SALEM- Tasha Brandon is a local Salemite who is now the co-owner of Mortgage Marketplace in south Salem.
Brandon recently opened the doors with business partner Mike Gillett after working in the industry for a few years.
The two worked at two different companies together before realizing there was a gap in lending in the community.
“We saw that we needed the best products and rates for our customers,” Brandon said. “There was a gap: creating the best rates possible, saving them money, and we wanted to create the best solutions.”
Brandon moved away from Salem, living in Florida, New York, Colorado, and Hawaii for several years before making the move back to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to family.
Shortly after moving back to Salem in 2015, she began working in the industry, working on loans, and building her pipeline.
“The need for a loan can vary depending on the type of person, as we target primary residents, people looking to buy their first home, or homes they’re moving up to,” Brandon said. “Then there are investors, those investing in rentals or second homes, and finally, we have those looking to refinance.”
Mortgage Marketplace has taken off thanks to its rapid growth and the development of a client list to facilitate lending.
“The biggest benefit we’ve seen so far is that we have complete control over who we want to work with and who we can trust to offer our clients the best possible solutions, deals, and rates,” Brandon said.
With a potential recession coming, more folks will be looking to refinance and/or sell their homes so the opportunity to help them was what helped steer the move to creating their own business.
“I think it’s an excellent time for us, as we’re very likely to see a recession, and whenever there’s one, there will be a need for those who need to refinance or work to sell their home and buy another,” Brandon said. “There’s a need for lenders these days.”
There aren’t many real estate agents in the Salem area, so Brandon and Gillett want to take advantage of the need to grow.
“We can be a base in our community,” Brandon said. “We’ve established excellent relationships with all types of banks. We want to save clients and buyers on closing costs and maintain competitive rates.”
While the business continues to grow, Brandon is happy to be back in her hometown, reconnecting with old classmates and the people she grew up with. She’s excited about the city’s future and the growth that occurred while she was away.
“Just seeing Salem’s growth is incredible,” Brandon said. “It’s no longer just a government town; it now has a variety of industries to offer.”
You can find Mortgage Marketplace at 3723 Fairview Industrial Drive, Suite 190, Salem.