Mortgage Master opens in Maitland

Mortgage Master, one of the nation’s largest privately owned mortgage companies, is doing something that many others haven’t been able to do — growing in a hard-hit industry.

“A lot of the lenders and banks you see out there now are survivors,” said Paul Anastos, president of Mortgage Master, which just opened a 4,700-square-foot office in Maitland. “These are mostly companies that did things the right way even through the difficult years. The companies like the Mortgage Masters of the world are the companies that were doing it right all along and continue to do that.”

Through an economic climate that is about as predictable as a tornado, Mortgage Master has continued its growth despite the recession and the housing crash. Over the last 12 months, the company has added more than 120 employees nationwide.

“We have great relations with the regulators and the banks that we work with,” Anastos said. “We want to do things the right way. Whatever those rules are, we want to know what they are and understand them.”

Mortgage Master plans to hire 10-15 employees over the next nine months. Visit mortgagemasterinc.com/jobs for more information.

This week marks 25 years that Mortgage Master has been in business, and with that celebration, the company also welcomes its newest branch in Maitland. Anastos said there are about 20 professionals working in the new Maitland operations center and they plan to hire another 10-15 employees over the next nine months.

“We’re happy to be put in the Maitland area. We look forward to continued growth and continued support of the community down there,” Anastos said.

Candy Burke-Robertson, the southeast region’s operations manager, is excited about the continued progress of the company and the new branch right in her own backyard. Most of her staff is from the Central Florida area, which she says will help Mortgage Master positively impact the community.

Along with maintaining an ethical business, Anastos says the No. 1 source to the company’s success is its employees. Burke-Robertson shares the sentiments of her president in recognizing the importance of her employees.

“I think a person’s happiness is the most important thing,” Burke-Robertson said. “You’re going to get much more out of a smiling face that feels good every day.”

A pair of her employees, Kim Lopez and Jennifer Bowman, also expressed how much the company means to them – especially right here in Central Florida.

Lopez said, “It’s been wonderful since Day 1. We feel valued and appreciated. It’s a breath of fresh air to work for a company [like that].”

“I love coming to work,” Bowman added. “[Burke-Robertson] has the passion, integrity, concern and encouragement. She wants everyone that works with her to be successful.”