Brookfield-based Inlanta Mortgage has hired 70 new employees this year to keep up with mortgage loan demand as the housing market heats up.
The company currently has 245 employees, about 100 of whom are based at the headquarters in Brookfield. Of the new jobs, 30 are in Brookfield. The roles include underwriters, loan processors, quality control specialists, marketing professionals and information technology professionals.
Inlanta has 36 branches in 16 states, and originates loans in 20 states. It is in the process of adding two new branches, in Florida and Indiana.
The company attributes its growth not only to the more homebuyers on the market, but also to a new business strategy it has put in place over the past year. The strategy involves focusing more on business development by forming deep relationships with realtors, as well as recruiting top mortgage professionals nationwide and increasing brand recognition.
“The growth really is a byproduct of a very deliberate business plan that we put into motion last year, which was to begin very proactively growing Inlanta,” said Paul Buege, chief operating officer. “That changeup in strategy has been very exciting for us because the Inlanta brand now is becoming more recognized on a national level.”
Inlanta’s hiring spree has prepared the company to increase mortgage processing capacity, while retaining its pace of originating and closing a loan within 30 days. That turnaround time is important, since some competitors are backed up to 40 to 45 days to close a loan, Buege said.
“When a consumer wants a loan, we’re an option for them to bring their mortgage to,” he said. “We get virtually all of that production through realtor referrals.”
In the first seven months of 2015, Inlanta had six consecutive months of record-breaking volume. The company was the No. 1 Federal Housing Authority lender in the state in May.
“Our goal is always to stay a few steps ahead of that production, so as we’re bringing in more partners, we’ve got the forward capacity for them,” Buege said.” We’re trying to stay just a little bit ahead of our growth, and that model’s really rewarded us.”
