Rick Baron

Rick Baron began his career in the mortgage industry in Dallas in 1983 after having worked in the residential construction field and obtaining his Texas real estate license. Prior to that he attended Texas Christian University, and he grew up in Brownwood, Texas.

Rick has been making quality home loans in the Austin area since 1992, working on both the mortgage broker and mortgage banker sides of the business. In Austin he has worked with Network Mortgage, North American Mortgage Company, National City Mortgage, Baron-Ray Mortgage (owner), and Hometrust Mortgage. He joined Mason-McDuffie Mortgage as a manager in November 2011.

Rick learned early on that he had dual fiduciary responsibilities in the mortgage industry: first to his borrowers to ensure they obtained the best financing terms for their situation, and also to his lenders/investors to ensure they received quality performing loans. He has always been a student of the industry to gain superior product knowledge as well as a student of the economy to anticipate interest rate fluctuations to help his borrowers obtain the best possible interest rate.

Rick is also adept at explaining the complex aspects of mortgage financing in simple, understandable terms, and he is passionate about educating his clients to the point they can make informed, intelligent decisions about their own financial futures. His goal has always been to set the example for professionalism, integrity, and customer service in the industry.

Since the mortgage market meltdown in 2007 and the financial crisis of 2008, Rick has found himself becoming much more proactive in the mortgage market reform arena. He has developed a business model for a state-sponsored mortgage securitization firm for the State of Texas, and is currently attempting to solicit support for the concept from state legislators. Go to http://goodcapitalism.wordpress.comto read his blog and see videos about the concept and its status.

Rick has a 28 year old son named Keith, and has been married to his wife Shelton Ray, lead vocalist for the Shelton Ray Band, for the past 14 years. Rick is the sound man for the band when needed, and all three enjoy living in the Live Music Capital of the World.