ABOUT CORNERSTONE: the lender you can trust
Defying headlines in 2009 with their most profitable year since their 1988 inception, Cornerstone Mortgage Company was founded with a business philosophy based on providing stellar support service to their originators, who in turn are able to provide unparalleled service to their borrowers. This loan officer-centered business model has helped Cornerstone grow into one of the largest privately held mortgage companies in the country with $2.5 billion in annual residential mortgage production.
Though Cornerstone has skillfully adapted to many industry changes since it was founded, the company has never deviated from their high-service retail origination strategy. They attract top mortgage professionals who believe in building life-long relationships with other top professional referral sources. One hundred percent of their production volume comes from their network of retail branches, and an average 72% comes from referral and repeat business.
Chairman and CEO Marc Laird has built a unique company that attracts and retains top producers. Cornerstone has a highly decentralized and entrepreneurial culture where managers are actually empowered to run their branches as if they are their own independent businesses. At the same time, Cornerstone’s support resources provide such high levels of service to the origination force that an intensely loyal bond is created between the branches and the home office in Houston, Texas. For example, although Cornerstone originators are free to broker out their loans, the 95% rate of banked loans is a direct reflection of their superior internal service and pricing options.
The Cornerstone workplace is full of dedicated and satisfied long-term employees, and has become a safe harbor attracting many top professionals caught in the recent market-wide turmoil. Though it seems every segment of the origination industry is struggling – national banks, independent mortgage companies, builders, mortgage brokers – Cornerstone is surviving and thriving with their time-tested strategy of relationship-driven, high-trust customer service.
Cornerstone Values
We Conduct Ourselves with Honesty and Integrity
- We honor our commitments
- We do what's ethically and morally right
We are Customer Focused
- We create a satisfying customer experience.
- We are a trusted advisor who recommends and provides loan products that meet the financial needs of our customers.
- We meet the agreed upon closing date.
- We stay in consistent contact with our customers for life.
We Respect and Care for Our People
- We lead by serving
- We embrace and foster an entrepreneurial spirit
- We encourage employee input and new ideas
- We support our loan originators
- We help our people during personal crisis
We Have Passion for Excellence
- In the service delivery to our customers
- In the development of efficient loan processes
- In profitable business growth
- In being the best





