Mike Gowan - Sales Manager

Direct Line: (219) 874-1088
Fax: (219) 874-1089
mgowan@hallmarkhomemortgage.com

Hi, I’m Mike. I am originally from Bucks County, Pennsylvania where I lived until I entered the United States Air Force in August of 1979. I spent eight years as an airborne cryptologic linguist, serving as a trainer, evaluator, and in mission management, and being awarded two Air Medals for flight operations in hazardous conditions as well as an Air Force Commendation medal for my assistance in designing an airborne training platform for the first Gulf War effort.

After living with my family for three years in Okinawa, Japan and then Tucson, Arizona, I left the Air Force in 1987 and moved to Michigan City, Indiana in 1988 and have lived here ever since.

We have definitely found our home here in Michigan City; I have never lived anywhere else where the people are so open and friendly. There is always something going on somewhere locally and I firmly believe that we are all very blessed to live here in such a warm & beautiful town.

I first got involved in real estate in 1990 working as a sales agent for Stan & Vicki Eisner with ERA in Michigan City. Then in 1991, I was offered a position as a loan officer with Waterfield Mortgage by Mari Bradley. I was with Waterfield from 1991 thru mid-1994, after which I moved to American Dream Mortgage and was there until we moved to Hallmark Home Mortgage in May of 2008.

I have been married to my beautiful wife Chris since 1980 and we have three sons ages 28, 25, and 13, and three grandsons, ages 6, 2, and 12 months and one granddaughter, age 6 months. My eldest son Matthew is currently in the United States Navy as an instructor at the Nuclear Engineering School in Charleston, South Carolina and my middle son Brian is currently taking classes at Purdue North Central. My youngest, Charlie, is, of course, still in school and is the light of my life. He fully intends to be either an astronaut or a veterinarian or fireman or video game designer (this week anyway). We are pet maniacs and currently have two dogs and four cats that actually all get along! We also have a desert tortoise named Oogway who has been an interesting addition to say the least.

In my off-work time, I enjoy creating art, both drawing and painting. I also build furniture as well as do remodeling. When not busy with these activities, my whole family loves to spend time at the beach.

My son Charlie joins me in all of these activities and together we support the ASPCA, the local Humane Society, and sponsor a young girl named Lorie Ann Ogayon Molas in the Philippines, corresponding frequently. I also donate some of my original artwork to local charities for sale at auctions and have just begun selling prints of my artwork to benefit the La Porte County Board of Realtor®'s Deserving Children's Fund.

I have always specialized in FHA loans, feeling that FHA is where I can make the most difference for the most people. My feeling is that there are too many Loan Officers out there who are “jacks of all trades and masters of none”; I never want to find myself in that position. Here in Michigan City we want to be able to answer your questions truthfully, accurately, and with authority. The only way to truly do that is to be the expert in an area; the functions we are fulfilling are far too important to venture a guess in response to any question.

And, of course, we are here to put that expertise to work for you – to work for you to make your real estate dreams come true – it works, for home buyers and home owners as well as the Realtors® with whom we work to assist them.

For years I have been making my living solely by referral from my satisfied clients as well as a large group of Realtor® friends. I emphasize constant communication between myself, my processor, my customer and Realtor®. Total and complete customer satisfaction is our daily goal. I am now in my 19th year in this field and cannot ever see myself doing anything else.

Give me a call if you would like to purchase a home, refinance your existing home into better terms, or if you are a Realtor® desiring to investigate a stable, honest, responsive, long term relationship with a Loan Officer who is truly looking out for your interests.