Our Commitment to Excellence
The B.E.S.T. Oath
“BEST” is the acronym behind Stairway Mortgage’s employee oath and email signature—an affirmation every team member is required to uphold. It reflects our culture and core commitment to personal responsibility, excellence, and spiritual integrity. Each employee signs this oath, and it is included in their email signature as a daily reminder of who they are and what they stand for.
See how our oath translates into client wins: explore strategy tools and purpose-driven planning with the Legacy Impact Planner and Spiritual Impact Calculator.
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Believe & Build
We believe in your future and build relationships that honor your vision.
Ready to build with numbers and clarity? Project long-term cash flow & equity to align today’s decisions with tomorrow’s goals.
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Empower & Embrace
We empower clients with knowledge and embrace every stage of the journey.
Start empowered: compare your next step in minutes with Conventional 3%-down vs. FHA 3.5%-down, then dive deeper in our Buy a House guide.
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Seek & Serve
We seek wise strategies, serve with compassion, integrity and care.
Service meets strategy: map wise moves with the Legacy Impact Planner and, when you’re ready, Get Introduced to vetted local pros.
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Trust & Thrive
We honor your trust and commit to helping you thrive — wholly.
Thrive with a resilient plan: keep liquidity and options open by modeling a HELOC or planning a Cash-Out Refi when it supports your goals.
Meet our Founder
A Personal Mission. A Clear Philosophy. A Lifelong Partnership in Wealth.
Put philosophy into practice: align purpose, people, and property with the Spiritual Impact and Legacy Impact tools.
Meet Jim Blackburn
Founder of Stairway Mortgage
Jim Blackburn is a mortgage strategist, real estate advisor, and financial educator with over two decades of experience helping individuals and families turn everyday real estate decisions into lasting wealth. Jim’s approach isn’t about transactions — it’s about transformation. His mission is to guide people at every stage of their journey, using real estate as a tool to build legacy, purpose, and peace of mind — not just financially, but wholly: with clarity in their finances, confidence in their personal path, and alignment with their spiritual values.
Jim’s approach isn’t about transactions—it’s about transformation.
Jim focuses on strategy, not just sales
His guidance turns equity into long-term gain
He navigates shifting markets with calm and clarity
Digital-first tools are used to empower, not overwhelm
Jim customizes the journey—no one-size-fits-all approach
"Real wealth isn’t built by working harder—it’s built by working smarter, with the right strategy and the right guide.”
You see what is when your eyes are open.
You see what’s possible when your eyes are closed.
But when your heart connects
to what you see with your eyes closed—
you become brave enough
to take one more step when your eyes open.
And that’s all it takes:
One more step.
One moment of belief.
One act of courage.
At Stairway, we believe you can climb as high as your vision dares to reach.
There are no ceilings here.
No rules that say you can’t.
Just the next step—and the one after that.
Whether you’re a client building your future,
or a partner building your legacy—
we’re here to remind you:
The staircase to your dreams is already built.
You just need to take the first step.
Then the next.
Then the next.
And we’ll walk it with you.
No limits. Only momentum.
Leverage Wisely. Grow Wealthy.
We believe wealth comes not just from money—but from how you leverage your time, relationships, and purpose. At Stairway Mortgage, this principle guides every plan, every loan, every relationship. We teach our clients how to leverage:
- Capital: model Cash-Out or estimate a HELOC.
- Connections: meet a Realtor • contractor • financial planner.
- Insights: explore our Free Learning Guides.
- Timing: subscribe to Rate Alerts to act when the market matches your plan.
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Strategy: run Buy & Hold scenarios for data-driven choices.
Faith — align wealth with purpose. - Faith: align wealth with purpose.
More Than Business—A Life of Growth and Service
Jim is a husband, father, community mentor, and devoted learner. His values flow directly into the company’s mission to serve others through wisdom and love.
He’s passionate about:
- Faith and Spiritual Growth
- Personal Development & Leadership
- Fitness and Discipline
- Family Life and Legacy
- Giving Back through Mentorship and Education
STAIRWAY Value System
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Spirituality (Faith): God at the center of everything we build
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Trust (Relationships): Integrity and respect in all we do
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Achievement (Career/Business): A culture of constant progress
I
Impact (Contribution): Helping others grow with us
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Resilience (Meaning): Emotional strength and purpose through challenges
W
Wellness (Vitality): Balance, health, and alignment
A
Advancement (Growth): Continuous learning and improvement
Y
Yield (Finances): Building wealth with responsibility and wisdom
Jim’s Mission: Guiding Real People to Real Wealth
Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned investor, Jim sees your home as more than a purchase—he sees it as a pathway.
A pathway to:
- More freedom
- More knowledge
- More options
- And more purpose-driven impact
He’s not here for one loan—he’s here for your legacy.
100% Client Satisfaction
Real Comments, Real People
Hear From Some Past Clients of Our Founder
Alexis Kulick - via Faceook
Easy and quick refinance with great rates and expert advice.
I recently refinanced my existing mortgage with Jim and his team, and I was so pleased with how easy and quick the whole process was. Jim and his team were very responsive to my questions, and I feel confident that I got the best rate and shaved 9 years off my mortgage. He is very knowledgeable and helped me determine the best option for myself and my family. Definitely recommend him.
Julian Einfrank - via Facebook
Complex loan scenario handled with expertise and care.
The process went smoothly. Jim Blackburn is a lending saint. He knows the market well and cares about his clients tremendously. The team made it really easy to do business, uploading documents and getting forms signed. Our situation is a bit complex. Rather than turn us away for some added work, they dug in to get it done right. They like the complexity, whereas other lenders don’t want to roll up their sleeves. Highly recommend Jim Blackburn for new loans and refinances!
Elizabeth Torres - via Facebook
Closed in time for Thanksgiving! Jim and his team were amazing, and we got a much better deal than previous lender.
We closed our loan within 19 days. Just in time for Thanksgiving!! Jim and his team are amazing! We initially had gone with a different loan office and the interest rate and down payment was ridiculous. The owner of the company where my husband works referred us to Jim and we are very grateful for that. We had such an amazing experience with Jim and his team! Since our transaction, we’ve been referring Jim to anyone we know that are thinking of purchasing a house.
David Livermore - via Google
Secured financing despite market challenges and self-employment.
Run, don't walk to work with Jim and his team. Jim helped us get financing when it seemed like an impossible feat. It was hard enough to be managing a home purchase 2000 miles away, but add to that an extremely competitive market and being self-employed, and it seemed impossible until Jim's team got involved. Jim was not only responsive; he consistently went above and beyond by making clear recommendations, working his magic, and ensuring that financing wasn’t a barrier for buying our dream house in one of the most competitive markets in the country.
Christina Curva Carrasco - via Facebook
Smooth, fast, and hassle-free mortgage and refinance process.
Jim and his team are great to work with! We have used Jim twice with our home mortgage. Both times, the process was smooth and uneventful (which is what I wanted). He has kept in touch with us and contacted us when he felt it was the right time for us to refinance! I was amazed at our refinancing process – it took them about a little over two weeks to process all our information and close! I love the new online process of submitting all the information they require – it made it super easy for me to organize and gather all the documents.