Chris Knapp takes over as president of Proper Rate

Proper Rate has appointed Chris Knapp as the company’s new president.

For Knapp, who worked for Guaranteed Rate in various management positions for over 10 years until 2019, the move is a kind of homecoming. Proper Rate is a joint venture between Guaranteed Rate and @properties.

Since 2019, Knapp has served as Vice President for CrossCountry Mortgage, Draper and Kramer Mortgage Corp. and Wintrust Mortgage.

Knapp told Chicago Agent that seeing how other firms operate has given him a good perspective and that ideally he can combine his experience with the best at Proper Rate for maximum efficiency and results.

“There are two sides to this,” Knapp said. “One is why I left in the first place. But when I see others in the industry, I realize there is no better place than here (Proper Rate). This is the best platform in the industry.”

“Now that I’m back, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with many of the great people I’ve worked with for so long at Guaranteed Rate. It’s exciting.”

Looking at the industry as a whole, Knapp is optimistic about the fall and beyond. He said the spring market was full of prospective buyers with preliminary approval, and in a recent meeting with @properties brokerage managers, he was told inventory had risen to the highest levels it’s been “in some time.”

The key to setting an appropriate course, says Knapp, is to remember that this is a relationship business.

“The number one priority is building relationships,” he said. “This business is an emotional transaction for any home buyer. That’s going to be a high priority, leveraging the technology, but not forgetting that it’s an emotional process for everyone involved, broker partners, clients, everyone.”