MaineHousing Recognizes Top 10 First Home Lenders During Augusta luncheon

Loan officers from MaineHousing's top ten lending partners were recognized during a luncheon at the agency on Wednesday, April 1. Together, these lenders helped 983 households find their way home.

AUGUSTA — MaineHousing honored the top ten First Home Loan Program lenders from 2025 during a luncheon at the agency’s headquarters on Wednesday.

Combined, these lenders, among about 40 that MaineHousing works with, have helped nearly 1,000 Maine households secure the financing needed for that first home. They have set record numbers in total loan volume while helping thousands of Maine people build the financial independence and stability that can come with homeownership.

MaineHousing honored the top ten First Home Program lenders during a luncheon at the agency’s offices in Augusta on Wednesday.

Combined, these lenders have helped nearly 1,000 Maine households secure the financing needed for their first home. Together, they achieved record-setting loan volume—totaling more than $249 million across 953 loans—while expanding access to homeownership across the state.

The combined efforts of the top 10 lenders account for 75 percent of all mortgages issued under the First Home Program in 2025. The total number of loans issued under MaineHousing’s programs increased by 354 from 2024 to a total of 1,274.

“These lenders play a critical role in helping Maine people achieve financial independence and stability,” said MaineHousing Director of Homeownership Patricia Harriman. “Their work is opening doors for individuals and families and strengthening communities statewide.”

Harriman said an important component for success is homebuyer education, required to be eligible for a MaineHousing loan.

During the recognition ceremonies, Harriman shared a story of one borrower’s touching success story to emphasize the importance of the work MaineHousing’s lending partners do.

She told a story of a homebuyer who had horrible credit, was struggling with substance use disorder, risked losing her children to state custody and didn’t believe she would ever be able to buy a home of her own. But through treatment, help from her loan officer and real estate agent, and the education made available through HoMEworks, this borrower turned her life around. She wrote a thank you letter to MaineHousing that Harriman read from.

“I have a 20-year-old and a 16-year-old,” the woman wrote. “They have watched me struggle and they have watched me succeed but they have never watched me give up. Maine State Housing is such a wonderful resource, and I am so grateful that I can never put into words what it means to come home. To come to my home. To come to our home.”

Harriman said the story touched the staff at MaineHousing and all who worked with this buyer. “This is our why,” Harriman said.

Bangor Savings Bank led the way in 2025 with 210 loans with a value of more than $56 million while CMG Financial was a close second on total loans at 209 with those mortgages valued at $59,447,566.