Hometown Lenders Reviews

Pros

They have a fantastic onboarding/training process. They have a great scorecard system.

Cons

They are working on it, but they need more job aids.

Pros

The only pro left by the time I quit was the ability to work remotely.

Cons

Hometown cares more about seeing their name plastered everywhere on every sponsorship more than they cared about keeping their people employed. Imagine being handed a 50% pay cut while being told in short that "at least you're still employed", then finding out that we committed to sponsoring another year of the Bahama Bowl and promoted certain managers to SVP's. This place is a sinking ship. By the time I left, the company was down to 200 employees from over 800 two years ago. Branches had left in droves because they couldn't compete in the market due to the inflated rates, and were only offered better rates when they told management they were leaving. The value of an UW here is not based on the quality of their work, it's based solely on where you fall on a grid. HTL touts being an organization that treats their employees like family, then applies a one size fits all approach to your salary, a clear indication that you really are just a number. The way they've treated staff during this down market is abhorrent. The way they've allowed their UW department to be destroyed from the inside is abhorrent. Any mortgage company can succeed and get positive ratings during a booming market. It's how you treat your employees during a recession that's the true testament to the character and values of the company and the people tasked with leading it. I can't caution anyone enough against making a move to HTL.

Pros

Employees are fantastic helpful and kind

Cons

Company needs to prioritize their employees over

Pros

Used to be morals, great work environment, and appreciation. Now just work flexibly.

Cons

Management in the department is the worst. If the manager isn’t micro managing you then her sidekick is. Loyal employees stayed during the busy times to be rewarded with less salaries and no sign on bonus while they hired all these new underwriters with sign-on bonuses and big salaries. So the market has turned and loyal employees were rewarded with either being let go or salaries and bonuses cut drastically and we aren’t guaranteed 40 hours per week. Why not last in first out except the ones that really needed to go to show the loyalty we showed you during the Covid boom. On top of that they added these report cards but are they holding anyone else accountable, nope. Files are being looked at multiple times with rushes being granted but we must also maintain SLA’s. Oh also we must look up every investors guidelines per new underwrite or we will get dinged for that also. Why not company underwriting guidelines or a real investor overlay worksheet.

Pros

Loved the uw, Lock Desk, closing and processing team.

Cons

Corp overspent on title and amc company and laid off too many people. Making them jack rates and then asking LO to drop comp to be more competitive in rates. Dropping BPS 50 is not going to make us competitive, corp should take hit not LO who bring in the business. Upper management overspent and in the end that made the whole place change

Pros

Our Underwriting Manager here is top notch! She understands efficiency, employee engagement, accountability, and how to lead. She makes me feel very comfortable with feedback and she motivates me to grow. She knows mortgage forwards and backwards, but even more impressive are her leadership skills. She listens to us and treats all with the same fairness and respect, including team members who struggle with change. We are incredibly lucky to have her here to make our company better as a whole. In the midst of the economic downturn, layoffs and pay cuts are difficult, but at the end of the day, I am happy to have a job and a lot of us are working very hard to keep it. This company truly does values its employees. They offer unbelievable rewards to those who go above and beyond.

Cons

In reading some of the reviews, I’d like to say that while this company is a wonderful company, we have what is known as a “the legacies.” These are employees who have been with the company for a very long time. There are a handful who talk poorly of our department’s leadership because (my experience and take away from interactions) 1. They believe they are untouchable and 2. They are upset because she makes us do the job we are paid to do and before she filled the shoes of our manager they could get by doing the bare minimum. Some of these team members work in management as well and it’s disappointing to hear them talk negatively about their manager when we should all be on the same team. They should provide leadership courses for these individuals to grow out of their current mindset. Aside from the legacies, the benefits are expensive, but a sacrifice I am willing to make to work for a company that cares about its people.

Pros

Everything was great, until it wasn't.

Cons

Starting laying off everyone and raising rates.

Pros

They pay well and that was it.

Cons

If you are an Underwriter, you will be enticed by the money they offer. Beware as you will soon discover that the infrastructure is that of a start up with several nepotism hires along with inexperienced and unknowledgeable processing, closing, and quality control staffing. Underwriting management does not have leadership , they have Micro Management. Those in charge enjoy making the Team Leads and supporting underwriters constantly walk on eggshells. There is a severe lack of trust on both ends which leads to the most Toxic work environment that this Underwriter has been associated with, in multiple decades. There has been nothing done to improve the underwriters’ job experience. Sales staff can constantly change data in the LOS even after an UW does a clear to close review leading to a constant stream of unsaleable loans. Underwriting is then blamed. Management has failed to lock out sales staff from the LOS and makes endless excuses for their inability to get this basic task completed. Failure at all levels!

Pros

Job is owned and operated by great people. When they’re doing well, you’re doing well. Everything from the customer experience to the employee experience is great.

Cons

The economy isn’t great at the moment. Obviously that has a direct impact on the business. I have no complaints about the company whatsoever. Best job I’ve ever had.

Pros

This company does have the friends and family feel that you like one likes at a workplace. They do not micro-manage which is great.

Cons

Not a huge company so not the range recognition you will get at working at Rocket, CrossCountry, or any major banks. Healthcare benefits are not great when compared to other similar companies.