The top-producing loan originator in the country closed an average of more than $50 million in home loans per month last year. Almost all of the 10 largest producers closed more than $0.2 billion in 2013.
The 10th-largest individual loan originator during 2013 was Shimmy Braun. The Guaranteed Rate-employee closed $199 million in residential loans last year.
No. 9 on the list was Benjamin Anderson in Irvine, Calif. Through his employer of nearly four years, Mount Olympus Mortgage Co., Anderson reportedly funded $201 million last year.
The ranking was announced by Scotsman Guide. Nearly 1,400 loan originators were surveyed for the report.
With $203 million in 2013 originations, Brian Blonder was the eighth-biggest originator last year. Blonder works at Capital Bank, N.A., in Maryland.
Tucson, Ariz.’s Paul Volpe originated $208 million, landing the seventh spot. Volpe’s employer is NOVA Home Loans.
In Los Angeles, Augusta Financial President Michael Meena closed nearly $222 million in loans during 2013, the sixth-best performance.
Two other Guaranteed Rate originators grabbed the fourth and fifth spots; Harinder Johar in Massachusetts funded more than $222 million, and Joe Caltabiano in Illinois closed $239 million.
No. 4 was Michael Mundy of Pinnacle Mortgage Inc. in New Jersey. Mundy closed $246 million last year.
Brian David Minkow to the bronze medal in 2013, closing $307 million last year. Minkow works at Prospect Mortgage LLC in Westlake Village, Calif., where he’s been since December 2008.
The second-biggest originator in the country was Brian Scott Cohen, who reportedly originated $337 million in 2013. Cohen, who works from New York, has been with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage since February 2006.
The top originator in the nation was Mark Cohen, according to Scotsman. He is president of Cohen Financial Group in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Last year’s production for Cohen was $604 million.
In a 2005 interview with Mortgage Daily, Cohen attributed his success to customer service, financial expertise and a prime location — though dedication, hard work and knowledge were also key factors.
“No loan is too small, you never know what will come back to you,” he said in the 2005 interview. “It’s about service, service, service.”
