A home is probably the single largest investment most people make in their entire lives.
Hometowne Lending takes that very seriously.
‘My husband and I refinanced our home with Hometowne Lending early last year and it was a great experience,? said client JanChaney, of Bloomfield.’The one or two times I called, Hometowne Lending’s staff knew not only who I was, but was able to answer my questions politely and without hesitation. And there were no surprises at closing. Brilliant customer service is the buzz word for all companies but very few companies deliver it ? Hometowne did.?
Would you rather borrow the money to build your dream home or buy your first home from some faceless, impersonal financial institution or a local company run by local people who are a part of your community?
Most people would choose the latter and many people in the Oxford area have already done so by going to see Frank and Cathy Hale, owners of Hometowne Lending LLC in Oxford and residents of Lake Orion.
Over the past few years, Frank and Cathy said they secured a few lenders/investors to specifically help people with no or little money and poor credit realize the American dream of home ownership.
‘Cathy and Frank are a joy to work with and have truly been a blessing in helping my family to have our dream home and enjoy it too,? said client Catherine Spevetz, a Lake Orion resident and manager for Siemens VDO. ‘Hometowne Lending is my hometown lender.?
‘That’s what’s fun about this business ? every customer you deal with you’re hopeful you’re doing something positive for them,? Frank said.
Armed with a staff of nine loan officers and two loan processors with a combined 75 years worth of experience, Hometowne Lending serves individuals looking to purchase or refinance a home, consolidate debt, finance new home construction, obtain a bridge loan, purchase vacant land on which to build a home, obtain an interest-only loan or secure a home equity loan.
‘When I met Cathy and told her what my (mortgage) rate was, she couldn’t believe it. She said she could give me a quote if I wanted, but applied no pressure. Hometowne Lending was able to reduce my payment by over 30 percent,? Spevetz said. ‘Not only did I save significantly, but Cathy and Frank made it easy for me to do the paperwork by arranging a lunch appointment with me at my office to go over all the paperwork prior to closing.?
Hometowne also does government lending, such as Federal Housing Administration loans, and is endorsed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Every Hometowne loan is specifically tailored to the individual or family’s needs, not taken from a ‘cookie-cutter? mold.
‘Cathy has obtained several loans for me ? new construction, purchase and refinance, all of which were treated like they were a priority,? said client Karen L. Watts, of Oakwood, Georgia. ‘I have had many friends go to Cathy and they all feel the same way. Cathy and her team are extremely knowledgeable, honest, helpful, prompt and very friendly individuals. They have the highest level of integrity and will leave no stone unturned to find you the best rates. I moved to Georgia and I still use Hometowne Lending for my loans.?
‘With our experience and background, we can solve almost any problem a person might have,? said Frank. Prior to establishing Hometowne Lending, the Hales spent a combined 30 years in the mortgage business.
The Hales pride themselves on their honesty, integrity and fairness when it comes to dealing with their clients.
‘Frank Hale was very knowledgeable and always willing to answer my questions,? said Jennifer Dohm, of Goodrich. ‘He was quick to return phone calls and very courteous. Frank and his staff went out of their way to make sure my needs were met. I give Hometowne Lending a perfect 10 for their service.?
‘What you see is what you get (with us),? Frank said. ‘We put the customers? best interests first.?
‘There are no surprises at closing,? Cathy said. ‘We stand behind our word.?
For the Hales, the mortgage business is more than just number-crunching and closing deals, it’s about being committed to their community and their neighbors.
‘We’re looking to be a strong employer in the community and trainer for those interested in joining the finance world,? said Cathy, noting the majority of their staff lives in Oxford, Lake Orion and Leonard.
‘You get a lot of clients who want to deal with local people. That’s the appeal of small town like this,? Frank said.
Hometowne Lending is located at 104 S. Washington St. in the heart of Oxford. For more information call (248) 969-9000.

A home is probably the single largest investment most people make in their entire lives. Hometowne Lending takes that very seriously.
The Mortgage Broker protects the BORROWER.
It does not cost more to use the services of a Mortgage Broker. Mortgage Brokers provide an extremely important service in the field of finance, including the loan origination, working face to face with the borrower, pre-qualifying the loan, verifying the credit and property aspects of the loan and making sure that you, the borrower, are protected in all areas of the loan.
‘As your Mortgage Broker we understand the needs and desires of the community we live in,? said Cathy Hale. ‘For us, nothing is more important then making sure you get the best loan in today’s fast changing market.? Hometowne Lending is committed to customer satisfaction. We know that for us, one of the most important considerations with any loan is simply to stay in constant touch with the borrower. We also know the importance of getting the job done in a timely manner.
We at Hometowne Lending pride ourselves in the number of referrals sent to us by satisfied borrowers and we are committed to earning the respect and confidence of every single client.
As members of the Association of Mortgage Brokers/Bankers, we have demonstrated our firm commitment to remaining an informed professional in the rapidly changing world of real estate finance, Cathy said.
The unique dedication, which always includes strict adherence to a precise Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice, results in the customer being represented by the most trustworthy Mortgage Lenders in the industry.
Lenders and investors from all over the country send us daily quotes on their particular loan program. However, many loan programs may not fit the particular needs of the borrower. That’s why working closely with you, we are able to seek out the lending program that truly fits your needs, and not the lender’s.
‘As your Mortgage Broker We represent you the borrower not the Loan program!?
Since real estate tends to represent the single largest investment most of us will ever make, it is vital to secure the best financing available. Every borrower has different needs, every property is unique, and every lender has their own rules and programs, according to Cathy.
The difficulty for most people in shopping for their own loan is that they don’t know all the right questions to ask. Adding to that difficulty is the fact that most lenders only have two or three programs to offer, so their job is to sell you what they have rather than find the program that fulfills your needs.
We, at Hometowne Lending on the other hand, can tailor the package that fits your needs, based upon many factors, such as your current income, your expectation of future earnings, and how long you plan to own the property. Since we broker and work through many different lenders, we have access to every sort of program.
All of us at Hometowne Lending will take the time to explain all your options and assist you in making a fully informed choice, Cathy explained. And since our fee is paid from the Lender on the loan amount, not the loan program, we are not motivated to sell you a loan that you don’t want. We do not work for the Lender; we work for you our customer!
For Cathy and her husband and partner, Frank, it’s about being committed to their community and their neighbors.
‘We’re looking to be a strong employer in the community and trainer for those interested in joining the world of finance,? said Cathy, noting the majority of their staff lives in Oxford, Lake Orion and surrounding areas.
Hometowne Lending is located at 104 S. Washington Street in the heart of Oxford. For more information or to schedule a confidential appointment please call (248) 969-9000.