A Florida mortgage company is adding nearly a dozen retail branches and nearly 100 employees — half of who are being hired as loan originators.
The news came today from J.I. Kislak Mortgage LLC. A spokeswoman for the firm said it believes that the “residential real estate market, particularly in the Sunshine State, is on the rebound.”
According to the Miami Lakes, Fla.-based company, as many as 10 store-front offices will be added across the state.
“Initially, the company is looking to open stores across Florida in areas including Miami-Dade, Broward, Duval and Hillsborough counties as well as in Orlando, Jacksonville and other major metropolitan areas,” the news release said.
Kislak said Florida borrowers with good credit are currently waiting “as long as a few weeks” to obtain a mortgage approval. With the expanded operations, it hopes to cut that time to two to three days.
The 104-year-old company expects headcount to reach “150 loan originators and servicers,” with half of the jobs being loan officers. In addition, dozens of processors, underwriters and funders are expected to be hired to support the anticipated growth in originations.
In a statement, Kislak Chief Executive Officer Tom Meyer said that around 40 percent of the 150 employees have already been hired.
Kislak unloaded its servicing portfolio around 15 years ago.
Subsidiary Kislak Lending Solutions LLC provides mortgage outsourcing services for builder-owned mortgages companies, community banks and Kislak’s lending activities.
