Serving as 2024 vice president and now 2025 president of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals are highlights of Vicma Lamarche’s mortgage-lending career. “It’s such an honor to lead and empower the real estate community while promoting and advancing Latino homeownership.” she says.

Lamarche, a loan officer with OnTo Mortgage, Powered by NewFed Mortgage in Boston, didn’t always work in mortgage lending. She spent nearly 19 years as an electrical engineer at Verizon, eventually becoming the director of marketing and product development. She purchased her first home at 23, her second home shortly before she left Verizon. She relied on rental income to sustain her lifestyle and be present for her four children. “In 2021, my husband and I worked with a loan officer for the first time while buying an investment property, and it completely shifted my perspective on strategic financial planning,” she says. Realizing she could help others achieve their dreams and build wealth through homeownership, she was inspired to pursue a career in lending.

“I wanted to make a direct and meaningful impact on people’s lives in sharing lessons learned in the world of real estate,” she says. “I’m grateful every day that I get to do just that.”

The problem-solving skills she gained as an engineer, coupled with her experience as a real estate investor, give her a unique perspective and approach to mortgage lending. “I think big picture —beyond any point-in-time transaction,” she says.

Lamarche breaks down complex concepts into terms that anyone can understand, which helps clients feel confident in their decisions. “My clients appreciate the time I take to educate them and often share what they’ve learned with their friends and family,” she says. “That level of trust and connection means the world to me.”