Evergreen Home Loans
Sequim office: 542 N. Fifth Ave., Ste. 2B, Sequim; 360 681-8197
Port Angeles office: 1115 E. Front St., Ste. Port Angeles; 360-203-3690
Big in the loan business, but with small-town service
When senior mortgage loan officer Michele Adkisson left another company to join Evergreen Home Loans last fall, she knew she was going with a winner in more ways than one. In 2014 and 2015, Evergreen was rated among the top 100 companies to work for in Washington — this year the Bellevue company, founded in 1987, was No. 13 in the large company category, scoring high in “executive leadership.”
Evergreen is new to the North Olympic Peninsula, having opened its Port Angeles office in November 2014 and its spacious 2,000-square-foot Sequim office in June.
“The reason I came to Evergreen was because of its progressive loan products and that the market was starting to expand. I wanted to make sure my loan officers were going to be able to provide the loans coming available,” said Adkisson, who has 15 years in the lending industry.
“Evergreen Home Loans has an important commitment to our employees and we believe hiring good employees and treating them well is the key to maintaining a strong, effective team that will provide the best service to our customers. It’s important to have an experienced core staff who are willing to share their knowledge so that those that join us can have a fountain of knowledge to help their businesses grow.”
Evergreen has lending branches in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California and Nevada with approximately 275 employees. Adkisson manages the Sequim branch and the Sequim/Port Angeles team includes senior loan officer Nathan Adkisson, loan officers FaLeana Wech and Debbie Rutherford, loan officer assistant Dotty Armbright and administrative assistants Teri Casper and Leah Barnier. Adkisson noted that she’s expecting to hire at least two more employees.
Evergreen’s products include FHA, VA and USDA loans, downpayment assistance, conventional products, flexible financing for manufactured homes, refinancing, and bridge, rehab and home equity loans.
She brought Wech, former North Peninsula Building Association executive director, on board especially for her construction expertise.
“We have more flexible construction loans than banks plus a lower downpayment requirement,” Adkisson said.
“Because of the responsible expansion of loan products and the fact that families are coming out of the Great Recession with improved credit histories, lending is booming and so is real estate,” Adkisson observed. “I don’t see any indications that we’re returning to the irresponsible lending we saw in the early to mid-2000s because we are under heavy regulation. It makes it harder for the everyday person to get a loan but it doesn’t make it impossible. Our process and our products are great — the dream of homeownership still is a possibility.”
Adkisson explained those seeking a loan through Evergreen fill out an application which is based on their credit history, income and assets to see if they qualify for a loan.
“We ask for a barrage of documents and an underwriter reviews the documents, and if the borrower is approved, sets a list of conditions. That’s the process in a very, very small nutshell. The lending process takes 30-45 days, depending on how busy the market is.”
She added, “Our biggest advantage is a smooth process and that we service our own loans. Borrowers can talk directly to me with concerns or problems — it’s a much more personal style of lending.”
One of the tenets of Evergreen’s corporate philosophy is being an asset in the communities they serve and the Sequim office is no exception.
“We will offer homebuyer education classes once a month in our conference room and will be adding financial education courses free to the public,” Adkisson said. “Part of my goal being in finance is when you live in a rural community, it’s important for people to be educated in finance because you don’t want your neighbor to be taken advantage of and it helps the community as a whole. I enjoy people who enjoy this business and I enjoy helping people.”
To prospective customers, Adkisson said, “If you’re looking for an experienced, accessible and efficient lender, then look no further than Evergreen Home Loans.”
The Sequim office, 542 N. Fifth Ave., Ste. 2B, will have a Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, with an open house until 7 p.m.
