Waterstone Mortgage Names New Area Manager For Jacksonville

Waterstone Mortgage Corporation is opening a new branch in Jacksonville, led by industry veteran Steve Strother.

Strother has more than 30 years of experience in the mortgage lending and financial services industries and will serve as Waterstone Mortgage’s area manager for the greater Jacksonville market. Throughout his career, Strother worked in a variety of sales and leadership roles for companies such as Southland Mortgage of Jacksonville, Lehman Brothers, and VyStar Credit Union.

"With his impressive experience in the mortgage industry and his extensive knowledge of the Jacksonville real estate market, Steve will make an excellent addition to our Florida leadership team," said Dustin Owen, Waterstone Mortgage regional vice president – SE.

"I look forward to the opportunity to mirror the growth and success of the company’s other Florida markets here in Jacksonville. With its beautiful beaches, rich history, and arts and entertainment scene, this area is the perfect spot for homebuyers," said Strother.

With the addition of Strother, Waterstone Mortgage is currently looking to acquire an office space, which will serve as the first of three anticipated Jacksonville area offices. The company will also hire for a variety of Jacksonville-based positions, including loan originators, mortgage processors, and sales assistants.

Waterstone Mortgage opened its first Florida branch in Winter Park in 2008 and has since expanded to additional markets across the state, including Ft. Walton Beach, Port Orange, Orlando, Jupiter, and Ft. Myers. In 2020, Waterstone Mortgage’s flagship Florida branch, which serves homebuyers and homeowners in the greater Orlando area, funded more than $800 million in residential real estate loans. Overall, Waterstone Mortgage funded just shy of $1 billion in mortgages in Florida in 2020.