MMBA Member Profile: Allan D. Daniels

Allan D. Daniels is one of the most active members in the history of MMBA. Since being elected to the MMBA Board in 1994 at age 29, he has held each and every office, chaired special task forces on Membership & Bylaws, Strategic Planning, and Nominating Procedures, and he either chaired or participated in every other committee. As the youngest MMBA President in 2000, Daniels was presented a plaque from HUD to recognize the HUD/MMBA Fair Housing-Fair Lending Best Practices Agreement. For his achievements, Daniels earned the MMBA 2000 Distinguished Leadership Award, and was named MMBA Broker of the Year for 2001, 2002, and 2003. After being one of three National NAMB Broker of Year Finalists in 2003, Daniels was the first (2004) recipient of the MMBA Lifetime Achievement Award.

In addition to his work within Michigan, Daniels has been a member of the Delegate Council, Government Affairs, Bylaws, and Best Lending Practices Committees of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers. Daniels served two terms as Regional Vice Chair of the NAMB Legislative Committee for the Midwest Region. Additionally, Daniels was elected to serve a 3 year term on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB). After two years as a NAMB Director and one year as an officer on NAMB’s Executive Committee as Treasurer, Daniels declined a nomination in order to focus on his family and business.

Daniels is originally from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and still resides in Bloomfield Hills with his wife, Kelly, son, Michael, and daughter, Leah. Daniels is a 1988 graduate of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI, and is also a graduate of Cranbrook Prep School where he earned seven varsity letters (soccer, basketball, baseball). Daniels is the President of AA Mortgage Corp., which he and his father, Dr. Loren S. Daniels, started in 1989. The company buys seller held mortgages and land contracts, and also focuses in serving the needs of borrowers who “fall through the cracks” at traditional lending sources, including those with non-owner occupied properties, vacant land, and commercial properties.

Daniels’ favorite role with MMBA and NAMB has been within the Government Affairs Committees. His goal was to monitor and disseminate information on legislative and regulatory activity affecting members, develop position statements for board approval, and promote a favorable legislative and regulatory environment for mortgage professionals. In this role, Daniels interacted with local, state and federal elected officials and regulators, and has testified before the Michigan Senate Banking Committee and House Commerce Committee. In addition to authoring articles for The Michigan Mortgage Press, being quoted in trade and mainstream media including The Washington Times and The Wall Street Journal, Daniels has spoken at homeownership Seminars, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, and participated in roundtable discussions with former HUD Secretary Mel Martinez.

While feeling honored just to be selected for this interview, Daniels will continue to offer his drive and dedication to contribute to MMBA, NAMB, and the industry as a whole. He stated, “My goal for the association is continued growth in membership and clout, without losing touch with our original intentions and mission statement. We must maintain a strong united voice to express our viewpoints to the public and governmental bodies.” When asked about the current state of the industry, Daniels correctly stated, “the homeownership rate is actually as high now as it was in 2001-over 67% of Americans own a home. The foreclosure rate is lower than in the 1980′s. The media and members of government need to know this. That is our associations’ job, and we need our members to support us in this crucial time.”