HOUSTON, July 29, 2008 ? First Houston Mortgage, a mortgage-banking firm licensed in 20 states that offers expertise in every aspect of the residential mortgage lending process, announced the addition of St. Louis-based Mid America Mortgage Consultants, a mortgage lender that serves the entire state of Missouri, as its newest affiliate branch. As an addition to First Houston, Mid America Mortgage Consultants is provided with full access to First Houston?s enhanced loan pricing, cohesive paperless lending platform, complete in-house underwriting system and its offshore facility in India, which offers additional loan processing support. All of these resources enable Mid America Mortgage Consultants to expand market share by offering its customers more competitive rates, speeding loan closings, expanding product offerings and reducing operating costs. ?Being an affiliate of First Houston?s better enables us to focus on originating more loans by reducing time-intensive, back-office activities that overwhelm most lenders,? said Garret Knox, branch manager of Mid America Mortgage Consultants. First Houston began its affiliate branch program in 2006 and has since grown to more than 20 branches nationwide with more than 250 employees. ?Since beginning the affiliate branch program, our growth has been tremendous because these relationships mutually benefit all parties involved,? said David Zugheri, president of First Houston. ?This affiliation expands our own national scope and it streamlines Mid America Mortgage Consultants? lending processes and capabilities, enabling them to grow business in a down market.? About First Houston Mortgage, Ltd. Based in Houston, First Houston Mortgage offers a wide variety of lending products and expertise for all areas of the residential mortgage lending industry. Innovative technologies enable the company to maintain a completely in-house origination process, thus reducing costs and improving efficiencies. For more information, visit www.firsthouston.com.
