Portland, Oregon (January 31, 2018) – Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty announces a new partnership with Academy Mortgage to provide lending services to brokerage clientele. Academy is Oregon’s fastest growing mortgage company according to 2017 CoreLogic Data. Academy lenders will have a presence in all Cascade Sotheby’s offices in Oregon and SW Washington to better serve homebuyers with leading mortgage options.
“Academy Mortgage’s presence in the Pacific Northwest and reputation for A+ service and products align perfectly with the Cascade Sotheby’s brand,” says Michael Kosmin, chief operation officer, Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty. “Academy is one of the top independently owned purchase lenders in the U.S.-they close home loans quickly and efficiently while making our clients feel comfortable every step of the way. Their affiliation with Cascade Sotheby’s will be a huge asset to our clients.”
According to Academy Mortgage, unlike banks and mortgage lenders that consolidate operations and service offsite, Academy has the distinct advantage of being a direct lender, which means all loan processing, underwriting, closings, and funding are handled at local branch offices. Branch offices – and now lending representatives at Cascade Sotheby’s offices – have the tools and resources in-house to expedite these processes, resulting in a proven track record of closing loans as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“We are honored and privileged to partner with this great company and these amazing industry leaders – the partnership provides a unique synergy as both companies have experienced a tremendous amount of growth and momentum in the Oregon and SW Washington market,” says Patrick Welberg, Pacific Northwest Regional Manager of Academy Mortgage. “Cascade Sotheby’s also shares our commitment to giving back to the local communities in which we do business-we are looking forward to partnering with this excellent brokerage on community services initiatives as well.”
Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty franchise owner and CEO, Deb Tebbs, was the first on the West Coast to secure a Sotheby’s International Realty franchise to launch in Central Oregon in 2006. In 2015, she was awarded the franchise for Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty brokerages in Portland, Lake Oswego, SW Washington and the Oregon Coast. Portland is the last metro market in the nation for a Sotheby’s International Realty real estate presence.
Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty, which exceeded $1.3 billion in closed sales in 2017, continues its innovative approach to uniting extraordinary lives with extraordinary homes building on these statistics:
- $30 million in company revenue in 2017
- 325% sales growth from 2015 to 2017
- More than two times the market share in Central Oregon than closest competitor
- More than 250 brokers across Oregon and SW Washington
- More than 80 new brokers signed in 2017 alone
- Average price point for Cascade Sotheby’s agents is 33% higher than other agents in Portland and SW Washington
- 11 offices in Oregon and SW Washington
About Academy Mortgage
Academy Mortgage is one of the top independent purchase lenders in the country as ranked in the 2016 CoreLogic Marketrac Report. It is the company’s mission to become 1st CHOICE in delivering the dream of sustainable homeownership by inspiring hope and building prosperity in the lives of its employees, homebuilders, real estate agents, and in the communities that it serves. Academy is headquartered in Draper, Utah; has more than 330 branches and 3,200 employees across the country; and is licensed to originate loans in 49 states and Washington D.C.
About Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty
Harnessing the worldwide recognition and prestige of the Sotheby’s name, Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty expertly represents the most distinctive properties at every price range. The firm’s 11 strategic locations throughout Oregon and southern Washington form the most expansive luxury real estate network in the Pacific Northwest. Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty brokers are masters of their craft, combining local expertise and global connections to artfully unite extraordinary places with extraordinary lives. The firm achieved a billion dollars in sales in the first 11 months of 2016, joining only 25 Sotheby’s International Realty affiliates in the world with this distinction. Exceptional service, continual innovation, and unrivaled market knowledge continue to set Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty apart as an industry leader.
