Author: Megan Chastain

Why First Community Mortgage Created the Andrew C. Rambo Scholarship

May 22, 2017

Why First Community Mortgage Created the Andrew C. Rambo Scholarship
Exploring the Adventures of Andy Rambo and His Impact on FCM.

No, he wasn’t the meaning behind Sylvester Stallone’s character in the movie Rambo, but he did play a big part, if not the biggest part, in supporting First Community Mortgage when we were just starting to think about becoming a mortgage company. His leadership helped us become a top lender in the Greater Nashville/Middle Tennessee area. And, he is now the namesake for a major scholarship at MTSU – more about that in a moment.

Here’s just a glimpse of the notable mentions for which Andrew C. Rambo is known:

Andy was a Shelbyville, TN native, who became the Chairman of the Board at First Community Bank, and a member of the board of directors at First Community Mortgage. His pathway lead him from Shelbyville to Memphis where he graduated from both Memphis State University and Memphis State Law School. He later received his MBA from Belmont University. Andy then practiced law for 42 years in his hometown of Shelbyville, where he also had the joy of being the Shelbyville Mayor from 1979 to 1983.  Andy was also City Attorney from 1983-1989 –  and shortly after became involved in what we now know as First Community Bank, and First Community Mortgage.

Along the way, Andy demonstrated that he knew how to have fun – and he cared about people. He was truly one-of-a kind. He enjoyed many types of adventure like traveling, hiking, and diving. He was even an Eagle Scout. FCM’s CEO, Keith Canter, was especially close to him. Andy supported Keith from the beginning of FCM, to the time he took his adventure home. Andy passed away in April of 2016 while doing what he loves – traveling.

This past year FCM started a non-profit organization called FCM Cares. That initiative was inspired, in part, by the leadership that Andy Rambo provided. As a result, FCM is able to help our local communities by giving back. It is stated well in FCM’s mission statement, “First Community Mortgage will be The Lender of Choice and Employer of Choice in every community we serve.” We want to serve people. We strive in helping families find their forever homes. We are simply humans helping humans, something we know Andy would be proud of because that is how he lived.

In the words of our very dedicated CEO, “We’ve been very blessed with the growth and success of FCM, but if there was one thing I noticed when coming under the First Community Bank umbrella, it was always about giving back to the community. Anything the community needed, the bank was always involved – and Andy was always supportive.”

Keith not only noticed Andy’s commitment, he picked up on it to the point that it is now one one of FCM’s key components as a company: “Always try to give back to the community and always try to support the community that supports us.” All of this ended up turning into FCM Cares.

Andy was passionate about education and proud of the MBA he received. Sometimes he would go off on one of his three week vacations to a place you’ve never heard of and come back with a book. He’d throw it on your desk and say, “Read that book and tell me what you think.” Andy was always learning and educating others, even using his vacations (adventures) as a learning experience. So what better way to honor him than to start a scholarship in memory of him?

The Andrew C. Rambo Memorial Scholarship is awarded to an MTSU MBA student in the accelerated cohort program of the Flex MBA. The scholarship is for a 12-month period, during which the recipient is expected to finish their MBA program. The fortunate recipient must be a Tennessee resident, have an undergraduate degree from MTSU, and be admitted into the MBA program.

Recently FCM leaders had the honor of presenting the inaugural Andrew C. Rambo Memorial Scholarship to MTSU student, Michelle Rathbun of Christiana, Tennessee. Michelle, a marketing major, will be graduating in August with a 4.0 GPA and a Bachelor’s Degree! She decided to take the next step in her educational career and complete her master’s degree.

FCM leaders were also in attendance at the MTSU Annual E.W. “Wink” Midgett Awards Reception, where Michelle was awarded with the scholarship. David Urban, Dean of MTSU’s Jennings A. Jones College of Business, was there for the presentation.

Soon after that event, FCM held its own reception in honor of Andy and Michelle. Andy’s friends and family were able to share in this celebration of his life and legacy. FCM leaders were able to honor and affirm Michelle as a worthy recipient of this fitting remembrance of Andy. We are grateful for the opportunity to do this, and appreciative of our employees who feel just as strongly about helping our local communities thrive and succeed.

We feel certain that Michelle felt the love in the room that night because if we know one thing about Andy Rambo, it’s that he surrounded his family and friends with a lot of love. It was an honor to have known him and we are incredibly thankful his legacy remains a huge part of FCM. We also couldn’t be happier that the company First Community Mortgage has become, is one that can give back by doing something like this.  We are humans helping humans, and grateful to have the opportunity.

If you would like to know more about how to support FCM Cares and/or the Andy Rambo Memorial Scholarship Fund, please contact FCM Cares at fcmcaresadmin@fcmpartners.com.

FIRST COMMUNITY MORTGAGE SE ASOCIA CON GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE ANUNCIANDO ESTA ALIANZA PARA PROMOVER MAS OPORTUNIDADES DE VIVIENDA PROPIA PARA LA COMUNIDAD.

May 15, 2017

MURFREESBORO, TN, (MAYO 12, 2017) – First Community Mortgage y Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee han iniciado un convenio de colaboración para ayudar a potenciales compradores de casa en Centro Tennessee a entender e iniciar el proceso de compra de vivienda de acuerdo con un comunicado conjunto hecho por el Sr. Matthew Bourlakas, Presidente de Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee and Keith Canter, CEO de FCM.

“Estas 2 organizaciones comparten el objetivo de ayudar a mejorar las vidas de las comunidades de Centro Tennessee. Tengo confianza que al unir fuerzas para educar y preparar a las familias para el proceso de compra de vivienda va a ser benéfico para nuestra región,”  mencionó Bourlakas.

“Esta alianza con Goodwill es muy importante para nosotros. Trabajar con los líderes y ejecutivos para lograrlo ha sido un placer,” mencionó Andy Voyles, Vice Presidente Ejecutivo y Director de Préstamos de First Community Mortgage. “Tener casa propia es algo que está al alcance de muchas personas que pudieran sentirse inseguros ya que perciben que el proceso es muy complicado. El equipo del programa Multicultural de préstamos de FCM está dedicado por completo a esta sociedad. Su propósito específico es proporcionar atención, información y recursos educacionales para los mercados bilingües que no saben que tienen la oportunidad de comprar una vivienda.”

FCM Lanzó su programa Multicultural de préstamos para vivienda en 2016 para expandir sus servicios a las áreas de Centro Tennessee que no cuentan con la atención y servicios adecuados. El equipo Multicultural se enfoca en programas de apoyo a la comunidad, impartiendo clases para informar y preparar a potenciales compradores de casa de mercados bilingües y origen diverso. Iglesias locales, escuelas del área metropolitana y centros comunitarios han permitido el uso de sus instalaciones con este fin, lo cual ha ayudado en gran manera a las iniciativas del equipo Multicultural de préstamos. Muchos de los potenciales solicitantes de crédito podrían estar listos para comprar una casa, pero necesitan la información adecuada sobre qué hacer y cómo hacerlo.

El convenio de colaboración incluirá las siguientes iniciativas para ayudar a las comunidades locales de Centro Tennessee:

  • Goodwill Industries y FCM organizarán, promoverán e impartirán clases gratis de preparación para la compra de vivienda en los 29 Centros de Empleo Career Solutions en Centro Tennessee, dirigidos a los 2,200 empleados y clientes de todos los puntos de venta y operaciones de Goodwill.
  • Servicio de orientación personalizada del proceso de compra de vivienda para los empleados de Goodwill interesados en conocer su elegibilidad para un préstamo de vivienda.
  • FCM proveerá a Goodwill con un equipo de Oficiales de Prestamos profesionales para responder cualquier pregunta de sus empleados sobre como refinanciar y comprar casa, así como guiarlos durante el proceso de solicitud del préstamo hipotecario.
  • Todas las clases y asesorías brindadas por esta iniciativa de colaboración se ofrecerán en Inglés y Español.

En el establecimiento de esta alianza. “Juntar a dos grandes organizaciones con el propósito de ayudar a otros es algo muy importante. Es algo que me emociona de manera personal y demuestra lo dedicados que están FCM y Goodwill en apoyar a las personas a entender el proceso de compra de casa, el cual puede ser muy confuso, especialmente para los compradores primerizos.”

“Este convenio de colaboración es una excelente expresión del concepto Human Mortgage o Hipoteca Personal lanzado recientemente por First Community Mortgage,” comentó Canter, “Goodwill es una compañía excepcional con grandes valores que siempre está dispuesta a brindar ayuda a quienes lo necesiten. Es por nuestro gran interés ayudar a las personas con nuestro enfoque humano y personal, que esta asociación con Goodwill nos entusiasma y enorgullece.”

Acerca de First Community Mortgage

Fundada en 2002, First Community Mortgage es una filial de First Community Bank (TN) con centros de operaciones en Murfreesboro, Louisville, Columbus, y Kansas City. First Community Mortgage es una financiera acreditada por FNMA, FHLMC, y GNMA, ofreciendo soluciones hipotecarias a consumidores e instituciones financieras. Con un volumen de $2.1 Billones en 2016, First Commnunity Mortgage has sido clasificada como la compañía financiera #1 para viviendas nuevas durante los últimos 5 años de acuerdo a lo publicado por Metrostudy y #6 en 2014 en el libro de listas del Nashville Business Journal.

Para más información sobre First Community Mortgage y sus servicios visite www.humanmortgage.com. Para información en nuestro programa de clases, llame a Miguel Vega al 615 624-5216 o a Ken Hampton al 615-299-6913. Para registrarse para nuestras clases para compradores de vivienda, visite nuestra sección en http://human.firstcommunitymortgage.com/es/clase-para-compradores-de-casa/

Acerca de Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc.

Por casi 60 años Goodwill Industries de Middle Tennessee ha proporcionado servicios de entrenamiento laboral y de búsqueda de empleo gratis para persona con discapacidades u otras barreras para encontrar empleo, esto se fondea a través de la venta de artículos de donación. En 2016, Goodwill atendió a más de 44,000 personas en las Regiónes Centro y Oeste de Tennessee y ayudo a conseguir empleo a más de 18,000 personas. Para más información sobre los centros de apoyo laboral Goodwill Carreer Solutions, tiendas departamentales y centros de donaciones visite www.giveit2goodwill.org o llame al 1-800-545-9231.

FIRST COMMUNITY MORTGAGE AND GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP TO PROMOTE HOMEOWNERSHIP

May 15, 2017

MURFREESBORO, TN, (May 12, 2017) — First Community Mortgage (FCM) and Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee have initiated a partnership to help potential homebuyers in
Middle Tennessee better understand and engage the home buying process, according to an announcement made jointly by Matthew Bourlakas, President of Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee and Keith Canter, CEO of FCM.

“These two organizations have a common goal of helping improve the lives of people living in Middle Tennessee communities. I’m confident that joining forces to educate and prepare families for the home buying process will be beneficial for our region,” said Bourlakas.

“This partnership with Goodwill is very significant. Working with their executive leadership to make this happen has been a joy,” said Andy Voyles, Executive VP and Director of Lending for First Community Mortgage. “Homeownership is accessible to many people who may be hesitant due to the perceived complication of the process. FCM’s Multi-Cultural Lending Initiative Team (MCLI) is fully engaged in this partnership. Their specific purpose is to provide outreach and education for underserved and bilingual markets that may not realize they can purchase a home.”

FCM launched its Multi-Cultural Lending Initiative (MCLI) in 2016 to expand its lending reach to underserved areas in Middle Tennessee. The MCLI team is focused on community outreach while leading homebuyer educational sessions for predominately minority based and bilingual markets. Local churches and metro school facilities have extended use of their locations, which has greatly helped the MCLI team’s initiatives. Many of these prospective applicants may be able to buy a home, but need a better understanding of what to do, and how to do it.

The partnership will include the following initiatives to help the local communities in Middle Tennessee:

  • Goodwill Industries and FCM will organize, promote, and hold free homebuyer preparation classes at Career Solution Centers in Middle Tennessee, directed toward the 2,000+ employees and customers of all Goodwill Middle Tennessee retail locations.
  • Personalized orientation on the home buying process will be provided to all Goodwill employees interested in learning about pre-eligibility for a home loan.
  • FCM will provide Goodwill Industries a dedicated team of professional Loan Originators to answer any questions the employees have about home buying, refinancing, and the application process.
  • All classes and counseling provided through this initiative will be provided in both Spanish and English.

Miguel Vega, VP of Multicultural Lending at First Community Mortgage, has been a major part of establishing and growing this partnership. “Bringing together two great companies for the purpose of helping others is powerful. It is something I am personally excited about. It shows how dedicated FCM and Goodwill Industries are to helping people understand the process of buying a home, which can be very confusing, especially for first-time homebuyers.”

“This partnership is an excellent expression of First Community Mortgage’s recently introduced ‘Human Mortgage’ branding,” Canter said, “Goodwill is a one-of-a-kind company with a great foundation that is always willing to help those in need. Because of our intense desire to truly help people with our human approach, partnering with Goodwill is something we are thrilled – and honored – to be able to do.”

About First Community Mortgage

Founded in 2002, First Community Mortgage is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Community Bank (TN) with operations centers in Murfreesboro, Louisville, Columbus, and Kansas City. First Community Mortgage is a FNMA, FHLMC, and GNMA seller/servicer and offers mortgage solutions to consumers and financial institutions. With mortgage volume of $2.1 billion in 2016, First Community Mortgage was ranked the #1 lender for new construction homes for the past five years as published by Metrostudy and #6 for 2014 in the Nashville Business Journal’s Book of Lists.

For more information about First Community Mortgage and its services go to www.humanmortgage.com. For information on our class schedule, call Ken Hampton at 615-299-6913. For Spanish language assistance call Miguel Vega at 626-590-4185. To register for any of our available homebuyer classes, go online to First-Time Homebuyer Class Registration.

About Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc.

For nearly 60 years Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee has provided job training and job placement free of charge to people with disabilities or other barriers to employment through the sale of donated items. In 2016, Goodwill served more than 44,000 people in Middle and West Tennessee and placed more than 18,000 people in jobs. More information about Goodwill’s Career Solutions, retail stores, and donation centers can be obtained online at www.giveit2goodwill.org or by calling 1-800-545-9231.

Earth Day Every Day

April 21, 2017

Did you know the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970? Almost 50 years later, have you thought about how we embrace this day in 2017?

In our fast-paced, ever-changing lives, sometimes we forget to slow down and appreciate the natural beauty around us. Maybe you live in a relatively suburban neighborhood where it seems “natural beauty” is limited. So how can you take a step back this Earth Day, April 22, and reconnect with the beauty around you?

Planting

Spring is here and it’s the perfect time to reconnect and rejuvenate your garden. Don’t have a garden? Hopefully, you have a nice neighbor who wouldn’t mind letting you stop and smell the roses! Take a walk and see if there are any community gardens where you can lend a hand this spring.

Feeling super green? Take the time this earth day to plant one thing for your family. Here’s a guide to get you started on your first flower, herb, vegetable, or fruit garden. If you’re looking for a bigger project, consider starting a community garden. We found some great tips on how to get one started here.

Visit the Park

It’s a perfect Spring day for a picnic in the park. Grab a book, a friend, or a family member along with a blanket and some snacks. Leave your phone at home or on silent so you can embrace this moment with friends and nature.

Find a playground and test out the swings, take a ball or frisbee to throw, or even spend time looking at nature.

If there are any trails around your neighborhood, set aside some time to go on a hike or ride a bike.

Additional Ideas for Earth Day

Here are some other ideas you can easily implement this Earth Day:

• Reusable water bottles instead of plastic ones.
• Schedule a home energy audit.
• See if your doors and windows are properly sealed and your appliances are only plugged in when necessary to conserve energy. (This helps the environment AND your wallet!)
• Use energy-efficient light bulbs.
• Bring some plants into your home. They’ll help purify the air in your home and increase your productivity, along with brightening the room and bringing a sense of natural beauty and joy.
• Whether you’re going to work or running errands, consider walking, biking, or carpooling if possible.

Find out about more great ways to save energy here from Energy.gov.

More Earth Day FUN

Check out this cool looking cookie recipe to share some Earth Day happiness! These are “outta this world”!

You can also visit EPA for more activities, resources, and ideas to help make #EarthDayEveryDay.

Let’s all go out and turn up the love for our beautiful Earth!

FIRST COMMUNITY MORTGAGE HIRES SVP OF STRATEGY AND CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

February 23, 2017

Murfreesboro, TN, (February 23, 2017) – Murfreesboro-based First Community Mortgage (FCM) recently announced the appointment of Christy Long Hoskins as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Chief Marketing Officer. In the newly created role, Hoskins will contribute to the development of FCM’s overall strategic vision and lead all marketing, branding, and advertising activities, with a focus on the customer experience-based Human Mortgage brand.  She will report to Executive Vice President and Director of Lending Andy Voyles.

“First Community Mortgage is a company committed to people, and Christy has the ability to engage people in a meaningful way at every level, from personal communication to brand building, while finding unique ways to help them develop and grow,” said Voyles.  “That, along with her keen understanding of the mortgage process, makes her the perfect person to help us take FCM, and the Human Mortgage brand, to the next level.”

As the current Middle Tennessee Director for the Tennessee Mortgage Bankers Association and former President of the Nashville Mortgage Bankers Association, Hoskins’ track record of success stems from a focus on building strong industry and partner relationships, while also creating rewarding and valuable customer experiences.  Her commitment to servant leadership resulted in Hoskins being named the Greater Nashville Realtors’ Inaugural Affiliate of the Year in 2016, and the recipient of the Tennessee Mortgage Bankers Association Community Development award in 2015.

“Because she is both a trusted industry leader and someone who puts others first, Christy is a vital addition to our team at a time when other companies are depersonalizing and automating the mortgage process, causing frustration to homebuyers,” added CEO Keith Canter. “While her strategic vision and innovative creativity uniquely suit her to lead critical parts of our business, her tireless dedication to the service of others in the industry and the community is why she is a perfect fit for our culture.”

“Joining a company built on a foundation of integrity, and genuinely dedicated to helping people, is both exciting and humbling. In a short time, I’ve seen that Human Mortgage is so much more than a name; it is the vision of equal opportunity,” said Hoskins.  “It’s about providing the right resources to people who dream of owning a home, and making sure they understand the entire process.  I’m looking forward to helping expand the reach and impact of Human Mortgage, while finding additional innovative ways to make our customers’ experiences truly enjoyable.”

About First Community Mortgage

Founded in 2002, First Community Mortgage is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Community Bank (TN). Headquartered in Murfreesboro, TN, FCM has retail offices and production centers throughout the eastern half of the US.  In 2016, First Community Mortgage funded $2.1 billion in mortgage loan volume through it’s retail, wholesale, and correspondent production channels.

For more information about First Community Mortgage and its services go to www.humanmortgage.com.

Market On a Move

February 22, 2017

The housing market can be tricky to navigate. Luckily, we are here to break it down for you. What is in store for homebuyers in 2017?

Let’s explore 5 trends shaping the 2017 housing market.

 

  1. Credit is Available

For those looking to buy a home, 2017 may be your year. Looser lending standards will create more widely available mortgage credit.

 

The Federal Housing Administration, also known as the FHA, will be lowering its fees for first-time homebuyers, making this a prime year to purchase a first home.

 

Learn more about FHA loans with First Community Mortgage.

 

  1. A Booming Sellers Market

The National Association of Realtors is predicting existing-home sales will reach 6 million in 2017, an increase from 5.8 million in 2016.

 

Homes will move on and off the market at a faster rate this year, too. Redfin is predicting that the average number of days a home is on the market to break records for 2017. In 2016, the average was just 52 days, and this year should be even shorter.

 

  1. More New Homes

2017 is the year of new home construction. The housing market is booming, and new construction is fighting to keep up with the high demand for new homes.

 

The average rate for new groundbreaking was 1.163 million in 2016, and shows no signs of slowing down in the future. Higher demand from buyers, higher wages for construction, and looser credit for builders are sure to make for a great year in the home building business.

 

  1. More Millennials

With more access to credit and housing, a higher number of millennials will enter the housing market, and play a significant role in increasing the home ownership rate.

 

Millennials, who equate to approximately 88 million, are projected to make up approximately 33% of the housing market this year according to realtor.com. Over half of first-time homebuyers for 2017 are projected to be millennials, which will bring rapid changes to the diverse housing market.

 

  1. Rates will Rise

In December, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the second time since 2006. Some officials on the Federal Reserve board are predicting 3 more increases for 2017.

 

With rates on the rise, now is the time to buy a home. Current rates in the 4s are a great opportunity to purchase a new or previously constructed home.

 

 

If you are looking to lock in rate for 2017, talk with a loan originator. An increase in new construction, credit, and homes for sale create the prime opportunity to buy.

Find your loan originator today! The experienced humans at First Community Mortgage are ready to answer all of your questions, and will get you into the home of your dreams!