Having served over 20 years and being stationed at various places around the world, I know the importance of coming home and owning your own home.
My decision to join the military was a spontaneous one. I was home during a holiday break from college in Ellensburg, WA and decided to check out the local recruiting station in my hometown of Vancouver, WA. My father had served in the US Air Force, and as a child, I had often heard him talk of his experiences and I was looking forward to creating some memories of my own. Ironically, after graduating from high school, joining the military was the farthest from my plans. I had an opportunity for an appointment at West Point and did not even pursue it. At the recruiting station, the Air Force told me it would be at least a year for the MOS (Military Occupation Specialty) that I wanted. I was studying Finance & Accounting at CWU, so I had hoped to do the same in the military. After talking with the recruiters and watching a few of their videos, I knew that I did not want to wait a year to enlist and attend basic training. The Army was next in line and that’s where I spent the next 22 years. I was not expecting to make it a career, but I enjoyed it and all the experiences and friendships created along the way. I ended up finishing college at University of Phoenix in 2000 and retired out of Ft. Lewis, WA in 2004.
While I was on terminal leave, I was recruited by a local company JL Darling in Fife, WA and was hired as a Government Sales Representative to specifically sell to the military services. This was a very easy thing for me as I was a Logistics Officer and knew the supply system so well. JL Darling went from less than 1% of their sales to the Government/Military to 99% during this time.
Dun & Bradstreet in Portland, OR was my next stop. I was hired as a Project Manager/Relationship Manager and worked in the Lloyd Center office. I had some great accounts which included Nike, Levi Stauss, and several others. D&B is a great company and I learned so much, but I quickly recognized that no matter how many years you were an all-star and performed above plan, the senior leadership only cared about what you were doing that year. I saw the stress it created on the sales representatives in our office. During my year at D&B, I was approached by Hayes Barnard, the owner of a new mortgage company that had just opened an office in Lake Oswego, OR. He offered me a job as a Financial Specialist with Paramount Equity Mortgage. I told him that I wanted to finish my year at D&B, which I did, and I finished the year at 127% of plan and departed on the best of terms.
At Paramount Equity Mortgage, I quickly became a top loan officer and was asked to open two new branches in Bellevue, WA. I relocated back to Washington state (Issaquah) with my family and along with Troy Reierson, we hired and trained 36+ financial specialists, support staff and together, we built a very profitable branch for the company.
I left Paramount Equity Mortgage to become a partner with the well-known family owned TILA Mortgage. Ron Greene and his son Ken were kind enough to offer me some ownership of the company and I enjoyed several years helping them grow an already successful business into one of the top mortgage companies in the Northwest.
In 2010, I visited Arizona during Spring Training to see a family friend Omar Vizquel (my son Zachary played soccer with his son Nico) who was playing for the Texas Rangers that year. I enjoyed Arizona so much that we came back in 2011 to watch more games as Omar was now playing for the Chicago White Sox. It was after this visit that we decided to purchase a home in Marley Park located in Surprise, Arizona. The home soon became our primary home as we relocated to Arizona. I thought I was getting to retire early but quickly decided I wanted to get back to work. I had numerous opportunities in the lending or finance sector but had always had a curiosity for selling real estate. I obtained my real estate license in 2011 and have enjoyed the last 13 years 
helping hundreds of now friends buy or sell their homes. I truly love what I do and will continue helping others with real estate as long as my health allows.
I’m very happily married to the most amazing women. Teresa and I met online and will celebrate our 10th Anniversary in April of 2024. She has worked in the Title Escrow industry for nearly 40 years, and she is an invaluable partner in life and business. Teresa has 2 grown adult children, Steven and Tara. Steven resides in Colorado Springs with his wife Crystal, they have a large family of seven. Yes, we have 5 grandchildren in Colorado. Tara has one daughter and lives in Surprise, AZ.
I also have 3 adult children of my own, Brittany, Zachary, and Blake. We are proud of them all and enjoy watching them navigate life. Brittany blessed us with 2 granddaughters and Zachary a granddaughter and just recently, a grandson! Blake is younger and taking his time. He purchased his own home at the age of 21 and has been working in sales with hopes of joining The Veteran’s Team later this year. We also have a fur baby named Hope, she is a 3-year-old Golden Retriever, and we spoil her as much as we can!
When not working real estate, I enjoy spending time with our family, traveling, playing softball, pickleball and golfing.
PS. If you had read my previous story letter you will know that we fell in love with Italy and met an amazing couple (now family) and are so excited to visit them soon.
Sincerely,
John A. Whalen
REALTOR® | CNE | CRMS | SRES
CWO US ARMY - RETIRED
(623) 210-2997
johnawhalen@gmail.com