I'm Tony Fitzgerald, a mortgage broker and branch leader with 1st Response Mortgage, serving all of Florida from my base in Sarasota. Before mortgages, I spent 28 years as a firefighter and paramedic, working everything from structure fires to technical rescues, offshore racing safety to large-scale disaster operations across the United States.

That career taught me how to stay calm when others are overwhelmed, how to communicate clearly under pressure, and how to solve problems that don't fit the standard playbook. Those same skills apply directly to mortgage lending.

Most people experience home financing as one of the most stressful events of their lives. They don't understand the rules. They're worried about making mistakes. They're overwhelmed by paperwork and terminology. My job is to take what feels like an emergency and turn it into something manageable.

I work with first-time buyers, repeat buyers, investors, self-employed borrowers, commission-based earners, first responders, veterans, and people with complex financial situations. I specialize in files that require strategy and problem-solving, not just basic qualification.

My approach is straightforward: I take time to understand the full picture—income, assets, credit, goals, concerns, timeline. I explain options in plain language. I identify potential issues early and address them before they become problems. I stay involved from first conversation through closing and remain available afterward.

I don't rush people or oversell outcomes. If something will be difficult, I say so. If there's a better way to structure a deal, I explain it. If you need guidance step by step, I provide it. If you're experienced and want efficiency, I match that pace.

The environment changed from emergency services to mortgages. The responsibility didn't. I still show up the same way: calm, prepared, accountable, and focused on getting people safely through what's in front of them.

Serving all of Florida from Sarasota to Jacksonville, Tampa to Miami, and everywhere in between.

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