BIO: Coming soon…

BIO: Coming soon…

BIO: Mike is a native Oregonian who has lived in Central Oregon for 22 years – and wouldn’t choose to live anywhere else.Mike has been a residential mortgage lender for more than a decade, and even though the last few years have brought plenty of challenges to the industry, Mike still loves being in the biz. There’s no greater professional thrill than the moment he closes on the purchase of a home and sees the smiling faces of the new home owners. It’s just so satisfying to be part of that.

Mike has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the University of Washington and a Master’s Degree in Television from Syracuse University. Before getting in mortgage lending Mike worked in television news as a reporter and anchor – a job that opened up all sorts of amazing opportunities and satisfied his “thirst for knowledge” on a daily basis. Many of his experiences have carried over and help Mike be a better Mortgage Banker every day.

Mike has been married since 1997 – He met his wife, Maggie, in Bend back in 1993. They have two children – nine-year-old daughter Mia and six-year-old son Noah. The whole family loves to take part in all the activities of a “traditional” Central Oregon lifestyle: skiing, bike riding, hiking, tennis and enjoying all the community events of this wonderful area. Besides family, Mike’s other great personal passions are reading and traveling. Mike has been fortunate to see dozens of countries across the globe and almost every state in America, and he tries to share that interest with his children at every opportunity.

BIO: As a true”Bendite” I have spent the majority of my life enjoying the lifestyle that Central Oregon offers. My husband, daughter and I spend our summer’s wakeboarding, camping all over Oregon and fly-fishing. We are fortunate to live near most of our family and surround ourselves with lots of friends so birthday get-togethers and BBQ’s fill many of our evenings. Mt. Bachelor and the other snow play activities keep us busy in the winter but I have to say I do enjoy a fair amount of hibernation in the winter months. Whenever we can we are off to somewhere tropical and warm as we love scuba diving and carefree vacations.

I love what I do. The changes, challenges and fluidity of the mortgage industry have forced me to continually improve and modify my knowledge base to effectively help my clients and close loans. I am dedicated to providing financial solutions for my clients and helping them make informed mortgage decisions. I aim to provide the highest level of service, making myself available to answer all questions that arise. Ultimately, I try to un-complicate the sometimes complicated mortgage process by performing my due diligence upfront and delivering straight answers. I want to create lasting relationships with my clients so that I can continue to bring value after the loan closes.

Testimonials
Dana was on my side of the table and made me confident that she was handling every aspect of my loan. She was patient, responsive and communicated things clearly to me, a first time homebuyer with limited knowledge. I was thrilled with the rate I received and would definitely recommend her to others and look forward to doing future business together. – M. Lindley -Bend, Oregon

We were really impressed with your knowledge, patience and availability. You walked us through every step and answered all our questions. We appreciated how quickly you got back with us anytime we phoned you. You made this somewhat difficult process seem easy. – S. Denio and H. Hogensen- Bend, Oregon

I truly appreciated your time, hard work and persistence in getting things done on this transaction as well as your personal touch in dealing with our clients. I look forward to working with you in the future. L. Buan Cornerstone Realty –Bend, Oregon

It was obvious from our first meeting that you are very good at what you do. I could see that I was talking to someone who knows the fine points of a very complicated process. The energy and enthusiasm you have is encouraging and contagious. You held up your end of the bargain and came through for me and my family in less than 30 days. –T. Stewart and H. Stewart –Redmond, Oregon

BIO: Coming soon…

BIO: An entrepreneur is defined as one who undertakes, organizes and operates a business venture. Mark J. Hanna, President and CEO of Directors Mortgage, Inc., takes these dictionary terms to another level. An Oregon native, Mark’s entrepreneurial spirit began at age 16 when he launched his first company, Mack’s Landscaping, as a Jesuit High School student. Mark graduated second in his class with honors from the University of San Diego, receiving his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Finance, while also competing in Division 1 intercollegiate soccer. In 1996, he began his mortgage-banking career at CTX Mortgage in San Diego.

In 1998, with the right combination of experience and ambition, Mark founded Directors Mortgage Inc. and has built it from the ground up to be one of the most respected names in the Mortgage Industry. Directors Mortgage has grown to be one of the largest independent mortgage bankers in the northwest and a nationally recognized company. Mark is focused on serving his clients with the utmost integrity and professionalism. Since we are a mortgage bank as well as a broker, and we are a locally owned and operated company, loan decisions are made locally and funded locally. This means that Mark has the ability to make things happen for your clients when other mortgage loan officers cannot. Mark will take personal responsibility for every client you bring to the Hanna Team.

Leading his company to success by example, he consistently ranks in the top 200 of all mortgage bankers in the nation by Mortgage Originator magazine. Also, the Oregon Business Journal honored Mr. Hanna with its “40 Under 40” top businessmen in the state distinction. Mark was one of the youngest individuals to make the list.

Grateful for his success, Mark always will support the community. He contributes to over 50 charitable organizations including Providence Hospital, Shriner’s Hospital, The Grotto, and Children’s Charity Ball, among others. In addition, Mark also serves on many charitable foundation boards. He also supports the Rotary Club, and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow.

Mark and his wife, Lindsey, were married in 2006. The couple resides in Lake Oswego.

Recession a mere speed bump

Directors Mortgage thrives despite plunge in home sales
By Adam Worcester, Contributing writer, Portland Business Journal

At Directors Mortgage Inc., employees embrace the slogan CANI: Constant and Never-ending Improvement.

The I, however, could just as easily be changed to G: Constant and Never-ending Growth.

Since Mark J. Hanna founded the company in 1998, it has swelled from a 1,200-square-foot Lake Oswego office to 17 branches in Oregon and Washington.

Three years ago, Hanna had 65 employees. By the end of 2010 he employed more than 200.

And in the first quarter of this year alone, Hanna hired 18 workers and opened two new offices. And more are coming.

“Our goal is to do more volume than any lender, public or private, in Oregon and Washington,” said Hanna, who grew up in Portland. “We want to be the best in the backyard, so to speak.”

Hanna said Directors Mortgage has yet to suffer an unprofitable year. Revenue has surged from $10 million in 2008 to $46 million in 2010 – a whopping increase of 460 percent. Locally, the company closed $1.3 billion worth of loans last year, an amount bested only by behemoths Wells Fargo and Bank of America, and up from $946 million in 2009.

So far this year, the company is on pace to surpass 2010’s totals, Hanna said.

Though growth stagnated in 2007-2008 during the subprime mortgage crisis, Directors Mortgage avoided layoffs. In fact, Hanna said he has never laid off a Directors Mortgage employee.

His company weathered the storm by refusing to handle subprime and adjustable–rate loans, and by stressing exceptional customer service.

“We practiced integrity before it was popular,” Hanna said. “It sounds corny, but it really paid off for us.”

Directors Mortgage specializes in residential loans, purchases, refinances and debt consolidation. Brokers write their own loans, and deals close within an average of 27 days. A Mortgage Assurance Program ensures homeowners that in the event of a job loss, their mortgage payments will be covered (through the nonprofit Rainy Day Foundation) for up to two years or $12,000.

From the beginning, Directors Mortgage has been relentlessly local. It loans only within Oregon and Washington, though it will handle loans in California and Idaho for Washington and Oregon residents. “Knowing the local market, and a little bit about local properties, is critical,” Hanna said. “We can fund more loans and make more exceptions.”

Lake Oswego resident Holly Woolard benefitted from one such exception, when Directors Mortgage helped her secure a home by circumventing a prescribed 90-day wait period.

Woolard, who had been approved for a conventional loan, said she was “jerked around” by three previous lenders before the seller referred her to Hanna and company. Directors Mortgage closed her loan within a week and a half.

“They were the only ones who were able to get me the house I wanted,” Woolard said. “Mark always answered the phone when I called, or called me right back after I left a message. I had to chase down people at the other companies.”

Stellar service has earned Directors Mortgage a A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. In 2007, the BBB named Directors the winner of its annual Oregon customer service award, an honor of which Hanna is particularly proud.

Hanna said future plans include growth northward and southward. Directors Mortgage recently opened a Eugene branch and has seven offices stretching from Vancouver to Silverdale in Washington state.

It will be controlled growth, he said, but not necessarily slow.

Hanna compared his company to tire seller Les Schwab, which started as a small Oregon company and is now ubiquitous throughout the Western United States.

“We want to be the choice for your mortgage needs in both Oregon and Washington.” Hanna said. “Even if you don’t go to Les Schwab, you probably know who they are.”

portlland@bizjournals.com – 503-274-8733

See The Full Article Here -  Portland Business Journal June 2011.

See The Top 25 Here – Portland Business Journal June 2011

Directors Mortgage is a proud partner of The Freshwater Trust. Directors Mortgage will plant a tree for every loan closed. Together let’s reach our goal to plant 100,000 trees.

Here are some of the benefits we are very excited to share will you about our partnership with Freshwater Trust:

•  There are more than 30,000 miles of rivers and streams that are unable to full support aquatic life in Oregon. Directors Mortgage is doing its part to restore those rivers and streams by supporting The Freshwater Trust.

• Planting trees not only reduces the impact of our paper use and sequesters carbon, but if you plant them streamside, trees also help to restore rivers and streams, benefiting fish and wildlife.

• It takes 2.6 gallons of freshwater to produce one sheet of paper. Directors Mortgage is reducing its environmental footprint by helping The Freshwater Trust restore rivers and streams (throughout Oregon).

• Directors Mortgage is making an impact in your community by working with The Freshwater Trust to restore your local streams and rivers.

• Through a partnership with The Freshwater Trust, Directors Mortgage is strengthening local economies and rivers by supporting projects that use local contractors.

• Also by partnering with The Freshwater Trust, Directors Mortgage is helping to keep 100 million gallons of water every day in Oregon streams, providing flow benefits to 800+ stream miles.

BIO: I started in the Mortgage Industry in 2004 working with investors purchasing residential and commercial real estate. Since the beginning I have focused on working with clients that can fully document their income and assets. Because those clients trusted me to work on difficult real estate transactions I have the expertise and knowledge to help clients with the most complex financial situations.

The skills I have perfected in analyzing investment real estate have not only provided me with the tools to be a consultant for the seasoned real estate investor but for the first time home buyer as well. I believe one of the most important things a loan officer should be is a trusted advisor for the borrower. An advisor that seeks to understand each borrower’s unique situation, and works to find the best possible financing solution to fit that borrower’s needs.

Buying a home can be an emotional time for people. I work to provide my clients with honest, practical advice about financing the largest single purchase of their lives. Every buyer deserves to feel confident their lender will perform above their expectations. I strive for that confidence from every one of my clients.

Buyer Testimonial

Van Melick is a fantastic mortgage loan officer. He is quick to return your phone call and never too busy to discuss interest rate trends, financing scenarios, or mortgage-related legislation. He is a pragmatic, frank, and cheerful advisor, and was indispensable during our home search and purchase. Best of all, he worked very hard to save us money and get us the best possible deal! We are extremely satisfied customers.
- Justin and Cindy Preece (Corvallis, OR)

Realtor Testimonials

I wanted to just say how much I appreciate Van Melick. I know that I can trust him to counsel my clients “IN THEIR BEST INTEREST”. I have seen this over the years with several people I have referred to him.

Below is part of a message from a client of mine pointing out that Van is looking out for her best interest rather than just pushing her into a loan for his benefit.

Van suggested that doing the home equity loan would be the most sensible and least expensive.

I appreciated his objectivity knowing he is in the business of selling loans. Thanks for the referral. Kathleen

(this Home equity loan would be done in another state…not by Van)

Van honestly cares about people and does what is right for them.

Lionel Wilson – Keller Williams Mid-Willamette Realty – Corvallis, OR