50 years and counting...

Intro

Building our Heritage

An interactive experience highlighting the history and story of Guild Mortgage Company.

1960s

A Company was Born

Guild Mortgage was founded in San Diego in 1960 by Martin Gleich.

Did You Know?

The company was named "Guardian Mortgage" before it became Guild.

FHA Pioneers

Guild became experts in government backed loans for first time homebuyers.

60's Flashback

The Beatles burst on the scene, and John F. Kennedy challenged us to reach the moon.

Home Building

At first, Guild provided loans only to purchasers of homes built by American Housing Guild.

Tech Culture

From the beginning, Guild began exploring the use of technology to improve its operations.

1970s

Innovation in Tech

By designing and operating its IT systems in-house, Guild distinguished itself in the mortgage industry.

Go West

Business was good, and Guild opened its first branch offices in other western states.

Homebuyer Advocates

Always an advocate for first time homebuyers, Guild began working with Ginnie Mae.

Me, Me, Me

Novelist Tom Wolfe coined the phrase the “Me Decade” to capture the mood of the country.

Topped Out

American Housing Guild built the last of over 20,000 homes in the west.

Tech Culture

Guild’s first computer was an IBM with no monitor and 24kb RAM.

1980s

Business Diversification

Guild added consumer timeshare loans to its portfolio and purchased Red Carpet Realty.

Fast Forward

High speed data transfer, mobile phones and personal computers helped redefine customer service.

A New Direction

Mary Ann McGarry joined Guild and introduced entrepreneurial management to the company.

The Wall Comes Down

After 28 years, the Berlin wall came down, effectively ending the cold war.

Business Expands

Guild launched its wholesale mortgage business with great success.

Blast Off!

The first space shuttle Columbia took to the skies in a spectacular launch from Florida.

1990s

Enterprise Branches Grew

Entrepreneurial branch managers sparked renewed growth and increased profitability.

The Internet Gets Busy

New browsers and the “World Wide Web” took hold and brought email to the office.

Star Struck

The Hubble space telescope entered orbit, sending back the clearest images ever taken of our galaxy.

Easier Qualifying

Guild established automated underwriting, which streamlined the process of qualifying buyers for loans.

Cloning

The first mammal was cloned and Dolly the sheep was elevated to celebrity status.

Computers Shrink

Laptops allow greater mobility and flexibility to Guild employees.

2000

The End of an Era

Guild founder Martin Gleich retired in 2007 and Mary Ann McGarry became CEO.

Weathering the Storm

Guild avoided the sub-prime market and emerged from the downturn healthy and strong.

When the Bubble Burst

The housing market imploded, causing great distress to families across the country.

Terror Strikes

On September 11, 2001, the country, and the world, were changed forever.

A Fresh Identity

After 40 years, Guild introduced a new company logo design.

Going Social

Facebook and Twitter became a fixture in our lives, as did interactive websites, smartphones and HD TV.

2010

Winning the West

From its home office in San Diego, Guild oversees over 70 branch offices in 11 western states.

Remembering Martin Gleich

Guild's Founder passes away at the age of 87.

A Revamped Website

Educational materials and interactive tools become an integral part of the Guild web experience.

The Time for First Time Homebuyers

Low home prices and interest rates create a great market for first timers.

Optimism Prevails

As it grows, Guild continues to deliver outstanding service with a small company feel.

Tech Evolves

Smartphone apps and web-based cloud technology keep Guild employees and clients connected.

Started by one, built by many

With over four decades of experience in providing loans, service, and expertise to homebuyers, Guild Mortgage Company upholds an enduring presence in the lending community. By strategically meeting the ups and downs of the real estate and financial markets, Guild Mortgage has remained steadfast in its mission to provide affordable home financing, unsurpassed service, and a dedicated workforce to meet our customers' needs.

Guild Mortgage Company was founded in 1960 as a home financing company for American Housing Guild in San Diego. In its first decade, Guild Mortgage Company provided residential mortgages to homebuyers in American Housing Guild's new home developments.

Guild broadened its range of services in 1972 by including resale mortgage financing. After decades of successful innovation and growth, Guild Mortgage Company is now a nationally recognized mortgage banking company with more than 40 branch offices serving homebuyers throughout the Western United States.

History Overview

  • San Diego Beginnings

    Guild was founded in 1960 in San Diego to provide financing for homes built by American Housing Guild. The company established itself as an innovator from the start, bringing new possibilities for home ownership to thousands of families.

  • Nationwide Expansion

    Guild expanded nationwide in the 1970s and 1980s, with wide-ranging experience, including Red Carpet Realty, wholesale, retail, and timeshare business.

  • Western Concentration

    During the 1980s and 1990s, with a team of twenty-eight programmers, Guild invested in an integrated information systems platform found typically only in large companies, while shifting focus to retail business in Western states, with entrepreneurial mobile offices, CalHFA, and correspondent business.

  • Purchase Focus

    Guild continues its purchase focus in the 1990s and 2000s, in programs where the company has decades of experience, including GNMA, FNMA, FHA, and bond programs. Guild celebrates fifty years of continuous production and servicing experience in 2010, remembers its roots and renews its dedication to serving the homebuyer of the future with easier access to mobile, fluid, on-demand information.

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