| One of the country’s most successful mortgage entrepreneurs has stepped back from the operation to spend more time with his family. But that didn’t stop his company from originating more than $5 billion last year. This year the lender is looking to hire a hundred new salespeople.
In 2003, Leif Thomsen earned more than $10 million. His company, Mortgage Master Inc., had a banner year with $3.4 billion in originations. At the time, he employed more than 200 people. The success earned him the title of the MortgageDaily.com Icon of 2003. Today, Thomsen is taking life at a more relaxed pace. But not his company. |
Mortgage Master photo of Leif Thomsen |
The Walpole, Mass.-based firm originated approximately $5.5 billion during 2010, Thomsen said in a telephone interview with Mortgage Daily.
The prior year’s production was also around $5.5 billion.
After adding between 40 and 50 new loan originators and a similar number of back-office employees last year, more than 500 people are now employed at Mortgage Masters.
“I know that we’re planning to hire a lot of new salespeople this year,” Thomsen said. “Hopefully to the tune of a hundred new salespeople.”
He is optimistic about 2011, especially on the East Coast where he sees a more robust economy. The Danish immigrant has a bright outlook for the financing of home purchases.
“I feel pretty good about the purchase market,” he said. “I think we’ll have a decent purchase year.”
The company is looking at buying a federally chartered bank and hopes to close on a deal within the next six months. In addition to helping with funding, such a move would take advantage of new licensing requirements.
But Thomsen keeps his distance from the business nowadays.
He remarried a couple years ago and now spends his days traveling with a two-month-old baby and a three-year-old child.
“There are many days now where I don’t even make it in,” he boasted. “I’ve gotten too old.”
Thomsen, who just returned from the Bahamas, next plans to visit Hawaii — a place he hasn’t yet been. After that, a trip to see his mother in Denmark is on the agenda.
