AUSTIN — Today, Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D. announced the VLB Veterans Housing Assistance Program's top lenders and loan officers of 2023.

Last year, this essential program helped more than 2,000 Texas Veterans purchase a new home. For over 40 years, the VLB Veterans Housing Assistance Program has transformed the lives of Veterans, members of the military, and their families by making the American Dream of homeownership a reality. 

“Serving our men and women in uniform is one of our highest priorities at the Veterans Land Board,” remarked Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham. "We could not do it without strong partners who share in our desire to provide exceptional customer service and real results for these heroes. We are so proud of the work we do here at the VLB, and our mission is to give back to those who have done so much for us.”

In 2023, the Veterans Housing Assistance Program’s top five participating mortgage lenders were:

1. Cornerstone Home Lending, Inc.
2. First Continental
3. Gateway Mortgage
4. Ark-La-Tex Financial Services LLC dba Benchmark Mortgage
5. SWBC Mortgage Corporation

Together, these partners served 896 Veterans and their families underwriting nearly $380,000,000 in loans.

Additionally, the VLB would like to recognize the program’s top five loan officers who worked directly with our Veterans and guided them through the process:

1. Ryan Bray, Veterans United Home Loans
2. Jimmy Alexander, SWBC Mortgage Corporation
3. Anastasia Hitzfelder, Cornerstone Home Lending, Inc
4. Sam Guido, City Bank
5. Everett Elstak, Cornerstone Home Lending, Inc

These individuals served 210 veterans and secured over $84,000,000 in financing on their behalf.

Veterans interested in applying for a home loan through the VLB Veterans Housing Assistance Program can visit the VLB website for more information.

Through the VLB Housing Assistance Program, eligible Texas Veterans and military members have an opportunity to purchase a home with a competitive, low-interest loan with little or no down payment. Veterans, military members, and their spouses may borrow up to $766,550 on a fixed-rate loan for 15-, 20-, 25- or 30-year terms*. Veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating of 30% or greater qualify for a discounted interest rate.