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MortgagePoint » Your Trusted Source for Mortgage Banking and Servicing News 24 September 2024 E X P E R T I N S I G H T S A TRUSTED ADVISOR ON THE PATH TO HOME OWNERSHIP MortgagePoint had the opportunity to discuss TD Bank's 2024 Mortgage Service Index with TD's National Sales Director of Mortgage Lending Scott Lindner to gain insight from buyers nationwide on the mortgage experience and state of the marketplace. B y E R I C C . P E C K S cott Lindner serves as National Sales Director of Mortgage Lend- ing for TD Bank, one of the 10 larg- est banks in the nation. TD Bank provides more than nine million clients with a full range of retail, small-business, and commercial banking products. In his current role, Lindner leads TD's Mortgage Loan Officer sales force, and guides sales strategy and product development. He has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. TD Bank recently issued its 2024 Mortgage Service Index, surveying more than 1,800 homeowners nationwide, to gather insights and analyze perceptions around the homebuying and mortgage experience, as well as attitudes on the current state of the housing market. The 2024 Mortgage Service Index found that optimism in the market was reflected even more so among younger generations, as 84% of Gen Z and 68% of millennials said that purchasing a home still feels attainable, despite the rising cost of homeownership. Optimism wavered just slightly among Gen Xers with 66% feeling that purchasing a home was attainable, followed by 59% of baby boomers. As U.S. existing home sales reached a nearly 20-year low in 2023, these sentiments highlighted a sense of hope among the nation's home buyers. MortgagePoint had a chance to speak to Lindner about the findings of the report, and how prospective buyers can overcome burdensome affordability constraints to successfully enter the housing market. Q: How did you first get your start in the industry? Scott Lindner: Early in my career, I served as a retail stockbroker working for various firms, including Drexel Burnham, Prudential Securities, and Smith Barney. I later transitioned to running retail bank branches. I served as the Division Manager for Bank of New York branches in West- chester County, New York, followed by a similar position at Chase. In 2009, Chase was reimagining its mortgage distribution model and asked me to help move that work forward in a Senior Lending Manager position, which further deepened my knowledge and perspective in the industry. In this role, I was responsible for mortgage lending in Westchester and Rockland Counties in New York, Upstate New York, and Connecticut. I later joined Scottrade Bank, serving as SVP, Head of Retail Banking, running its online retail bank. And as a result of TD Bank's acquisition of Scottrade, I joined TD as National Sales Director for its mortgage business in 2017. In my current role, I am accountable for leading TD's mortgage loan officer and community mortgage loan officer salesforce, as well as guiding sales strategy and product development. Q: According to the study, "84% of Gen Z and 68% of millennials say purchasing a home still feels attainable despite the rising cost of homeownership." What tips do you have for those in the market to begin the path to homeownership? Scott Lindner: When buying your first home, there is quite a bit to consider—like how much you can afford right now, how much you can put down as a down pay- ment, and what kind of loan options you qualify for. To start off on the right foot, it is a great idea to chat with a mortgage professional who can break down the MortgagePoint Managing Digital Editor E R I C C . P E C K has 25-plus years' experience covering the mortgage industry. He graduated from the New York Institute of Technology, where he received his B.A. in communication arts/media. After graduating, he began his professional career in New York City with Videography Magazine before landing in the mortgage finance space. Peck has edited three published books, and has served as Copy Editor for Entrepreneur.com.