American Mortgage Specialists, Inc. - Retail, Net Branch - Agency, FHA/VA, Alt-A, Subprime

We have received multiple reports that American Mortgage Specialists, Inc. (view snapshot), a Chandler, AZ based net branch operation has suddenly and unexpectedly shut down following the loss of a warehouse line-of-credit which eliminated their capacity to fund loans as a mortgage banker.

According to reports we've received from some branches, there was no announcement made via email or phone from the corporate office, and employees of outlying locations only learned of the company's closure gradually throughout the week from sporadic emails sent by staff in the home office wishing their co-workers "Goodbye" and "Nice working working with you." One contributor wrote:

"All loans are dead and so is the company! They gave no notice to employees and simply cleaned out offices over the weekend."

Another account gives a bit more background:

They started as a broker around 2000 [it was actually 2001 according to the company's "About Us" page (view snapshot).

Became a banker around 2003

Retail only.

At their peak they were licensed in 28 states

They were Full DE with FHA
At peak production had over 1000 employees and perhaps that many loans a month.

Information on the size of the company's operations was varied, with tipsters reporting upwards of 100 offices at peak dwindling to less than 10 of late. Employees at peak numbered around 1,200 according to both Manta and Hoovers but inside sources tell us there were likely 50 or less left when the company closed its doors. Reports of recent volume exceeding $20 million per month echo 2006 volume which reached an average of more than $38 million per month although intervening years showed much lower numbers.

We're told repurchase requests were the catalyst for the warehouse lender's withdrawal and the company's subsequent decision to close shop. Owner Scott Powers was reported as saying the company could no longer contain its losses.

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