Mortgage industry gears up to help victims of Hurricane Katrina

Countrywide opens up in Jericho, N.Y.MortgagePress.comCountrywide On Nov. 21, Countrywide executives, employees and local mortgage brokers celebrated the grand opening of its non-prime fulfillment center in Jericho, N.Y. The grand opening featured a ribbon cutting ceremony, an open house and a luncheon that allowed mortgage brokers and wholesale originators to meet the Countrywide staff. The open house was for those interested in learning about the fulfillment center and its ability to match flexible loan programs to borrowers, providing services to brokers and assisting mortgage originators to best meet the needs of their customers. Among the initiatives currently underway to enhance Countrywide's relationships with brokers is its expansion of the number of specialists available to assist originators, as well as new online tools built specifically for the specialty lending group--the company's business unit dedicated to non-prime wholesale lending. The non-prime market goes beyond customers who have experienced temporary setbacks and can include customers who are self-employed or business owners. The new Jericho facility, located on the third floor at 2 Jericho Plaza, is expected to hold a staff of 188 once it's up to full capacity.