Credit union surpasses $1 billion in mortgage closings in March

First-time homebuyers lead the surge in its mortgage production last month with over 50% of its purchase volume going to the group.

Due in large part to first-time homebuyers and a surge in home sales, Navy Federal Credit Union announced its mortgage closings surpassed $1 billion in March, the best month in the credit union's history. Seven years from the start of the recession, nearly 60% of the credit union's mortgage volume can be attributed to purchases.

Year-to-date, Navy Federal has made more than $2.5 billion in mortgage funds available to its members.

While lenders around the country are seeing that first-time homebuyers are relatively quiet, Navy Federal has bucked this trend. "We're unique in that over 50% of our purchase volume comes from first-time buyers," Navy Federal's Vice President of Mortgage Lending, Katie Miller, said. "Our goal is to bring awareness and opportunity to these young members."

The credit union serves all Department of Defense and Coast Guard Active Duty, civilian and contractor personnel and their families.

The credit union's specialized portfolio products are designed to meet the needs of first-time homebuyers and military families. The credit union stated it remains the only lender in the market offering a conventional 100% financing fixed payment option with no private mortgage insurance.
Known as HomeBuyer's Choice, the product has served members with $179 million in loans year-to-date. Additionally, Miller has created a specialized program for loan officers to specifically aide the needs of first-time homebuyers.

"They don't have the cash to make large down payments, and they don't know where to start—we're here to help from first call to close,” she added.
Navy Federal said it is projecting a record setting second quarter buoyed by their highest volume of applications in March and anticipates this to be a record year for purchase volume.  Navy Federal Credit Union has $64 billion in assets, 5 million members, 263 branches and a workforce of over 12,000 employees worldwide.