Key hire brings leadership and operational expertise to the role
Proptech company Knock has announced the appointment of home loan industry veteran Laura Gray (pictured) as the head of its lending division.
With more than three decades of mortgage experience, Gray will lead the company’s day-to-day lending, including Knock Home Swap – a program that provides sellers with a way to buy their new home before selling their current one.
“We’re excited to welcome Laura to Knock. Our lending technology and operation is the backbone of the Home Swap, which brings certainty, convenience and cost savings to people who want to swap the home they have for their dream home,” said Knock CEO Sean Black. “Laura brings the leadership and operational expertise that will ensure we’re able to exceed the expectations of our customers and industry partners while scaling our business nationally in order to give everyone the freedom to move on their terms.”
Gray started her career as a junior processor and later rose through the ranks to hold national operations and underwriting roles at some of the nation’s largest lending institutions in the US, including Peoples Bank Mortgage, Wyndham Capital Mortgage, Fifth Third Bank, and Wells Fargo. Most recently, she served as a national underwriting manager at St. Petersburg, Fla.-based First Home Bank.
“After spending my career at some of the largest and fastest-growing lenders in the nation, it’s exciting to be joining Knock,” Gray said. “By leveraging technology, Knock is transforming how people buy and sell homes and, in turn, making it easier for them to realize their homeownership dreams. Knock has built a strong company culture that is built on transparency and putting its people first.”
Knock Home Swap offers a fully integrated mortgage and up to $200,000 in an interest-free bridge loan to cover the down payment on the new home and up to six months of mortgage payments on the old house. The program is available in 17 markets across Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas, with plans to expand into 58 more markets by 2023.
