Fairway Independent Mortgage Trains Loan Officers To Serve Military Clients

TUCSON, Ariz., Sept. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, one of the largest mortgage bankers in the U.S. and a strong supporter of homeownership opportunities for America's military veterans and active duty servicemen and women, today kicked off its latest Boot Camp training program for employees to learn how to best serve military clients and become Military Mortgage Specialists(SM).

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120920/FL78519 )

According to Louise Thaxton, branch manager and director of Fairway's Military Mortgage Specialist division, veterans and active duty military personnel often face unique challenges when seeking to purchase a home. Active duty military personnel are often a "targeted population" because many are young, financially inexperienced and transient, Thaxton said.

"The men and women who have served or who are currently serving in the U.S. military deserve our very best," Thaxton said. "Our military and their families sacrifice so much for our freedom, so the very least we can do as mortgage professionals is to go the extra mile with additional training."

The designation of Military Mortgage Specialist(SM) is exclusive to Fairway and provides a platform whereby loan professionals become thoroughly equipped to expertly handle the mortgage loan needs of active duty and veteran clients.  The designation requires attendance at an initial two-day Boot Camp (or "basic training"), and is followed by a 90-day coaching, mentoring, and training program whereby individuals are coached and instructed on how to best meet the specific home loan needs and requirements of active duty military and veterans.

Thaxton spoke today in Tucson at Fairway's third Boot Camp where Fairway, in partnership with the Boot Campaign and Military Warriors Support Foundation, presented a renovated mortgage-free home to a wounded veteran. Thaxton encourages active and retired service members to consider using a loan professional who has had experience in working with the military and veterans. She also highly encourages servicemen and women to use their VA eligibility when purchasing a home.  Thaxton gives five reasons why a VA home loan would be beneficial:

• Competitive interest rates – even with less than perfect credit rating
• 100% financing (one of the few remaining programs to offer this)
• Flexible credit requirements such as higher debt ratios, lower reserves and lower credit score requirements
• No monthly mortgage insurance, which could add up to .85 to .97 of a percent to the monthly loan payment
• The VA funding fee can be financed into the loan

"It's important for mortgage professionals to not only learn about the VA home loan product, but also learn the culture of active duty military and the unique challenges they face," Thaxton added. "We should give 110% to these heroes."

Thaxton operates offices near two military bases in Louisiana—the Army base at Fort Polk and Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City. She was Fairway's top producer in 2009, 2010 and 2011 for total units closed and number #14 the U.S. last year for total VA loans, according to Scotsman Guide.

Fairway Independent Mortgage is a proud supporter of the American military and has helped thousands of active troops and veterans nationwide achieve their dreams of homeownership. Today in Tucson, Steve Jacobson, CEO of Fairway, and Thaxton together with the Boot Campaign and Military Warriors Support Foundation presented wounded U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient Eric Griego and his wife Corie with the keys to their mortgage-free, 1,500-square-foot three bedroom home. The event took place at a special ceremony held in conjunction with the Fairway Boot Camp.

During a firefight in Afghanistan on Oct. 18, 2010, Griego was shot in the neck and the bullet zigzagged through his abdomen, causing massive internal damage. Fairway is a major supporter of the Boot Campaign, a non-profit organization supporting returning American military troops, and the Military Warriors Support Foundation.  Fairway employees have pledged over $20,000 in donations per month for the next 12 months in order to participate in home giveaways.  The money is being used by the Military Warriors Support Foundation to cover the costs of repairing, renovating and retrofitting homes.

About Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation

Founded in 1996 by Steve Jacobson and Dean Anderson, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation is a mortgage banker headquartered in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. The company has 129 locations and 1,300 employees nationwide. The corporate vision is to foster relationships and create a team atmosphere, empowering offices to operate autonomously in their day-to-day operations, while still maintaining strict compliance and consistency across the board. Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation provides all necessary support in the areas of personnel, accounting and compliance. For more information, please visit www.FairwayIndependentMC.com.

About the Boot Campaign:

The Boot Campaign is a 501c3 non-profit military appreciation and veteran awareness campaign based in Texas.  Launched in 2009 by a group of women known as The Boot Girls, the Boot Campaign's mission is to express gratitude to the troops, spread awareness of the needs of military personnel and support their transition home.  Through the sale of signature military combat boots, the Boot Campaign donates proceeds to our programs caring for military personnel, past and present, healing from a variety of physical and emotional combat wounds, embodying the campaign motto that, "When They Come Back, We Give Back".  www.BootCampaign.com

PRESS CONTACTS

Warren Lutz
Strategic Vantage Mortgage Public Relations
(925) 270-3941
[email protected]

Rosalie Berg
Strategic Vantage Mortgage Public Relations
(305) 971-5352
[email protected]

SOURCE Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation