing. As a veteran himself, Corder quickly sparked a passion to help other veterans navigate the sea of misinformation encompassing VA loans.
“The least we can do is help veterans access the benefits they have earned through their service,” Corder explains. “I saw an opportunity to build on this by helping veterans navigate the loan process and providing them with a five-star experience, from veteran-to-veteran. My goal is to make the process of borrowing money as stress-free as possible—allowing veterans to enjoy the American home ownership dream they’ve earned.”
To accomplish this goal, Corder likens his approach for the VA loan application process to the assembly line for building a car. “Each step is designed to be efficient and reliable,” Corder states. “We emphasize doing quality control after all steps are completed. This helps us be more competitive and put more time into strengthening our local impact.”
Darren Corder, founder and CEO of Diamond State Home Loans, meets with Senator Chris Coons in Newark.
Corder takes his involvement in local businesses seriously. Since starting his business, Corder has quickly joined the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce to stay on the pulse with changes impacting his industry and new opportunities to support veteran small business owners. He is a former board member of the National Guard Youth Foundation and has provided on-site “VA Loan 101” classes throughout states such as Idaho, California, and Maryland, to name a few. Corder is also an advocate for improvements to the 100% property tax exemption bill for veterans, which was passed in 2021.
Reflecting on his business approach, Corder hints back to the importance of his handshake and smile statement.
“The loan process can be overwhelming,” Corder states. “Some brands use confrontation to get their point across to veterans. I’m more interested in simplifying the loan process and making it digestible. No two people will ever have the same lives and face the same challenges—so it’s important that we stay customizable to best understand and match the needs of each veteran. We have a long way to go, but we’re in this for the ruck march.”
