In early October 2007, a Fountain Hills mortgage broker commented that he is hopeful the worst of the mortgage crisis is over

In the days after the industry began its tumble, Kent Martinson, branch manager of National City Mortgage in Fountain Hills said the firm was positioned to work through the crisis.

“No one had ever seen anything like this lack of liquidity in the mortgage business,” Martinson said. “But with $140 billion in assets, National City Corporation was well-positioned to get through it.”

National City continues its philosophy held before the mortgage meltdown: “Customer service is everything.”

Martinson said there will be changes in the industry, but within National City, customers can rely on what they have been promised.

“We really try our best to give the customer the best financial advice and mortgage products possible,” Martinson said. “We don’t offer something we cannot deliver. Getting through those (first) 90 days after the crisis was helped by knowing our clients were happy.”

When the first inkling of a crisis was stirring in July 2007, National City was beginning to take action.

“We were one of the first companies to deal with illiquidity in the mortgage market,” Martinson said. “Upper management reacted very quickly and soundly.”

Martinson, who has been with the company for nine years, said one of things that has impressed him during this time is the positive position the corporation has taken.

“The lack of liquidity in the market took away a lot of products and shut down a lot of lenders,” Martinson said. “But for us, we have a large banking corporation standing behind its mortgage division.”

National City continues to develop products to keep up with the ever-changing current real estate markets.

Its “Promise and Protect” program, which is an interest rate buydown program, enables a buyer to save significantly on the first three years of a mortgage. It also provides a seller with an incentive to offer their buyer.

Martinson said National City Mortgage has a product line allowing the company to finance all types of real estate including single family homes, condos, town homes, lots and commercial property. Most loans can be approved in an hour with state-of-the-art technology developed by National City Mortgage.

Martinson said in the past 30 days, he has closed loans in New Mexico, Arkansas and Texas, in addition to local loans.

“We can provide loans to customers in all 50 states right from our local office,” Martinson said.

National City Mortgage rarely sells its loan servicing, currently managing a portfolio of $178 billion, providing customers with a local representative to answer questions and to help with lending needs.

“We basically take care of a customer’s needs from the day an application is taken out to the day the mortgage is paid off,” Martinson said.

Martinson said the company’s philosophy is reflected in his own and his staff’s. The company motto is “No one Cares More.”

Martinson acknowledged that although business is slower these days, he is confident that the local branch will achieve 90 percent of its goals this year.

“We’re still a strong office and expect to be in Fountain Hills for a long time to come,” he said.

The Fountain Hills office is located at 13034 N. Verde River Drive, Suite 103. The office telephone number is (480) 816-5555, or toll free at (877) 835-5230.