2023's Best Mid-Sized Mortgage Companies to Work For

March 20, 2023 9:38 AM

Enjoy complimentary access to top ideas and insights — selected by our editors.

The Best Mortgage Companies to Work For program is a partnership between National Mortgage News and the Best Companies Group, which conducts extensive employee surveys and reviews employer reports on benefits and policies. The employee survey covers eight topics: Leadership and Planning; Corporate Culture and Communications; Role Satisfaction; Work Environment; Relationship with Supervisor; Training, Development and Resources; Pay and Benefits; and Overall Engagement.

NMN best companies 2023

2023 Best Mortgage Companies to Work For

March 9, 2023 6:34 AM

Once the survey data is analyzed, the companies get a score that decides their ranking. The overall score is calculated using the employee survey (worth 75%) and the employer questionnaire (worth 25%). To qualify for consideration, organizations with 25 or more employees need a minimum response rate of 40% while organizations with 25 or fewer employees need 80%.

NMN best companies 2023

2023 Best Large Mortgage Companies to Work For

March 15, 2023 5:05 AM

Participation is open to a standalone mortgage lender, mortgage broker, mortgage servicer, or mortgage unit of a diversified financial services firm with at least 15 permanent employees working in the United States. While companies must opt-in to the rankings, not every entity that participates in the survey makes the list.

NMN best companies 2023

2023 Best Small Mortgage Companies to Work For

March 16, 2023 5:00 AM

CT Children's Superhero Day for RCN Capital

RCN Capital

Headquarters: South Windsor, Connecticut
Number of employees: 250
Website:

www.rcncapital.com

The fix-and-flip lender was formed in 2010 in response to the lack of funding for investor lenders following the Great Financial Crisis, CEO Jeffrey Tesch said. Today, RCN counts offices in Connecticut, Charlotte and Los Angeles but does more business east of the Mississippi River, he said.

Its product mix includes new construction, multifamily and long-term rental financing.

RCN counts little turnover and the majority of leadership were internally promoted, Tesch said. On the heels of hitting internal goals last year, the firm offered each employee and a guest a weekend getaway in Florida, one example of its rewards for staff. The lender's success is due in part to its trust in its employees, including promoting their ideas. "That foster of openness is something that is critical to growing your company," he said.

Spring EQ

Headquarters: Radnor, Pennsylvania
Number of employees: 448
Website:

www.springeq.com

Spring EQ is a home-equity specialist launched five-plus years ago that has worked with a network of banks, credit unions and Wall Street investors to help its customers find competitive financing in a variety of market environments.

"Home prices have come down, but the amount of equity available to customers is still high," said Chief Experience Officer Drew Kese.

Spring EQ's home-equity loans and lines of credit at the time of this writing were available to a range of customers with credit scores as low as 640 and combined loan-to-value ratios as high as 95% in some cases. It has been originating loans through direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels.

"Both sides of the business are growing and we support relationships with large and small brokers," Kese said.

Servicing responsibility for loans varies by investor. Some of it goes to a strategic subservicing partner the company has that specializes in the product.

Spring EQ hires some people with first-mortgage backgrounds, but notes that the home equity business does require a different mindset.

"We're trying to find a way to leverage that experience, but also get them to look at the transactions differently," Kese said. "Home equity products can be one-third to one-fourth the size of a mortgage, so we have to originate at one third or a quarter of the cost for this to work. We have to do more units and have a process that supports that."

A group of Republic State Mortgage Houston-area employees gathered for Happy Hour.

Republic State Mortgage

Headquarters: Houston, Texas
Number of Employees: 164
Website:

www.republicstatemortgage.com

Republic State Mortgage was founded in 1994 and it is owned by Robert Wagnon, CEO and Paulina McGrath, president and CFO. It has 25 offices and is licensed in 14 states. Among its employee-friendly policies is that it allows pets in the office.

"While being experts in our field and providing excellent customer service is critical, it's just as important that our employees lead an extraordinary life outside the office. We measure performance of all kinds and share it with our team members so that we can consistently improve as a connected and cohesive team," a statement from the company said.

Logan Finance Corp.

Headquarters: Hauppauge, New York
Number of Employees: 146
Website:

www.loganfinance.com

Logan Finance, a wholesale and correspondent lender specializing in non-QM and nonagency products, grew significantly over the last two years, adding over 100 new employees nationwide, according to Terry Mitchell, chief people officer.

Although its staff is almost entirely remote and located across the country, the company's leaders are managing to build a sense of branding and culture through twice weekly all-staff virtual meetings, where employees are kept abreast of what is happening at the company.

The company also schedules a weekly online Jeopardy-style trivia competition each Friday. "What we tell people is 'That's our water cooler,' in order for you to be able to meet people and know them outside of the business and have a little bit of fun," Mitchell said.

UNMB celebrates MLOs

UNMB Home Loans

Headquarters: Levittown, New York
Number of Employees: 175
Website:

www.unmb.com

"Our plans are to find those people, those loan officers and that talent that's going to be displaced for the circumstances that they had nothing to do with," said Don Giorgio, CEO and president. "As much as we bring them on board, they bring us on board to their career."

UNMB is licensed in 20 states and the District of Columbia. It started business in 1979. The company won eight "culture badges" in 2019 from Energage, an organization that measures those metrics.

"Let's look at any staff member here, whether it's a loan opener, a closer, an underwriter, processor or a loan officer, they're our customers to a degree," Giorgio said. "And how do we treat and respect our customers, they should be treated no differently from the people that borrow money from us and be engaged and excited about that, they don't have to go to work, they get to go to work at UNMB."

Canopy Mortgage staffers' service project at the Dan W. Peterson School for special needs students involved spending a week painting the inside and doing landscaping.

Canopy Mortgage

Headquarters: Lindon, Utah
Number of employees: 363
Website:

www.canopymortgage.com

Canopy aims to offer competitive efficiencies through a proprietary loan origination system, flat organizational structure and sales to aggregators, according to its website. Loans it offers include conventional and government-backed and jumbo products. Box Home Loans is a division of Canopy and both have been led by co-founders Jeff Reeves and Aaron Brown. Reeves has been the point man for technology. Brown has taken the lead when it comes to marketing.

Kind Lending staffers.

Kind Lending

Headquarters: Santa Ana, California
Number of employees: 406

Website:

www.kindlending.com

Kind Lending was founded in 2020 by Glenn Stearns and offers a range of mortgage products for borrowers. Though the company is fairly young, Kind Lending has already expanded into 46 states and its assets are worth approximately $2.5 billion.

The name of the company is tightly interwoven with its identity, as such, the lenders' loan officers are dubbed as "kind ambassadors," according to a company spokesperson.

"They're the heart and soul of the organization and our 'People Before Profits' mentality shines through in every department," they noted. Kind Lending offers non-qm, conventional, government and reverse mortgage products.

80's dress up party to celebrate VanDyk's 35th anniversary

VanDyk Mortgage Corporation

Headquarters: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Number of Employees: 431
Website: www.vandykmortgage.com

Retail lender and servicer VanDyk Mortgage employs high tech tools to ease the mortgage process for borrowers and carries that theme to assist its staff members.

"Any of the enhancements that we do, any of the efficiencies that we gain, stuff that we bolt on AI stuff — it's always geared around, trying to make them better, make them more efficient," said President Jonathon Barnes.

"We want you to know more than just what your job is. It makes you a more rounded person within your job, but it also gives you a future opportunity with growth," he added.

The company also pairs new hires with longtime employees, who can pass on knowledge and experience to develop the next generation of mortgage professionals.

A few members of our Pewaukee, Wisconsin branch enjoying the patio party.

Inlanta Mortgage

Headquarters: Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Number of employees: 199
Website:

www.inlanta.com

Inlanta Mortgage was founded by John Knowlton in 1993. The Pewaukee, Wisconsin-based lender, which serves borrowers in 27 states, prides itself on having a "small family-owned business mindset." Though this small business outlook may have to change, as the lender was acquired by Guild Mortgage in December 2022. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. In the past, Inlanta has earned numerous awards for best places to work and exceptional customer service. It offers reverse mortgages, adjustable rate mortgages, renovation loans, government and conventional products. Following its acquisition, the lender, which was valued at $90 million, has been renamed to Guild Mortgage Inlanta.

Mortgage Investors Group

Headquarters: Knoxville, Tennessee
Number of employees: 419
Website:

www.migonline.com

With a rookie of the month award and a trip for its top producers, Southeast lender Mortgage Investors Group offers a robust lineup of recognition programs in addition to personal development and stress management workshops. The company was founded in 1989 by Chuck Tonkin and CEO Chrissi Rhea.

Mortgage Network

Headquarters: Danvers, Massachusetts
Number of employees: 354
Website:

www.mortgagenetwork.com

The Fort Mills, South Carolina-based Movement Mortgage acquired this company in December 2022. At the time of this writing, Movement had confirmed the acquisition had closed but did not respond to further requests for comment. Mortgage Network had a statement posted on its website saying that its loan officer, processor, underwriting and closing team was still in place post acquisition and would be working on Movement's technology platform while offering a wide range of fixed and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages. Loan products listed included government-backed mortgages, jumbo, renovation, rural and home equity loans.

Newfi Account Executives at a conference

Newfi Lending

Headquarters: Emeryville, California
Number of employees: 218
Website:

www.newfi.com

Emeryville, California-based Newfi Lending is a consumer direct and wholesale mortgage lender that is "committed to helping borrowers finance their futures across the country." The company was founded in 2014 by Steve Abreu.

Newfi offers standard financing solutions including conventional and government loans, but what makes it stand out from competitors is its "simple,innovative mortgage solutions," which range from a variety of non-qm loans, jumbo loans and adjustable mortgage products. "At the heart of it, we are extremely nimble and have made significant industry product innovations that make people love coming to work," a company spokesperson said.

Group photo of top originators and high-performance employees taken during the team's dinner cruise in New Orleans as part of the annual Summit.

Victorian Finance

Headquarters: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Number of employees: 121
Website:

www.victorianfinance.com

As Victorian Finance celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, Founder and President Eugene "Sonny" Bringol credits patience and dedication for its longevity. "People don't respect relationships with those who only show up every now and then," he said. "They want somebody they know is always there. We're not hard salespeople. We're patiently persistent."

The lender headquartered in Pittsburgh, which operates in 36 states, extends that sense of loyalty to its employees, one of whom lived not far from the recent Ohio train derailment that unleashed a host of chemicals into the atmosphere in the region. The company has offered for that person and their family to stay in a Pittsburgh home the company keeps for visiting staff.

"Those are things that are just beyond your control and we don't have a handbook for that. It's just, do what you need to do."

With the company at a headcount of 121 as of the survey's deadline, Bringol said he's looking to grow the firm, but only a little.

"I don't think I have the ability to run a large enough company of 500 people and still keep the culture where it is," he said. "Our growth plan is really to get to maybe two or 300 people. Beyond that, you can't really keep a family culture the way you want."

Taylor Morrison Home Funding staff take part in packing day to prepare personal care donations to those in need.

Taylor Morrison Home Funding

Headquarters: Maitland, Florida
Number of employees: 357
Website:

www.taylormorrisonhf.com

Led by President Tawn Kelly, this lender headquartered in Maitland, Florida offers a number of reward and recognition programs designed to keep staffers engaged. Their Applause program offers social and financial awards for employees who demonstrate the company's core values, and when employees hit milestones in their years of employment with the company, they receive tiered bonuses and floating holidays.

The First Heritage team at a local family festival – sporting FHM blue.

First Heritage Mortgage

Headquarters: Fairfax, Virginia
Number of Employees: 212
Website: www.fhmtg.com

First Heritage Mortgage, a national retail lender that offers construction and renovation loans and other specialty financing alongside the full array of conventional and government loans, offers a regular Instagram video series introducing employees across all levels of the company to one another and the public.

With staff coming into the office on a regular basis, First Heritage also offers free lunches weekly and a quarterly happy hour or cultural celebration to build collegial working relationships among staff. Its corporate office features two terraces and a layout meant to encourage communication.

InterLinc Mortgage

Headquarters: Houston, Texas
Number of employees: 325
Website:

www.interlincmortgage.com

InterLinc's CEO and President Gene Thompson navigated the privately-owned company through a volatile market during its second year under new leadership. Thompson, a former originator who rose through the ranks to president and chief operating officer before his CEO appointment, implemented several growth strategies for the year that allowed the purchase-focused lender to close its 2022 books with "a very respectful profit compared to the industry," according to a statement from the company.

InterLinc operates in 29 states, and has created an aggressive plan to continue its growth in some major cities this year.

Radius Financial Group

Headquarters: Norwell, Mass.
Number of Employees: 150
Website: www.radiusgrp.com

"As we celebrate over 23 years of making mortgages better we look forward to improving access to home financing for all homebuyers by embracing cutting-edge technology that maximizes efficiency, convenience and speed, while never sacrificing the personal touch that embodies our values and delivers on our mantra of: Better has no finish line!" a company statement said.

Intercap Lending's 2022 graduation class of its Emerging Leaders program.

Intercap Lending

Headquarters: Draper, Utah
Number of employees: 378
Website:

www.intercaplending.com

Intercap is a Ginnie Mae issuer and a direct lender for government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, according to its website. It works with a network of lenders and investors to offer both traditional mortgages and more specialized products, like those used to fund renovations through the Federal Housing Administration's 203k program.

The company's product list also includes reverse mortgages, which are specialty loans aimed at helping seniors withdraw equity from their homes while continuing to live in them, so long as the borrowers can maintain the property and cover associated costs like taxes and insurance. In addition, private loans like jumbo mortgages that are sized above Fannie and Freddie's limits, and financing borrowers qualify based on bank statements are on Intercap's product menu.

DML Fest 2022 Beach Volleyball Tournament

Direct Mortgage Loans

Headquarters: Hunt Valley, Maryland
Number of Employees: 138
Website: www.directmortgageloans.com

A retail lender that has funded more than 15,000 loans since its founding in 2007, Direct Mortgage Loans offers an array of home finance products, including a mortgage specifically for law enforcement officers. Direct Mortgage Loans serves as the lender partner of the Fraternal Order of Police.

The company presents monthly recognition meetings to honor staff and hosts DML Fest, a three-day event in Maryland for employees. During the event, the company presents training sessions, offers community service opportunities and organizes activities, which allow employees to meet each other.

Peoples Mortgage Company

Headquarters: Tempe, Arizona
Number of employees: 334
Website:

www.peoplesmortgage.com

Tempe, Arizona-based Peoples Mortgage Company is "all about the people." As such, the lender prioritizes employee involvement in their respective communities. The company offers two paid hours every month for employees to get out into their communities and volunteer, according to Stan Morris, the founder and CEO of the company.

"So we offer 24 hours in a year to get out and serve your community, which I think speaks very loudly about the culture here at Peoples Mortgage," he said.

The lender was created in 1998 and is currently licensed in 39 states. The mortgage company, which has assets close to $1 billion, "strives to make the lending process simple and straightforward" and offers conventional and government loan products to borrowers, Morris added.

Members of the Assurance Financial team on a group outing.

Assurance Financial

Headquarters: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Number of Employees: 230
Website: www.assurancemortgage.com

National lender and servicer Assurance Financial offers a full suite of retail products, including non-QM and home equity loans. The company schedules four meetings a year where members of its production team can gather and compare notes.

"We do that to promote and strengthen relationships with people that don't work in the same markets, but also, it gives everybody an opportunity to collaborate together and learn from each other," said CEO and President Kenny Hodges.

On the fulfillment side of the business, Assurance Financial has programs to regularly recognize top processors and underwriters and staff who have worked at the company for 10 years have the opportunity to attend its incentive trip held in the first quarter every year.

Southern Trust Mortgage

Headquarters: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Number of employees: 250
Website:

www.southerntrust.com

The company, which primarily lends in the region between Maryland and Florida, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Southern Trust offers a range of products including government-insured loans along with construction, investor and jumbo loans. The company's midsized status allows individuals to feel confident they're making an impact, a feeling that can't be replicated at larger firms, a company representative said. As the market soured last year, Southern Trust made a lot of sacrifices to keep workers employed, and has even grown its sales force.

"There's a very open line of communication to keep not only positivity flowing, but also our vision for the future," said Jarrett Stanley, chief marketing officer at Southern Trust.

Certainty encourages employees to volunteer in their local communities by offering Volunteer Time Off. Two Florida MLOs took time out to support a great cause in their community - Feeding Northeast Florida.

Certainty Home Lending

Headquarters: Plano, Texas
Number of employees: 239
Website:

www.certaintyhomelending.com

The midsized lender is entering its 23rd year of business and counts offices across 11 states, mostly in the Sun Belt. Certainty, a Guaranteed Rate company, touts a larger portfolio of products from construction, conventional, jumbo, reverse and renovation loans, and introduced a home equity line of credit product this year. The firm celebrates its top performers with its annual President's Club and innovator recognitions, and offers a Community Connection program, in which the firm donates funds in the name of a borrower to the homeowner's charity of choice once a loan closes.

Directions Home Loans' President Club Trip.

Directions Home Loan

Headquarters: San Antonio, Texas
Employees: 87
Website:

www.directionshomeloan.com

Directions was born in 2007, grew out of the Great Financial Crisis and today does about 90% of its lending in Texas, said CEO Easton Crafts. Conventional and government-insured products make up approximately 98% of the firm's volume, and it's picking up the pace in its construction lending. The firm introduced an inclusive bonus program just before the pandemic which has boosted employee engagement, Crafts said, and gathers branches for an annual meeting to begin the year. Directions works to make its workers comfortable, and the piece of mind between departments eliminates any concerns in workflow.

"Having a well oiled machine is something that we take pride in," said Crafts.

Axia's Bellevue Branch donated over 70 cleaning kits to FareStart's Community Market Program.

Axia Home Loans

Headquarters: Bellevue, Washington
Number of Employees: 350
Website: www.axiahomeloans.com

Axia Home Loans, a national lender and servicer with branches in 15 states, has a social peer-to-peer recognition site, allowing staff to nominate each other for a job well done as well as earn points leading to rewards.

The company has also been employee-owned since 2016, meaning Axia team members share in the business' profits. "Conceivably, if you spent your career here and the company continues to grow, it's a substantial financial benefit to you," said CEO Alex Rosenblum. "And this is all in addition to your 401K."

Acopia

Headquarters: Goodlettsville, Tennessee
Number of Employees: 233
Website: www.acopiahomeloans.com

Founded in 2007, retail lender Acopia is licensed in 17 states nationwide and has 29 branch offices located in the Southeast. The company's leadership is proud of the long tenure of many of its staff, which contributes to a supportive work environment and high level of satisfaction among staff. And it all begins at the top.

Eight members of Acopia's senior leadership have been with the company for at least 12 years, according to President Joey Davidson. "When you see that leadership stays there and the employees stay there, that's a good indication that the culture is intact, and you're doing things the right way," he said.

Mortgage Center team members volunteer annually with Life Remodeled in Detroit.

Mortgage Center

Headquarters: Southfield, Mich.
Number of employees: 233
Website:

www.mortgagecenter.com

This credit union service organization recently named Chief Operating Officer Joshua Thompson as its new president and CEO, following Ken Martin's decision to retire from the post on Feb. 1. Mortgage Center focuses on purchase, refinance, and home equity loans. The company also originates and services construction, condominium, manufactured home and renovation loans. Other products include conventional, jumbo, government-backed and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages. The company primarily grows its management team from within, and aims to also give individual contributors opportunities to continually grow their skills.

"Through the ups and downs of the past year, Mortgage Center has grown stronger together, connecting the right people in the right roles, communicating frequently and with transparency throughout the organization, and working together to grow the credit union community," the company said in a statement.

2022 Annual Shamrock Home Loans Recognition Awards Ceremony

Shamrock Home Loans

Headquarters: Rumford, Rhode Island
Number of employees in 2023: 104
Website:

www.shamrockhomeloans.com

The resilient company was founded in 1989 and is a purchase-heavy lender, even through the recent refinance boom, founder and CEO Dean Harrington said. The firm operates in 22 Eastern states and does a lot of government-insured loan lending. Shamrock today is growing its staff and market share, Harrington said, following a big executive hire after some early-year turmoil. Harrington is transparent with staff about the lender's financial performance, part of management's mission to stem fear. Shamrock's culture has been a boon for its new and veteran workers, who cited in a recent survey that their time with Shamrock has helped grow their personal confidence.

"What makes it a good place to work is giving people a challenging set of duties, but a safe place to make mistakes," said Harrington. "They'll be more bold and try different things, taking on bigger challenges and their confidence level just skyrockets."