Former Guild CEO Encourages Mortgage Professionals To Have Confidence, Ask Questions

By KIMBERLEY HAAS The woman who led Guild Mortgage as it grew into a national company with operations in 49 states says the key to success is to have confidence and ask questions. Mary Ann McGarry retired as the CEO of Guild at the end of June after nearly 39 years with the company. “I would just remind everyone to have confidence in what they can do and their abilities. They don’t have to know everything 100%, especially in this business, and it changes every day, so you have to be able to learn,” McGarry said in a recent interview with The Mortgage Note. “Learn everything and then you’ll earn it. Just keep voicing ideas and asking questions. Don’t be…

Guild Opens Eight New Branches In CA

Guild Mortgage continues its expansion efforts, announcing a new district in California made up of eight branches. The branches have 40 new Guild employees, led by district manager John Lowe, who will report to regional vice president Mike Ferreira. “Guild’s reputation and history of stability were a major draw for our group, giving us the confidence to make the move, become part of one of the best organizations in the industry, and continue to build on the success we’ve achieved together,” said Lowe. “Guild’s business model and ability to service the majority of its home loans means each member of our team can make a long-term commitment to help every customer beyond the closing of a loan, which is a…

Guild CEO Mary Ann McGarry Retiring

Guild Mortgage CEO Mary Ann McGarry is retiring this June after forty years in the industry, leaders at the lender announced in a press release. McGarry joined Guild in 1984 as a supervisor in internal audit. She was promoted to SVP of loan administration and information technology soon after and joined the board of directors in 1988. She then served as CFO, chief production operations officer, and COO, before becoming president in 2005. In 2007, she became CEO and led a management buyout of the company from its founder. “On behalf of the board of directors and the entire company, we are forever grateful for Mary Ann’s extraordinary contributions to Guild,” said Patrick Duffy, chairman of the board.  “We look…

Guild Acquires Inlanta After Wind-Down Announcement

Just days ago, Inlanta Mortgage seemed poised to go under due to declining homebuyer demand. The Wisconsin-based company operates in 27 states. Leaders there announced plans to close next year, starting the winding down process immediately. The company cited “the dramatic and unanticipated drop in mortgage product demand” for its demise. In a letter to Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development, it said 62 employees would be let go. Some of those employees may now be saved from termination by Guild Mortgage, which announced it is acquiring Inlanta. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. In a press release, Guild CEO Mary Ann McGarry said the decision aligns with Guild’s expansion mindset. “Inlanta is a natural fit because of its almost…

Homebuyers Competing With Cash Offers Get A Break

By KIMBERLEY HAAS Guild Mortgage has launched a national program that can help potential homebuyers compete with all-cash offers. Vice President of Product Strategy Erin Watts said in a recent interview with The Mortgage Note that they are doing everything they can to help homebuyers compete in today’s market. “We were getting these really well-qualified homebuyers that needed to get mortgage financing but they just kept missing out due to these cash offers,” Watts said. How does CashPass Work? When homebuyers apply for a loan with Guild Mortgage, they let them know they are interested in CashPass. They then provide the same information that they would need for pre-approval for a conventional loan. A minimum credit score of 680 is…

New Program Helps Buyers Get Energy-Efficient Appliances With Their Home Loan

By KIMBERLEY HAAS Guild Mortgage has partnered with The Home Depot to help buyers save on utility costs and manage multiple payments by bundling the cost of new energy-efficient appliances into their home loan. The GreenSmart Advantage program offers options to finance energy or water-efficient improvements up to 5% of a home’s appraised value by consolidating the costs into a mortgage. Refrigerators, dishwashers, smart thermostats, washing machines, and dryers are examples of what can be included. Primary FHA purchase transactions are eligible. A 3.5% down payment and a credit score above 580 are required to qualify. Mary Ann McGarry is CEO of Guild Mortgage, which is headquartered in San Diego. She said in a statement that the company is always…

Guild Mortgage Gets Ahead With “A Customer For Life” Strategy

By KIMBERLEY HAAS Leaders at a California-based lender that generated $36.8 billion in origination volume last year say they are finding success because they focus on creating customers for life. Guild Mortgage, located in San Diego, has been originating and servicing residential loans since 1960. Their origination volume in 2021 was up about 5% from $35.2 billion in 2020. The company’s in-house servicing portfolio grew 18% year-over-year to $70.9 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021, with Guild retaining servicing rights for 80% of total loans sold. Last month, they earned their fifth consecutive Servicer Total Achievement and Rewards performer recognition from Fannie Mae. According to a press release, the STAR Performer recognition is reserved for top-performing servicers in one or…