Movement Mortgage, formerly known as New American Mortgage, not only made it through the financial crisis, but it also is growing, announcing it is creating 650 jobs in Lancaster County, South Carolina.
The company's founder and CEO, Casey Crawford said the company is adding about 80 employees every month.
Crawford is based at the company's office in Ballantyne Corporate Park and, interstingly enough, he is a former tight end for the Carolina Panthers.
The lender was founded in 2008 and has rapidly grown from two offices and 12 employees to over 280 offices in 23 states and more than 1200 employees.
According to an article in the Charlotte Business Journal, the company will invest $22 million in building a new, 104,000-square-foot headquarters in the Bailes Ridge Business Park on S.C. Highway 160.
"It's a great day in South Carolina when we can welcome a company like Movement Mortgage to our state," S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley said in the release. "Their decision to create 650 new jobs in Lancaster County will make a significant difference in the local community and is a reason to celebrate in every part of South Carolina."
Movement says it will create 650 new jobs at the South Carolina campus. About 160 jobs will be filled by existing employees working at the firm's Ballantyne offices. The remainder will be new jobs, Founder and CEO Casey Crawford said. He says the company's rapid growth has seen it add up to 80 employees nationwide every month in 2014.
The company's growth comes on the heels of a loosening mortgage credit environment. The latest being the Federal Housing Administration's decision to reduce annual mortgage insurance premiums by 50 basis points, from 1.35% to 0.85%, in order to help spur buyers into the housing market.
