“For the third year in a row, we’re the number one retail mortgage lender because we stay focused on one thing — giving buyers more ways to get to the closing table,” Ron Leonhardt, founder and CEO of CrossCountry Mortgage, said in a statement.
“The Builder Division is a strategic investment in that commitment. By working more closely with builders, this team will help create stronger partnerships and open the door to more homeownership opportunities for borrowers.”
The new division will offer a package of residential and commercial financing solutions for builders and their customers, according to a press release. Products include builder construction loans, small-balance commercial loans, bridge loans, and fix-and-flip financing. Builders can also access traditional forward commitments, which allow them to lock in rates on blocks of loans tied to future buyers.
CCM closed more than $51 billion in total volume in 2025, according to Inside Mortgage Finance. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the lender said it financed one in 35 homes sold nationwide by volume. CCM operates more than 700 branches, employs more than 8,000 people, and is licensed in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
For builders, a dedicated lender division can streamline financing for spec and presale homes, support rate buydown strategies and provide certainty of execution on delivery timelines. For real estate agents, stronger builder–lender ties can mean more structured incentives for buyers and clearer timelines from contract to close.
CrossCountry’s push into the builder channel also reflects a broader industry trend. As existing-home inventory remains tight and mortgage rates stay volatile, more lenders are investing in builder partnerships, construction lending, and forward commitments as a way to secure a consistent business pipeline and capture new-home market share.
This article was generated using HousingWire Automation and reviewed by a HousingWire editor before publication. The system helps convert company announcements and industry data into HousingWire-style news coverage.
