Building a national home-lending firm doesn’t happen overnight, but David Hall and his 20-person team at Hall Financial Group in Bloomfield Hills are working hard to grow their business. Launched in March, the company is on pace to close $80 million in mortgages this year.
The firm recently received a license to provide residential mortgages in Florida, where it plans to open two offices. It’s actively working with clients in Michigan, Virginia, Texas, Tennessee and, soon, California. The company is also eyeing an expansion of its offices near Woodward Avenue and Long Lake Road.
“Getting a mortgage today is more of an automated process but, at the same time, it’s personal,” says Hall, president and CEO of Hall Financial Group. “We make the mortgage process for our clients more Disney-like and less like getting a root canal.
“If we close 100 loans a month, and all of those clients refer us to someone else, we will be wildly successful. Our goal is to close $25 million in mortgages a month, and we’re on that pace. Over the years, (members of) our team have built up contacts within the mortgage industry, so we bring that depth of experience to the table.”
Hall says most new clients come from
referrals by real estate agents, while other people are seeking a mortgage outside of the traditional banking industry. The company provides
a range of mortgage options including conventional loans, and lending programs for veterans and farmers as well as people looking to purchase a condominium or a manufactured home.
In addition to being a lender, Hall Financial Group can broker loans, which provides potential homeowners with added flexibility in qualifying for a mortgage.
“Ninety percent of our clients are people with excellent credit history, and for those who have lower credit scores, we have programs for them,” Hall says. “We also can do reverse mortgages and provide loans for renovation and
expansion projects.”
Once the face of Rock Financial, the precursor to Quicken Loans Inc. in downtown Detroit, Hall was the host of “The Real Estate Insiders,” which was syndicated nationally from WJR-AM News Talk 760 in Detroit. He left the mortgage giant in 2007 following 11 years as a senior vice president and chief marketing officer. He also worked for three years as chief innovation officer at United Shore in Troy.
“At some point, interest rates will go up — and when that happens, we feel we’re well-positioned to succeed because we put so much into providing great personal service,” Hall says. “That’s a win-win formula for success.”
