HOUSTON, Aug. 12, 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 Residential Mortgage Consultants (RMC), a lender serving the St. Louis area for more than 10 years, as its latest affiliate branch. As an extension of First Houston, RMC is able to incorporate First Houston?s assortment of products and services into its own business practices, including full access to an offshore facility for loan processing assistance, more competitive loan pricing, electronic signature capability, a complete in-house underwriting system and a unified paperless lending platform. These benefits enable RMC to offer its customers lower rates and further enhance the quality of its services through expanded product offerings, reduced operating costs and faster loan closings. ?With the additional back-office support and advanced technological capabilities provided through our affiliation with First Houston, we are able to focus more on originating new loans and better serving our customers with the cost and time savings this union brings,? said Gary Bussard, branch manager of RMC. First Houston began its affiliated net branch program in 2006 and has since grown to more than 25 branches nationwide with more than 300 employees. ?Despite the down market, we have been able to grow significantly, largely due to our reliance on technology,? said David Zugheri, co-founder of First Houston. ?Our affiliate partners are able to share in our success by leveraging our more streamlined lending process into business opportunities.? 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.
