@mortgagehomey of course!
Even if you don’t know him by his Instagram handle, you know him as Sukesh Shakar, a regular at the powerlifting sessions and a noon WOD crusher. We all have a story to tell and this is Sukesh’s story.
Sukesh is originally from Delhi, India, but at 18, he migrated to the United States with a college scholarship and an American dream, leaving behind his family and everything familiar. Encouraged by his grandfather to seek his dreams in the US, he migrated across continents and landed in Florida. He was unaware of the expansive geography of the United States and chose to attend a school where he could afford to pursue his biochemistry degree. Driven by a love of science and adventure, Sukesh pursued a Ph.D. at Notre Dame after finishing his undergraduate degree. But science wasn’t the only thing keeping him in the United States, he met his wife Meghan and before she disappeared for Medical school he took a chance and asked her out.
“She was smart, cute and thoughtful,” Sukesh recalls fondly.
Sukesh and Meghan continued to date long distance; she was pursuing her medical degree at Stony Brook, and he took a job with McKinsey in Houston, Texas. He was tasked with improving refining technology in the mining industry specializing in gold and copper. As his love for Meghan grew they married and welcomed their first child. While Meghan completed her fellowship in pediatric oncology in Houston, they decided to buy their first home, which opened a can of worms in the world of mortgage lending.
Dedicated to his growing family and supporting his wife, Sukesh prioritized finding an opportunity to stay home and support them. He started Altgage to help homeowners make smarter mortgage payments. The idea was novel: if homeowners better understand mortgage debt they will learn how to pay down mortgages faster and use the equity to further invest in their future wealth. It turns out Americans aren’t all that interested in paying more than the minimum. As the idea floundered, a new business opportunity emerged. Help first-time home buyers navigate the world of mortgages and more importantly, secure better mortgage rates.
Sukesh is a problem solver at heart and his new company took off in Texas. By deeply understanding the mortgage process, Sukesh secured better rates for homebuyers and expedited closing. The standard one-two month wait wasn’t necessary and more affordable mortgage rates appealed to Texans. Now, Sukesh wants to bring the same opportunity to his new community in West Roxbury.
He was recently approved as a mortgage broker in Massachusetts—no easy feat—and his BIG dream is to help everyone achieve home ownership, perhaps an extension of his own American dream. He is energized by his new CrossFit community and as he settles in, he hopes to bring opportunity to anyone looking to become a home owner.
His favorite lift is the clean & jerk and Karen is his favorite benchmark WOD.
Since moving to Boston, Sukesh and Meghan have had their third child, and it looks like they are here to stay. Meghan is a pediatric oncologist at Children’s Hospital, and Sukesh is expanding his mortgage business. If you need help you can reach out to Sukesh directly: 617-618-8774 or go to the links below for more information.