For Lenae, Colorado has never been just a place—it’s a constant.

“Colorado has always been home,” she says with a smile, even though her childhood was anything but stationary.

Born in Boulder and in an Air Force family, Lenae spent her early years moving from place to place—a rhythm familiar to many military families. But no matter where life took her, Colorado remained the anchor. In 1993, she returned for good, going to school at MSU and DU’s Women’s College, and eventually building a life in the Denver-Boulder area with her husband and their two children.

Her story isn’t just about roots—it’s about balance. She speaks with equal enthusiasm about hiking with her dog Wilson as she does about navigating complex mortgage scenarios. There’s a throughline: she enjoys the journey as much as the destination.

“I love to laugh, travel when I can, and be outside,” she says. It’s not a throwaway line—it’s a glimpse into someone who understands that home isn’t just a structure. It’s a lifestyle.

That perspective carries directly into her work.

Lenae has been in the mortgage industry since 2004, and what stands out isn’t just her experience—it’s her enthusiasm. She talks about lending the way some people talk about a favorite craft.

“I absolutely love helping people achieve homeownership,” she says, and it doesn’t sound rehearsed.

Over the years, she’s built a deep familiarity with nearly every corner of the lending world—conventional loans, jumbo financing, VA, FHA, USDA, condos, and investment properties. It’s an extensive toolkit, but she frames it simply: finding the right fit for each client.

And then there are the more nuanced areas—like reverse mortgages. Lenae is certified in them, but she’s quick to add a note of honesty.

“It’s not always the right solution,” she explains. “But for some people, it’s the perfect way to retire comfortably and stay in their home.”

She pauses for a moment before leaning into what clearly feels like a bigger, often overlooked conversation.

“There’s about $14½ trillion sitting in homes owned by Americans over 62,” she says. “And most people don’t realize what that actually means.”

What it means, she explains, is that the next wave of housing movement won’t look the way many expect.

“It’s not just first-time buyers coming into the market,” Lenae says. “It’s homeowners who don’t even realize they can afford to move—or who would love to stay in their home and even buy a second or vacation home, but don’t know they’re literally sitting on the money to do it.”

It’s a shift in perspective—one that requires different conversations.

“These are the conversations we need to get comfortable having,” she adds.

Lenae points to what industry insiders have started calling the “Silver Tsunami.”

“Over 10,000 Americans turn 65 every single day,” she says. “And by 2035, people over 65 will outnumber children in the U.S.”

She doesn’t say it with alarm—more with a sense of clarity.

“That means a massive downsizing wave is coming,” she continues. “And we need to be prepared. This isn’t a niche. This is the next big housing market.”

That balance—between expertise and foresight—is part of what defines her approach.

When we talk about first-time buyers, her tone softens slightly. There’s a patience there, an understanding of how overwhelming the process can be.

“Buying a home is a big deal,” she says. “I want people to understand what they’re doing, not just sign paperwork.”

She walks clients through every step, from qualification to closing, often helping them access down payment assistance programs they didn’t know existed. It’s less about transactions and more about education.

At the same time, she’s equally comfortable on the other end of the spectrum—working with seasoned investors navigating a competitive market. She describes those deals with a kind of tactical clarity, emphasizing timing, coordination, and precision.

“In this market, you need someone who can get it done correctly—and on time,” she says. “That’s where I come in.”

Perhaps most telling is her confidence when it comes to complexity.

“I’ve seen it all,” she says with a laugh—referring to self-employed borrowers, unconventional income, and the kinds of financial situations that often intimidate less experienced lenders.

It’s not bravado. It’s reassurance.

Availability is another cornerstone of her approach. Lenae doesn’t see her job as nine-to-five. She mentions being available nights and weekends almost in passing, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“That’s when people are actually out looking for homes,” she says.

It’s a simple observation—but it speaks volumes.

For Lenae, this isn’t just a profession. It’s a partnership. One built on availability, persistence, and a genuine belief that homeownership—and the possibilities within it—is far more expansive than most people realize.