By Les Ong on July 14, 2026
There are mortgage lenders, and then there is Kat Fish. A former 9-1-1 dispatcher turned mortgage loan originator, Kat has built something genuinely different in the Colorado Springs real estate community: an education-first mortgage experience built on empathy, creativity, and a bright yellow school bus.
If the name Kat Fish makes you smile, that is exactly the point. Born Kathie Fish in Great Falls, Montana, she embraced the nickname Catfish early on and has never looked back. She kept her maiden name after marrying her husband Justin, in part because, as she will cheerfully tell you, “Kat Scott sounds like a sneeze.” With a name that sticks and a personality to match, Kat has made memorability part of her brand.
She met Justin at a Barnes and Noble here in Colorado Springs, where he worked up the courage to write his name and phone number on a piece of paper and hand it to her. They married two years later, and Kat calls him her “bookstore beau.” Ten years on, she is a bonus mom to his daughter and has firmly planted roots in the Pikes Peak region she has called home since her twenties.
Kat grew up as the eldest of five children in a homeschooling household where hard work and nurturing others were simply part of daily life. At 18, she became a nanny for a military family and followed them from Colorado Springs to Texas to Mississippi, eventually caring for five children. She spent years nannying in Aspen before landing back in Colorado Springs, where she pivoted into a new kind of caretaking role: 9-1-1 dispatch.
For four years, Kat served as an emergency call taker and dispatcher for the Colorado Springs Police and Fire Department. She describes the experience as one that opened her eyes to the full spectrum of human struggle, including calls that stay with a person long after the shift ends. The weight of midnight shifts and high-stakes situations eventually led her to transition to dispatching for a local utility company, where she still works today, sending help for the everyday emergencies that keep a city running.
“I used to help people on their worst day,” she says. “Now I help them on one of their best.”
About a year and a half ago, a friend who works as a loan processor suggested Kat look into mortgage loan origination. The multitasking, the listening, the genuine care for people, it all translated. Kat studied, passed her licensing exam, and jumped in.
What followed was a period of learning and building, and then in January of this year, she made a decision to go all in. She launched her education platform, the Mortgage Tool Bus, named as an homage to Ms. Frizzle and the Magic School Bus. The concept captures exactly what Kat is trying to do: make the home-buying journey approachable, empowering, and even a little fun.
The Mortgage Tool Bus is not just a name. It is a philosophy. Kat carries a literal toolbus, a colorful bag filled with props she uses to explain the mortgage process in plain language. There is crocheted sushi (yes, really) to explain the four components of a monthly mortgage payment. There is a permission slip to represent the pre-approval process. There is a magnifying glass for searching out the right loan plan. Each tool is designed to take the intimidation out of what can feel like an overwhelming process.
Her business card? A fidget shaped like a bus, complete with a QR code. It is hard to throw away and easy to remember.
What sets Kat apart in the mortgage space is her commitment to education over pressure. She works with people who have been told no before, individuals who believe homeownership is out of reach. Rather than turning them away, she maps out a path forward and walks alongside them.
“I don’t look at someone’s credit or financial situation and say no,” she explains. “I might say ‘not yet.’ And then I will hold your hand and walk with you toward your goals.”
She hosts webinars for first-time homebuyers, teaches in-person classes alongside realtors, and actively engages with prospective clients through social media and community events. None of it is high-pressure. If someone is not ready today, Kat wants them to know the door is open when they are.
Kat is deeply embedded in the Colorado Springs community. She volunteers every Sunday in the children’s ministry at her local church and supports local charitable organizations whenever she can. She has participated in fundraising events around the city, including a murder mystery dinner benefiting the CO City Hub’s holiday giving program.
On the professional networking side, she serves as the Master of Ceremonies for the Colorado Springs chapter of the MNO Referral Networking Group, where she helps run weekly Zoom meetings and grows the local entrepreneurial community. She is also part of Be to the Power of You, a women’s accountability and support network she joined at the start of this year.
For Kat, these groups are not just about generating leads. They are about building real relationships and supporting others in reaching their goals, which has always been at the heart of everything she does.
Kat’s vision for the Mortgage Tool Bus extends far beyond Colorado Springs. She dreams of taking the brand nationwide, expanding her licensing state by state and bringing her no-pressure, education-first approach to homebuyers across the country. She wants anyone who wonders “Could I buy a home?” to know that there is a safe place to ask that question and get an honest, helpful answer.
She is already licensed across Colorado, and her company, Client Direct, operates in 38 states, giving her a strong foundation to build from as her business grows.
Whether you are a first-time buyer who does not know where to start, someone who has been turned down before, or just curious about what homeownership might look like for you, Kat Fish is ready to take you on the field trip of a lifetime. No pressure. No jargon. Just the tools, the knowledge, and someone genuinely rooting for you to get home.
Connect with Kat Fish and the Mortgage Tool Bus:
Website: mortgagetoolbus.com
Email: kat@mortgagetoolbus.com
Phone: (719) 259-0866
Facebook: MortgageToolBus
Instagram: @MortgageToolBus
YouTube: @MortgageToolBus
Tagline: Let’s Go Home.
Ready to start your homeownership journey? Reach out to Kat Fish today for a free, no-pressure conversation about your goals. Visit mortgagetoolbus.com or call (719) 259-0866 to hop on the bus.
By Joe Ryan Dec 21, 2024
When your appliances break down, it can feel like your world stops. Whether it’s a washing machine that won’t spin or an oven that won’t heat, these everyday disruptions can throw off your routine. That’s where Mr. Appliance of Spring Hill steps in. As a locally owned franchise of the trusted Mr. Appliance brand, this […]
By Michael Mielke Nov 27, 2025
We love shining a spotlight on local entrepreneurs who are passionate about their work. Today, we’re introducing you to Rocky Mason, the co-owner of Texas Stone Craft, a company transforming outdoor living spaces across the DFW area. A Passion for Craftsmanship Rocky is a true local, having lived in the Dallas-Fort Worth area his entire […]