Bay Equity Home Loans has announced that Bankers Preferred Real Estate Loans has joined its team of retail branches. Burlingame, Calif.-based Bankers Preferred has funded more than $1 billion in home loans.

“As the financing industry was changing it became apparent, particularly with regard to financial regulation bills, that it was important for us to go out and explore our options in the marketplace. It became clear that the best option was for us to move to a banking relationship,” said John Finnegan, founder of Bankers Preferred Real Estate Loans. “So we searched and talked to and engaged several bankers. It became obvious that the Bay Equity leadership team, with their passion, creativity and innovative desire to succeed, win, and serve borrowers and customers was clearly the best option for us.”

The company was started in 1993 by Finnegan and is affiliated with three large Better Homes and Gardens real estate offices. It will continue to operate under the d/b/a Bankers Preferred as a branch of Bay Equity.

“John Finnegan has built an extremely successful high volume brokerage,” said Brett McGovern, president of Bay Equity Home Loans. “Bankers Preferred is well -stablished and one of the most respected mortgage brokerages on the peninsula. Add to that the fact that John’s partnership also has three real estate offices and you have all the ingredients for a great business success. We’re excited to have John, industry-leading branch manager Arton Chau, and their team become part of our family.”