Like many of the people who now work for Rose City Mortgage, when Raymi Taylor walked into our offices, she knew she was home. The environment and values at Rose City clearly clicked with what Raymi has been striving toward her whole life. The strong commitment to diversity, eco-friendly practices and respect for all people paralleled the path that Raymi was already following.
As a child, Raymi grew up in New York City. "I went to school and lived with people from all over the world, from all different religious, cultural and economic backgrounds," Raymi says. "It's the biggest gift I was ever given, because it allows me to see people for who they really are, without judgment."
As a teenager, Raymi was a competitive figure skater. After high school she had to make a choice between skating and a higher education. Although she chose college, Raymi says, "Skating gave me the discipline and focus to do whatever I want. If I can master jumping and spinning gracefully on 1/8 inch metal blade, I can be successful at anything!"
After a liberal arts education at Wesleyan, Raymi's path took her to Arcosanti, Arizona, a community whose goal is to live lightly on the earth and combining ecology with architecture. Raymi went for a six-week workshop and stayed for four years, learning to live in an economically and socially diverse community and build eco-friendly structures.
In 2001, Raymi moved to Portland. "I just love all the green trees and the fact that the ocean is just down the road," she says. She loves orcas and has had dreams of them since she was a child. "I think they were calling me to the Pacific Northwest," she says.
A big part of Raymi's life is her daily Anusara yoga practice. One interpretation of the word Anusara is literally, "flowing with grace," and that is exactly how Raymi strives to live her life. "Like a stream that flows around rocks and continues along a path…" she says. Anusara celebrates the diversity and individuality of all bodies, regardless of their ability or limitations. "This is important to me because I celebrate the differences in all the people in my life, my family, friends and coworkers, who are all my teachers," she says. "Yoga helps me to remember to be patient and challenge myself without judgment."
As someone who was adopted as a child, Raymi also supports the Boys and Girls Aid Society, an organization that provides services to kids in foster care. "I feel fortunate that I was adopted as an infant because so many children are not as lucky. Being a teenager is tough enough without the support of a stable family." Boys and Girls Aid helps provide that structure.
Before coming to Rose City Raymi learned about the mortgage business by working in marketing for a large bank. Although she prefers her work as a loan officer because she works directly with customers, she appreciates all that she learned at her last job. "My whole life is like that," she says. "I evolve with what's going on in my environment. I let myself grow and change with the universe. I just want to love what I'm doing."
And Raymi does love working for Rose City, a company that feels like a family to her. "It's not just about the dollar here," she says. "What I feel good about is honoring people in whatever financial state they're in." She looks forward to working with everyone from investors to first time homebuyers. "Having a mentor like Renee has been invaluable," Raymi says. One of the most gratifying parts of the job is seeing first time homebuyers sign the papers on their first home. "It feels really wonderful," she says. "It's a great thing to be a part of."
Please call Raymi at 503-768-4248, or send an email to Raymi@RoseCityMTG.com.
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