Chris Hutchens Returns to Rate as Producing Area Manager/SVP of Mortgage Lending
CHICAGO (April 22, 2024) – Rate, the second largest retail mortgage lender in the country, welcomes the return of Wilmington, North Carolina's Chris Hutchens who rejoins in an expanded role of Producing Area Manager and SVP of Mortgage Lending. In addition to managing a top-ranked book of business, Hutchens will provide management and mentorship to other loan officers at Rate including Wilmington, a new location in the Pinehurst office, and surrounding areas.
"It's cliché but sometimes you don't know what you have until it's gone," said Hutchens. "I've returned to what I believe to be the best mortgage platform in the business. I enjoyed nearly a decade with this team before, so my trusted referral partners are thrilled to see me return. Everything at Rate is geared towards delivering a world-class client experience; the website and app are easy to navigate and built to drive business our way. Rate loan officers have the pricing, tech, and tools to truly deliver results in North Carolina's fast-paced and competitive real estate market. I couldn't be more excited to be back and hope to finish my career here!"
Hutchens is a proud graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington's Cameron School of Business. Since 1997, he has been one of the leading loan originators in the region, with more than $2 billion in originated loan volume to his name. Chris has been recognized as NC's #1 Mortgage Lender many times and ranks consistently among the top financing professionals in the nation.
"Chris Hutchens' return to the Rate team is a significant boost, especially given his expertise in mortgage originations and strong reputation in the Carolinas," said Jeff Nelson, Southeast Divisional Manager for Rate. "Chris's track record of success and consistency as an originator in North Carolina, coupled with his previous leadership roles in Wilmington, sets the stage for his branch's continued growth and success."
Hutchens and his team are well-trained and equipped to provide customers with mortgage approvals in 24 hours or less (Same Day Mortgage), innovative start to finish mortgage approvals and loans in English or Spanish (the Language Access Program), a unique way for real estate agents and sellers to lock down a desirable rate as an added incentive to offer prospective homebuyers (RateReduce Sell), and a new strategy for qualifying first time homebuyers to overcome the daunting hurdle of down payments (OneDown). These tools are just the latest of countless innovations Rate has brought to market in the past decade.
About Rate
Rate Companies is a leader in mortgage lending and digital financial services. Headquartered in Chicago, the Rate Companies is the #2 retail mortgage lender in the U.S. with over 850 branches across the U.S. serving all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Since its launch in 2000, Rate Companies have helped more than 2 million homeowners with home purchase loans and refinances. The company has cemented itself as an industry leader by introducing innovative technology, offering low rates and delivering unparalleled customer service. Honors and awards include: Best Mortgage Lender for First Time Homebuyers by NerdWallet for 2023; HousingWire's Tech100 award for the company's industry-leading FlashClose℠ in 2020, digital mortgage platform MyAccount in 2022, and Language Access Program in 2023; No. 2 ranking in Scotsman Guide's 2022 list of Top Retail Mortgage Lenders; The most Scotsman Guide Top Originators for 11 consecutive years; Chicago Agent Magazine's Lender of the Year for seven consecutive years; and Chicago Tribune's Top Workplaces list for seven consecutive years. Visit rate.com for more information.