HOUSTON, June 25, 2008 ? First Houston Mortgage, a mortgage-banking firm licensed in 20 states that offers expertise in every aspect of the residential mortgage lending process, announced Cascade Mortgage, a Vancouver, Wash.-based mortgage lending and financial services firm, joined First Houston?s network of affiliated offices. As an extension of First Houston, Cascade is able to integrate First Houston?s suite of products, services and technology into it?s own business practices. These services include a unified paperless lending platform; complete in-house underwriting system; electronic signature capability; competitive rates and a paperless file management system. Cascade Mortgage also gains access to First Houston?s offshore operations facility in India for loan processing assistance. ?Our union with First Houston yields cost and time savings that can be leveraged into a competitive advantage for Cascade Mortgage,? said Rod Mastrud, regional division manager of Cascade Mortgage. ? With the extensive back-office support provided by First Houston?s headquarters in Houston, we can now focus entirely on originating new loans and better serving our customers.? First Houston began growing its affiliated network of branches in 2006 and now has 25 branches nationwide with more than 250 employees. ?Our affiliated branch division is one of the innovative ways First Houston has been able to prosper, even as the mortgage industry went into a slump,? said David Zugheri, president of First Houston. ?We offer our branches an opportunity to be part of a new era of next-generation lenders who collectively share the same core values and business processes that are rapidly becoming essential to all organizations in the industry.? About First Houston Mortgage, Ltd. Based in Houston, First Houston Mortgage offers a wide variety of lending products and expertise for all areas of the residential mortgage lending industry. Innovative technologies enable the company to maintain a completely in-house origination process, thus reducing costs and improving efficiencies. For more information, visit www.firsthouston.com.
