Click here to see the Southeast Messenger, our own newsletter brought to you by The CRM team.

Article: February 10, 2012

Source: Wharton Smith recognized as Affiliate of the year for the Gwinnett Chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors

From left to right: Wharton Smith, Southeast Mortgage - Vicki Dyer, Re/Max - Sarah Stovall, Century 21 - Betty Jones, Prudential Georgia - Carol Gusey, President of the WCR Gwinnett

Article: January 25, 2012

Source: AJC Today - State of the Union "What locals wanted to hear" 
Cal Haupt & the Mortgage Industry

Article: January 20, 2012

Source:  Southeast Mortgage Hires Leslie T. Lewis

Ms. Lewis previously served as Manager of Closing, Post Closing, Shipping and Insuring Departments at HomeBanc Federal Savings Bank, and was Manager of Lender Services with First American Title Insurance Company. Most recently, she was Director of Customer Relations with a local law firm. She has been a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia for many years.

Lewis resides in Alpharetta with her two sons.

Article: October 20, 2011

Source:  ENTHUSIASM BREEDS SUCCESS - NICHE REPORT - FRANK GARAY & BRIAN STEVENS

Point is, even our current state of disrepair has created opportunities and success. I'm coming off a pretty extensive travel schedule where I met with the folks at Southeast Mortgage in Atlanta, GA. Frank and I were greeted and shown the office which included all the marketing that they're excited about. Imagine that, actually it's easy to let the market get you down. I just looked at the news today after being on the road for the past week and I've got to tell you, it was a little disheartening. Jobless claims are "surprisingly" up, foreclosure notice of def;:mlts are spiking, housing starts, new home sales, and existing home sales have all hit the skids. As a result, rates hit levels not seen since women wore flappers doing the "cancan" while sipping martini's at speakeasies. Really, roundly crappy news no matter how you smear it against the wall. So what do you do? We'll, the good news is "this ain't our first rodeo." All in the business have been in the business for quite some time. So we know something about suffering a bad market. We know folks have been in the market for quite some time because you'd be a fool to take up a job as an originator right about now. So for most of you, this is just more of the same. The problem is most can only take so much bad news for so long before sheer exposure will even make the strongest wilt. For some this may be the case. It got me thinking though- all the trends we read about, talk about, and often live, is collective news on a national level. Trends talk about the whole but for the originator it's a market of one.

Being excited about marketing in the middle of our mess. Get this, they had a Contact Management Relationships division. The division existed for any and all of their Loan Officers and Realtor partners to use at any time and as often as desired. Now, I'm not doing a commercial for these guys, and I'm not telling you anything that could very well exist at your shop. The thing is, these guys, from management to the receptionist, were truly excited about what they've created.

That type of enthusiasm breeds success. It's contagious. Let's face it, Loan Officer's are sales people and they all sell the same product. So when a potential buyer considers his lender they will consciously, or otherwise, choose the LO that exudes enthusiasm for their job. Further, if you believe in the efforts of yourself or your team, you're going to have more conviction in your efforts.  Again, none of this is new or even newsworthy but does bear repeating on occasion.

Call: 770-279-0222
Visit: www.southeastmortgage.com
Email:  ClientServices@southeastmortgage.com
Helpful Blog: http://southeastmortgage.blogspot.com/

Article: August, 4, 2011

Source:  SOUTHEAST MORTGAGE CONTINUES GEORGIA EXPANSION, UNVEILING NEW OFFICES IN ALPHARETTA AND AUGUSTA 
August Opening Mark 17th for Georgia's Largest Non-bank Mortgage Lender 

Southeast Mortgage of Georgia, Inc. (SEM), a full service direct Georgia mortgage lender and one of the largest non-bank lenders in the Southeast, announces its latest expansion with the August openings of their Alpharetta and Augusta offices.  Bob Bregitzer and Isaac Berry will lead SEM’s efforts in the Alpharetta market at One Northwinds Center. Zach Day will lead SEM’s team in Augusta at Columbia Professional Centre. The Alpharetta and Augusta offices mark the seventh and eighth new office openings for Southeast Mortgage in 2011. 

“Alpharetta and Augusta are growing rapidly and we needed to bring a permanent team in those markets to assist current homeowners and potential homebuyers as they make crucial decisions regarding their future in the Atlanta mortgage market,” Southeast Mortgage’s President and CEO Cal Haupt said. “We have been planning this expansion for months, but we were sourcing the office space that fits our needs.”

SEM, home to the state’s top mortgage professionals, is looking forward to utilizing the talents of Bregitzer, Berry and Day.

Bregitzer is the former president and principal of Innovative Mortgage Solutions, LLC and has more than 10 years of experience in the mortgage industry. He is a CPA and specializes in helping clients with financial options that maximize their net worth.

Berry previously served as president and owner of Vanguard Home Mortgage, Inc. He is currently serving on the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia (MBAG) Board of Governors as a chairman of the broker committee. He previously served as Georgia Association of Mortgage Brokers (GAMB) Director and was chairman of the legislative and recognitions committee.

Day, a highly respected Georgia mortgage loan officer, is known internationally for winning kickboxing championships. He holds the International Kickboxing Federation’s Pro U.S. National Middleweight title, is No. 2 in full contact world rankings and No. 6 in Muay Thai World Rankings.

Article: July, 8, 2011

Source:  Southeast Mortgage Employees Isaac Berry, Lisa LeMoine, and Sharon Kessenich Were Featured Today in the Atlanta Business Chronicle

Article: June, 29, 2011

Source:  SOUTHEAST MORTGAGE HIRES ISAAC BERRY AS SENIOR MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATOR

The Former President of Vanguard Home Mortgage will be based in North Fulton

ATLANTA, June 29, 2011 – Southeast Mortgage, a full service Georgia mortgage lender and one of the largest non-bank lenders in the Southeast, has announced that industry veteran Isaac Berry has joined the organization as Senior Mortgage Loan Originator and future Branch Manager. Berry will be responsible for sales, recruiting, market development and the upcoming opening of Southeast’s 16th metro area branch in the Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton and Cumming market.

“With 16 years of experience under his belt, Isaac is committed to our industry and is a leader in the community,” Southeast Mortgage President & CEO Cal Haupt said. “We are pleased to have Isaac join Southeast Mortgage because he supports our mission to fill the void in the metro Atlanta mortgage market.”

Berry previously served as president and owner of Vanguard Home Mortgage, Inc. He is currently serving on the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia (MBAG) Board of Governors and as chairman of the associations Broker Committee. He previously served as Georgia Association of Mortgage Brokers (GAMB) Director, was chairman of its Recognitions Committee and participated as a member in the Legislative Committee.

In 2007, Berry received a volunteer service award for his involvement with GAMB. He has also been recognized seven times by the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Top Guns” Award for his and his former company's loan production. In 2009-10, Berry served as an industry expert on the Georgia SAFE Mortgage Committee in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.

Berry resides in Alpharetta with his wife and three sons.

Article: June, 16, 2011

Source:  Housing Prices Freefall

We caught up with Southeast Mortgage's Cal Haupt, whose firm just acquired another branch, buying First Mutual Mortgage in Columbus. Cal tells us housing values fell off a cliff in Q1, with loan values dropping from an average of $178k in 2010 to $142k, “which is unheard of.” Those values have since recovered most of the losses, hovering in the $170's now. He credits the pricing drop partly to a deluge of short sales and foreclosures that hit the residential market around that time, hurting appraisal values metro-wide.  

http://www.bisnow.com/atlanta_news_story.php?p=15630

Article: June, 4, 2011

Source:  Debra "Dee" Harding Receives Token of Appreciation by Chairman Eldrin Bell

Debra “Dee” Harding, Senior Vice President of Southeast Mortgage (SEM), participated in an event held Saturday, June 4th by the Clayton County Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), celebrating homeownership for clients who have purchased homes through these opportunities.  NSP was started through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help stabilize communities that have homes which have been foreclosed or abandoned.

This event was open to the public and Real Estate agents making it a great opportunity to network and gain new clients.  Ms. Harding is the only SEM Mortgage Loan Originator (MLO) that has the ability to process files for this program, and she was presented with a token of appreciation by Chairman Eldrin Bell, who is on the Clayton County Board of Commissioners. 

Please visit the NSP Atlanta website at http://www.nspatlanta.com/ to view available properties or eligibility.

Article: May, 25, 2011

Source:  Southeast Mortgage Receives Top Honor, Further Distinguishing Itself From Competitor
Northeast Atlanta Metro Association of  REALTORS^® Names SEM Affiliate of the Year

ATLANTA, May 25, 2011 – Southeast Mortgage, a full service Georgia mortgage lender [http://www.southeastmortgage.us/Georgia_Mortgage_Loans_Duplicate.php] and one of the largest non-bank lenders in the Southeast, is the recipient of the 2010 Affiliate of the Year Award from the Northeast Atlanta Metro Association of REALTORS® (NAMAR). On hand to present the award was NAMAR’s John Slappey.

“Our Affiliate of the Year Award distinguishes a NAMAR Affiliate who has helped the organization move forward during the past year,” Slappey told the audience.  “This company has had a strong association with NAMAR for a number of years, and this year they have really excelled in our relationship. They brought us new members, new sponsors, joined multiple committees and participated in numerous events. They are always there to lend a hand.”

Accepting the award for president and CEO Cal Haupt was Southeast Mortgage Duluth Branch Manager Wharton Smith. Haupt said he was honored for the recognition. “NAMAR is a well respected industry organization that we enjoy participating in. To be named the Affiliate of the Year is a big compliment and testament to the hard working SEM team I have put in place. We are passionate about the mortgage industry and are thrilled to be playing a vital role in its regional recovery.”

About Southeast Mortgage
Southeast Mortgage, founded in 1993, is the largest non-bank lender in Georgia. A regional HUD Direct Endorsed Unsupervised lender with 15 branches doing business in Georgia, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina, Southeast is a full service Georgia mortgage lender offering FHA Loans, VA Loans [http://www.southeastmortgage.us/VA_Loans.php], and conventional loans. Southeast assists its customers with first-home loans as well as refinancing customers’ current, primary residences, second homes or investment properties. Southeast Mortgage offers the following services: fixed-rate loans, adjustable-rate mortgages (ARM), interest-only loans, jumbo loans, FHA and VA loans, and rate and term/cash-out refinancing. Southeast Mortgage is also the only mortgage lender to guarantee its customers an eight-day close on mortgages it originates.

-more-

About Northeast Atlanta Metro Association of REALTORS®
The Northeast Atlanta Metro Association of REALTORS® (NAMAR) is the primary provider of services and resources. The Association will promote professionalism and ethical real estate practices. We are dedicated to the real estate industry and private property rights. The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and subscribes to is strict Code of Ethics. Only those agents who are members of NAR can use the term REALTOR®. REALTOR® is not a synonym for real estate agent.

Article: May, 8, 2011

Source:  New Fed Law Protects Buyers, Saves Money 



There was a time when you couldn’t turn on the news or open the paper and not see a headline about the housing crisis the proliferation of subprime lending, the skyrocketing rate of foreclosures and the sad stories of homeowners caught in a downward spiral of unmanageable debt.

While these issues have moved off the front page in recent months, they’re still teeming below the surface, and regulators are focused on improving the system to avoid future crashes of a similar kind.

The latest such effort went into effect just last month. These new rules were drafted by the Federal Reserve in an effort to implement pieces of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, a federal statute signed into law in July 2010.

In these new changes, the compensation for mortgage brokers will change. Where once the lender and the borrower both paid the broker, the new legislation will require that the broker be compensated by one or the other. And that amount cannot exceed 3 percent.

The pay from the lender, known as the yield spread premium, was originally intended to compensate the broker and allow borrowers to finance their closing costs and loan origination fees by paying a higher interest rate on their loans. During the past 10 years, however, YSP has morphed into more of a variable compensation determined by brokers who inflated the interest rate and/or benefited by sending clients to one lender instead of another. As a result, the cost of borrowing increased and some customers had loans that were not the best fit for their needs. Lenders and brokers are supposed to provide mortgage loans that fit the clients need without regard to personal benefit.

Also prohibited are penalties for paying off their loans early. These pre-payment penalties can trap a borrower in an unaffordable mortgage. The new rules penalize brokers who don’t comply with the new standards while protecting borrowers against foreclosures that can stem from a brokers failure to comply with the new standards.

The legislation requires the broker to provide a variety of interest rate options and loan types to prevent steering the borrowers into particular and potentially higher-yielding products.

Mortgage brokers will be required to ensure that borrowers can repay the loans they are sold. Since compensation is not tied to terms and conditions, consumers are provided a lower interest rate, points, and fees previously seen with high-cost loans.

These new rules target all mortgage originators and help even the playing field among bank- and non-bank lenders. Non-bank lenders are currently required to undergo stringent evaluation in order to receive a required license from the state. In addition, non-bank lender originators are required to pass a national and state exam before they can originate. Bank lenders, however, are exempt from the national and state licensing requirements for their originators.

These changes, along with others promised in the new legislation, are expected to further whittle the number of mortgage loan providers in Georgia. There are already 70 percent fewer mortgage service providers in the state than there were before the housing crisis spawned a series of regulatory changes and tighter credit standards.

To be sure, there are a lot of good brokers in Georgia that price properly and provide great service. But some made poor choices that contributed to the recent market turmoil.

These new rules will strengthen oversight of the industry, ensure fair treatment and provide the public with the best products for their needs while putting the consumers interests first. 

Cal Haupt
Cal Haupt is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Southeast Mortgage of Georgia, Inc., the largest non-bank mortgage lender in Georgia.

Article: April, 13, 2011

Source:  Southeast Mortgage Expands Staff with Hiring of Two Mortgage Professional Teams 
Allen KenKnight, Former President of Prestige Mortgage, Joins Immediately

ATLANTA, GA, April 13, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Allen KenKnight, who grew Prestige Mortgage to be one of the largest mortgage lenders in Georgia before briefly joining forces with Main Street Home Loans in 2010, has found a new home for his 25 employees in three offices in the Metro Atlanta area. KenKnight and his team are joining forces with Southeast Mortgage, a full service Georgia mortgage lender and one of the state's largest independent non-bank mortgage lenders. Linda Devine, mortgage industry veteran and active member of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia, is also joining Southeast with the KenKnight team.

"Allen's experience in the mortgage industry, consumer service expectations and understanding of real estate agent support is perfectly aligned with Southeast Mortgage's commitment to Georgia consumers and the real estate agent community," said Cal Haupt, president and CEO of Southeast Mortgage.

Allen KenKnight has more than 28 years of experience in the mortgage industry and was previously honored with the Diamond Award, the highest level of achievement in the mortgage industry, and the President's Award for 1998-2008. KenKnight was recognized as a top ten mortgage originator for the past 11 years and served as the president of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia and of the Atlanta Mortgage Bankers Association.

"Allen has a long history and has held numerous leadership roles with the Mortgage Bankers Association, which reinforces Southeast Mortgage's commitment to ensure consumers are getting competent advice on the correct mortgage product as well as the service they deserve."

These additions, plus the addition of the newly opened Fayetteville office, bring the total of Southeast Mortgage offices from seven to 11 - a growth of 57 percent.  

Article: February, 25, 2011

Source:  Regulations push mortgage firms to combine 

 New federal regulations have increased compliance costs for mortgage lenders and banks. In response, lenders are combining in the hope that more bulk will mean lower costs.

 Southeast Mortgage of Georgia Inc. of Lawrenceville in February acquired Citizens Fidelity Mortgage Corp. of Marietta. Southeast Mortgage also expects to close deals to acquire two more metro Atlanta mortgage lenders.

 In a separate deal, BankSouth Holding Co., a community bank in Greensboro, Ga., acquired the assets of Loan South Mortgage Inc.

 Southeast Mortgage’s acquisition of Citizens Fidelity, plus its upcoming deals, will boost the lender’s office count to 25, CEO Cal Haupt said. He declined to release yearly revenue, but said that Citizens Fidelity handled about $300 million in mortgages last year.

 Banks are having a hard time competing with non-bank mortgage lenders because they’re involved in other product lines like car loans, which distracts them, Haupt said. Southeast Mortgage turns around mortgage loans in eight days, compared with 45 days to 60 days for banks.

 “All we do are mortgages,” Haupt said.

 The purchase of Citizens Fidelity was driven in part by increased costs from new regulations, Haupt said.

BankSouth had originated mortgages, but it did so as a convenience to customers, said President Harold Reynolds. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law has made the mortgage business too costly for a small bank, he said.

“It’s expensive for a bank to have a compliance person when you’re managing only $40 million in mortgages,” Reynolds said.

 BankSouth expects to turn a profit on mortgages through the acquisition of Loan South, which handled $160 million in mortgages last year. BankSouth handled $35 million.

 A bank can provide a steady stream of mortgage financing through its deposits, said Loan South CEO Kim Nelson.

 “Banks are holding a lot of money ... and this is a great utilization of that excess funding,” Reynolds said.

Article: February, 19, 2011

Source:  Mortgage firms map revival plans

Chief Executive Cal Haupt says as the economy exits the recession, Southeast Mortgage is positioning itself to be able to compete with larger mortgage companies.

Southeast Mortgage pulls smaller ones into fold to boost its standing.

 Cal Haupt, chief executive of Southeast Mortgage, views the turmoil in the mortgage industry as the business opportunity of a lifetime.
 The combination of tighter federal regulations on mortgage lenders designed to protect consumers and the downturn in home buying has triggered a wave of consolidation among independent mortgage companies.
 Southeast Mortgage, one of the largest independent mortgage lenders in Georgia, has been bringing smaller shops under its wing, poaching talent from other companies and gearing up for the return of the market.
 “We’re exiting the recession. There’s no doubt about it,” an energetic Haupt said during a recent morning interview.
 On Feb. 1, Southeast Mortgage acquired Citizens Fidelity Mortgage, its 12th acquisition in the past eight years. Southeast Mortgage now has 140 employees in offices in four states.
 While the nation’s big banks remain major forces in the mortgage lending business, independent companies such as Southeast Mortgage and even community banks are looking for bigger pieces of a pie they hope rebounds with the economy.
 Home prices are at historic lows, but unemployment remains stubbornly high. Mortgage companies are banking that when jobs and the economy return, home sales will, too.
 The implosion of the sub-prime mortgage industry forced out of the industry players that relied on loans to borrowers with less than ideal credit.
 Though fee income from refinancing has been strong for many banks, the collapse of home sales has meant mortgage lenders were chasing fewer transactions.
 New federal laws enacted over the past few years require mortgage loan officers for non-bank lenders be licensed or be employed by a regulated bank. They also have to pass checks of their financial histories.
 Other rules have capped compensation, pushing many companies to merge and other individuals out of the business.  
 Loan officers have joined banks eager to build up their mortgage business as another revenue stream.
 As of Feb. 1, 409 nonbank mortgage lenders were licensed in Georgia, down from 729 at the end of 2005, according to the Georgia Department   of Banking and Finance, which regulates banks and mortgage companies.
 Greg Shumate, president and CEO of Brand Mortgage, an affiliate of Lawrenceville-based Brand Banking Co., said the dislocation has separated “the haves and the have-nots.”
 “If you can’t grow, then you’re dying,” Shumate said. Brand Mortgage has tripled its loan officer and support staff ranks to about 180 in the past two years.
 Many small community banks, in a bid to diversify portfolios loaded with home construction   and loan purchase loans, have turned to small business loans and traditional mortgages to find new revenue.
 Historically, mortgages have been very safe loans for lenders.
 The loose standards of the subprime era contributed to the real estate boom and ultimate bust. Foreclosures for the past several years have reached all-time records.
 But underwriting on mortgages has tightened, and lenders are making higher quality loans.  
 Ultimately, the regulation and consolidation will be good for the industry and better for the consumer, creating stronger lenders and greater transparency for homebuyers, said Jennifer Dickenson, an attorney with Dickenson Gilroy and a director with the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia.
 Companies such as Southeast and Brand Mortgage, she said, are “capitalizing on uncertainty in the industry.”
 “You’re seeing a huge fallout,” she said.
 Shumate said consolidation in his industry isn’t done.
 “I think we’ve got another year or two of heavy consolidation in our industry,” Shumate said. 

Article: February 16, 2011

Fayetteville Neighbor - Mortgage Facility Opens - One of the largest independant non-bank lenders in the Southeast, Southeast Mortgage of Georgia, has opened a new office in Fayetteville.

Arnold Martin has been named regional branch manager of the facility. The full service Georgia mortgage lender’s opening marks the eighth Southeast Mortgage location in Georgia. According to Martin, the facility’s opening is a good sign for the city and county in light of the current economic climate. “Anytime that we have the opportunity to add more jobs within the Fayetteville community it is an enhancement,” he said. “It definitely is a good sign that the market is coming back. We think it’s important to see it as the economy slowly rebounding.” Click here for full article. (requires Adobe Reader)

Article: February 2, 2011   

Source: Is the Loan Officer Dead? 2010 Market Trends & 2011 Predictions by Rick Roque 2-3-2011

Forsyth Herald - Southeast Mortgage hires new executive mortgage loan originator - Joe Wargo

ALPHARETTA – Southeast Mortgage, a full-service Georgia mortgage lender and one of the largest non-bank lenders in the Southeast, has named Joe Wargo as its new executive mortgage loan originator and Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist.

"Joe knows this industry inside and out, and we knew that bringing him on to our team was a smart and easy decision," said Cal Haupt, president and founder of Southeast Mortgage. "He is extremely involved and invested, and we look forward to a bright new individual on our team." Click here for full article. (requires Adobe Reader)

Southeast Mortgage continues to fill the void left in the Metro Atlanta mortgage market, expands team with hiring of two mortgage professional teams.

Allen KenKnight, who grew Prestige Mortgage to be one of the largest mortgage companies in Georgia, has found a new home for his 25 employees and three offices in the Metro Atlanta area. KenKnight and his team are joining forces with Southeast Mortgage, the state's largest independent non-bank mortgage lender. Southeast also added Linda Devine from Palladium Mortgage. Click here for full press release. (requires Adobe Reader)

Mortgage company fills void left by larger firms - Cal Haupt, President and CEO of Southeast Mortgage is featured in the Atlanta Business Chronicle (ABC)

Q&A - While many mortgage companies have downsized or shut down in recent years, some have found opportunities and ways to flourish in a difficult market. Lawrenceville based Southeast Mortgage is one of those sucess stories. Southeast Mortgage CEO Cal Haupt recently shared with Atlanta Business Chronicle about his company's success. Click here for full artice. (requires Adobe Reader) Downloadable Vesions PDF WORD

Lender license Law for checks, balances - Cal Haupt, President and CEO of Southeast Mortgage is featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC)

Maybe you won't notice. Maybe your mortgage lender will pay it no mind. But a date of utmost importance to home buyers and mortgage professionals is coming July 31st. That’s when every mortgage lending office in the state must be licensed by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance – or violate state law. Click here for full artice. (requires Adobe Reader)

Atlanta professionals discuss the state of the housing market - Cal Haupt, President and CEO of Southeast Mortgage is featured in the Atlanta Business Chronicle (ABC)

Sound Off - Atlanta professionals discuss the state of the housing market, answer the tough questions; What are the largest hurdles to the recovery of metro Atlanta's housing market? In what ways has your company adapted to the changing marketplace? How has the emergence of the sustainable building movement impacted Atlanta's residential real estate industry?  Click here for full artice. (requires Adobe Reader)

Atlanta real estate professionals weigh in on the housing industry - Cal Haupt, President and CEO of Southeast Mortgage is featured in the Atlanta Business Chronicle (ABC)

Sound Off - Atlanta real estate professionals weigh in on the housing industry; In what way has your company adapted its marketing plan to today's real estate landscape? How are you using new technologies to remain competitive in the real estate industry? Where do you see metro Atlanta's housing market heading in the next few years?  Click here for full artice. (requires Adobe Reader)

Press Release: April 13, 2010 

Southeast Mortgage announces the hiring of Georgia Association of Mortgage Professionals (GAMP) President J.D. Crowe as Vice President

Lawrenceville - As one of the highest producing mortgage loan originators (MLOs) in Georgia and the chief executive of its leading trade organization, Crowe is well respected as an industry advocate. His decision to join Southeast because of the company's  reputation for closing loans swiftly and with integrity is big news, in an industry that has faced huge challenges in the past few years. Many mortgage companies have closed their doors and many other individual mortgage originators have left the industry. Others have been battered by a drop in mortgage applications from potential homeowners. Yet, Southeast has had continued success as a lender and growth in personnel (60% from 2007-2008, 125% from 2008-2009) amidst the collapse of the homebuilding industry and the Great Recession.

"J.D.'s knowledge of lenders and brokers in Georgia is unquestionable, and his choice to join our team is a huge honor," Southeast Mortgage President and CEO Cal Haupt said. "We are looking to fill the void left by the many companies that closed their doors after the financial crisis, and he's a perfect addition to our company." 

Announcement: June, 2010

Southeast Mortgage becomes a 2010-11 MBAG / AMBA Industry Partner 

Southeast Mortgage is proud to announce it has become a 2010-11 Industry Partner for the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia (MBAG) / Atlanta Mortgage Bankers Association (AMBA). This sponsorship shows continued industry involvement and Southeast Mortgage's continued commitment to supporting those who share the same code of ethics and professionalism in the industry.