Best Mid-Sized Mortgage Companies to Work For 2024

ByBonnie Sinnock, Brad Finkelstein, Spencer Lee, Andrew Martinez, Maria Volkova, Heidi Patalano

March 6, 2024 5:55 AM

National Mortgage News in partnership with the Best Companies Group is proud to announce the winners of the ranking of the Best Small Mortgage Companies to Work For. These are companies about the overall list of Best Mortgage Companies to Work For in 2024, who have between 100 and 499 employees.

This ranking is the result of 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.

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

See the best Mid-Sized Mortgage Companies to Work For in 2024 below:

Spring EQ

Headquarters: Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
Number of employees: 366
Website: mortgage.springeq.com

Besides great benefits, Spring EQ offers its employees a hybrid work structure, "and a set of values we all live by. All said, it's our culture that sets Spring EQ apart," the company said in a statement.

"The last few years have been unlike anything the mortgage industry has ever seen. And while our product range allowed our teams to have a greater sense of security through uncertain times, Spring EQ has also listened closely to our team members," adding it has been flexible in responding to their feedback.

"We have a saying: 'Work Hard, Have Fun, Get Things Done.' And that's a good summary of our approach."

The Loan Store

Headquarters: Tucson, Arizona
Number of employees: 154
Website:

theloanstore.com

The 11-year-old company last spring purchased Home Point's wholesale business and is helmed by Home Point's former president of originations, Phil Shoemaker. The Loan Store offers a traditional suite of loan products, home equity line of credit loans and investor financing. The Arizona firm lends in all but a few states nationwide, and last fall introduced a consumer rewards program which can save buyers up to 40 basis points on a first-lien loan.

Premier Nationwide Lending

Headquarters: Plano, Texas
Number of employees: 151

Premier Nationwide Lending has shuttered: Lower acquires shuttered Premier Nationwide Lending's branches

CEO Dennis Hardiman sits to have lunch with a group of teammates to celebrate Embrace's 40th Anniversary.

Embrace Home Loans

Headquarters: Middletown, Rhode Island
Number of employees: 469
Website:

www.embracehomeloans.com

Embrace Home Loans, founded in 1983, is a full-service mortgage lender, licensed to operate in all 50 states, plus Washington D.C.

The core tenants of the organization are "community, courage, empowerment and love," all of which drive how the company does business. These values also transfer to how the company treats its employees. According to the company spokeswoman, the mortgage lender fosters a "supportive, family-like work culture and encourages its employees charitable endeavors."

"Every year, to celebrate Embrace's anniversary, employees spend a week volunteering at nonprofit organizations across the country in a tradition known as 'orange week,'" the spokeswoman said.

Mortgage Investors Group

Headquarters: Knoxville, Tennessee
Number of employees: 347
Website:

migonline.com

Mortgage Investors Group was founded in 1989 with a goal to help families in the South fulfill their dreams of homeownership.

"Our mission to provide the best financial solutions in mortgage lending is rooted in a deep trust for each client," said the company's spokeswoman. "This philosophy extends to our internal culture, where we value and support our diverse and inclusive family of employees."

The company's inception began with five colleagues in one office in Tennessee and now has blossomed to over 40 branches. MIG is licensed to operate in 10 states and has plans to further expand.

The retail lender offers an impressive range of products, ranging from conventional products, first time homebuyer programs to down payment assistance loans.

A culture of support has resulted in MIG receiving over 3,000 positive Zillow reviews,

"showcasing the exceptional experiences clients have with our loan officers and support team," the company's spokeswoman added.

VanDyk Mortgage Corporation

Headquarters: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Number of employees: 343
Website:

vandykmortgage.com

Retail lender and servicer Vandyk Mortgage, established in 1987, has 90 branch office locations in 43 states across the country. Since its inception, the shop claims to have closed over 100,000 home loans.

The company credits its growth to focusing on "great service, competitive rates and treating employees and customers with respect, integrity and care." Vandyk touts its A+ rating for the Better Business Bureau and its high tech tools to ease the mortgage process for borrowers and for staff members.

Vandyk's top performers are annually recognized and rewarded with all-inclusive weekend get-a-way's. Employees at the company are not required to go into the office.

Newfi employees Dan Bayer, Jennifer Eustice and Justin Ow with CEO Steve Abreu (second from right) at a company dinner.

Newfi Lending

Headquarters: Emeryville, California
Number of employees: 198
Website: www.newfi.com

Steve Abreu, a mortgage industry veteran, is the founder CEO of Newfi Lending, a national non-QM lender and top-five wholesaler in that market.

Newfi describes itself as a "trailblazing, technology-driven mortgage company committed to unique product development," recent examples of which include a REMIC-eligible shared equity loan.

The National Association of Mortgage Brokers designated the company its wholesale service partner of the year in 2023. The company looks to actively recruit bilingual and multicultural employees and offers benefits like "early release" on certain Fridays and pet insurance. Newfi also accommodates military leave and time-off for spouses of servicemembers.

DML doing community service at the Ruth M Kirk Center in West Baltimore. The team spent the morning cleaning up the play area by pulling weeds and painting as well as cleaning the inside of the rec center.

Direct Mortgage Loans

Headquarters: Hunt Valley, Maryland
Number of employees: 173
Website:

directmortgageloans.com

While at a previous company they started in the business at, Direct Mortgage Loans co-founders Michael Naylor and Ashley Mills found themselves in charge of approximately 100 loan officers within three years. They took the lessons learned from that experience to DML, which they formed in 2012.

"We figured out quickly that if we put our people's goals ahead of our own and realize that they have to be successful before we can be successful," Naylor said. "As soon as they realized that that's the spot where we were coming from, we ended up in a really good spot with the sales team and learned some really valuable lessons."

Republic State Mortgage's Houston team showed their fighting spirit this week at the Houston Mortgage Bankers Association luncheon with special guest and professional boxer Ginny Fuchs.

Republic State Mortgage

Headquarters: Houston, Texas
Number of employees: 124
Website:

republicstatemortgage.com

Founded in 1994, the Texan lender has 25 offices spread across the 12 states they serve. The lender offers a full suite of residential loan products. "Our work changes lives, communities, and families. We serve each other, our clients, and the nation by the work we do," a company representative said. The company keeps it close-knight by hosting a monthly market update call which they say is "a great opportunity to see everybody, recognize coworkers, discuss industry changes and the market, celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, and uplift each other."

UNMB was a sponsor at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Long Island.

UNMB Home Loans

Headquarters: Levittown, NY
Number of Employees: 122
Website:

unmb.com

In the home lending business for more than 44 years, the Long Island-based UNMB Home loans is licensed in 23 states with five retail locations in the New York metropolitan area. CEO Don Giorgio has led the organization since its inception. He promotes excellence in his team by offering a monthly award recognizing administrative personnel who have gone above their job function with $50 and recognition at staff meeting and on social media. The team acknowledges sales staff for reaching significant goals at monthly meetings and awards them a badge icon, which is displayed on email signatures and social media.

InterLinc Mortgage

Headquarters: Houston, Texas
Number of Employees: 221
Website:

interlincmortgage.com

The Texas-based lender, founded in 2009, serves the Sun Belt among other Midwest markets and touts niche and proprietary non-QM mortgage products among its offerings.

InterLinc made an operational profit in its origination business in 2022 and 2023, no small feat for a firm without a large servicing portfolio, said James Durham, senior vice president. The executive credits a strong company culture and discipline in making difficult decisions early in the turn of the market, as a reason for its success today.

"That's the mentality that we had as a group that we walked arms and walked through," he said. "That's what drove us through '22 and ultimately '23 and has us prepared for '24."

The Bob Melone Team of Radius Financial Group wins the 2023 BOSS awards.

Radius Financial Group

Headquarters: Norwell, Massachusetts
Number of Employees: 165
Website: www.radiusgrp.com

A National Association Minority Mortgage Bankers certified lender, Radius helped create the Boston chapter of the organization and strives toward diversity and inclusion, offering cultural training at the company.

Radius was founded in 1999 and seeks to foster a culture of innovation, which it says drives employee satisfaction. "The true essence of our organization shines through in our ability to adapt and evolve," Radius said in a company statement.

Taylor Morrison Home Funding

Headquarters: Maitland, Florida
Number of employees: 312
Website:

www.taylormorrisonhf.com

Taylor Morrison Home Funding is an independent mortgage banker and subsidiary of a builder that's ranked among the top 10 based on closings for multiple years. President Tawn Kelley heads up the mortgage company, which has been recognized as a top workplace by both industry publications and local news outlets.

It attributes this to an employee-centric approach that includes a heavy emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in recruiting. And in a year when very few companies have said they plan to increase employee perks, Taylor Morrison Home Funding is one of the exceptions.

"By investing in our employees, they in turn take care of our customers," the company said in a statement.

Employees at Homeowners aim to make a difference in their communities by supporting local nonprofit organizations.

Homeowners Financial Group

Headquarters: Scottsdale, Arizona
Number of Employees: 333
Website: homeownersfg.com

A national lender with 35 branches across the country, Homeowners will celebrate its 20th anniversary in April. The culture and the attention company management pays toward staff helps account for high levels of satisfaction and retention at the lender, said Ashlyn Pinter, director of human resources. Many employees have been with Homeowners for several years, with some executives serving for over a decade.

"We have an employee appreciation budget that each manager gets for employees," she said. "It's small things like that that, I think, make people feel appreciated," Pinter said.

Annual President's Club Celebration Trip September 2023 celebrating 2022 production qualifier/winners in Cancun.

Highlands Residential Mortgage

Headquarters: Allen, Texas
Number of employees: 464
Website:

www.highlandsmortgage.com

"We are so proud of our team for all their hard work and dedication that has made HRM the best places to work," Highland's management said in its survey response. "This award is a true testament to the exceptional culture and commitment to excellence that our team brings to work every day."

Acopia employees pitch in to help with a Habitat for Humanity build.

Acopia Home Loans

Headquarters: Goodlettsville, Tennessee
Number of Employees: 201
Website: www.acopiahomeloans.com

Founded in 2007, the Tennessee-based lender believes "in the dignity of work and dignity of every person. We also promise in our mission to treat employees with respect," a company representative said.

While proud of the culture it has created, Acopia realizes success does not come from culture alone. To support its staff, the company offers extensive training and development, flexible work hours and remote work options, while paying for the majority of health care premiums. It also offers an internal platform to allow employees the opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of colleagues for special occasions, shout-outs and other forms of appreciation.

AML Funding

Headquarters: Dallas, Texas
Number of employees: 149
Website:

AbsoluteML.com

"Our company is built on respect, fairness, and social responsibility. We are proud of our commitment to ethical and sustainable mortgage practices," AML management said in its survey response. "Our success is also thanks to our strong partnerships with community organizations, real estate professionals, and financial institutions who share our commitment to diversity and homeownership."

Towne team members enjoying a game of Connect Four at the company's September picnic.

Towne Mortgage Company

Headquarters: Troy, Michigan
Number of Employees: 223
Website:

www.townemortgage.com

The Michigan-based lender has persisted through a difficult market because its smaller size allows it to be agile in decisionmaking, CEO Mark Janssen said.

Towne is licensed in all but a few states, and is a predominantly wholesale lender. A retail arm helped Towne reach around $1 billion in originations last year, and Janssen expects the number to rise amid some upcoming business moves.

Part of its unique culture includes underwriters having direct communication with customers to ensure smooth transactions. "If you treat your team members well, they'll treat the customers well," he said.

A 2023 Mann Mortgage panel

Mann Mortgage

Headquarters: Kalispell, Montana
Number of employees: 365 employees
Website:

https://mannmortgage.com/

Mann Mortgage is a family-owned company founded in 1989 by Don Mann and now run by his son, Jason Mann. The retail lender offers a plethora of products ranging from renovation loans, construction loans to conventional loans.

The mortgage shop has a little over 50 branches nationwide and is licensed to originate loans in 29 states and Washington D.C.

According to Mann's spokeswoman, the company has regular appreciation events for its employees to celebrate. The company culture values "straight talk."

"We create a space for employees to share feedback, innovative ideas, enhance efficiency, and suggest changes that positively impact our business practices," a spokeswoman said in a written statement."'Straight talk' embodies honest communication without unnecessary harshness, which supports our commitment to another key value: ease of doing business."