Buying, financing or renovating a home can be a complicated process that feels daunting to many. For those who don’t know where to start, Tidewater Home Funding wants to help. This local Hampton Roads residential mortgage lender has been serving the community since 1999 and is licensed in Virginia, North Carolina and Florida.
“We offer a wide variety of mortgage products, including traditional loan programs like conventional, FHA, VA and USDA, as well as niche loan programs like Renovation 203(K), Reverse Mortgage, Virginia Housing and non-QM (Qualified Mortgage) products,” says Lisa McNeil, senior mortgage loan originator. “Additionally, we have delegated underwriting authority with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, USDA and Virginia Housing. We currently operate within the Hampton Roads region with five physical locations in Newport News, Hayes, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Manteo, North Carolina.”
McNeil continues, “Since our inception, we have been a locally owned and operated mortgage lender, an increasingly rare find in today’s landscape of mergers and acquisitions. Our focus is the customer. We prioritize building relationships, not transactions.”
McNeil has been with Tidewater since February 2024. Before joining the team, she had 25 years of experience in mortgage banking under her belt. She also specializes in guiding clients through the loan application process, ensuring compliance with industry standards and providing specialized financial solutions.
“As a loan officer, my favorite part of the job is the opportunity to help individuals realize their dreams and goals. Whether it’s assisting a first-time homebuyer in securing a dream home, helping an investor obtain financing to expand operations or guiding a client through financial challenges to achieve stability, being able to make a positive impact on people’s lives is incredibly rewarding,” says McNeil. “I find satisfaction in building relationships with clients, understanding their unique circumstances and working with them to find the best financial solutions tailored to their needs.”
McNeil’s colleague, Gee Horton, a senior mortgage advisor with Tidewater Home Funding, recognizes how special it is to help clients achieve their money goals. “The best part of my job is providing a service to help people. I want to help a person buy his or her first home, purchase a second home or build financing wealth with investment properties or refinancing,” says Horton. “We are a group of like-minded people working together for the good of the client, whether a new client, past client, realtor, associate or affiliate partner.”
Horton became a licensed mortgage loan officer in 2010 and joined Tidewater in 2015. She strives every day to offer clients exceptional service and provide a variety of mortgage products.
McNeil and Horton pride themselves on their team’s cohesiveness and ability to serve clients with a smile on their faces. There are nearly 50 employees combined across their multiple locations.
“We are a team here to help our clients, and we recognize the need to always incorporate fun into our daily work flows,” says Dave Forman, loan officer.
The team also prides itself in giving back to the community that it calls home. “We partner with several state, regional and city housing organizations, including Virginia Housing and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, to aid in our ongoing commitment to make home ownership accessible for all. We are proud supporters of the Abingdon Seafood Festival and Bacon Bash,” says Horton. “Additionally, I am very active with the Warwick at City Center Rotary Club.”
Looking to the future, the Tidewater Home Funding team has big plans. “We will continue to fulfill our mission of ‘Funding Your Dreams.’ Whether by innovating new loan programs or by other means, we will continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of our community. We anticipate the rapid development of artificial intelligence and technology to alter aspects of the lending business. However, we believe technology will never replace the need to have a human actively involved in the loan process,” says McNeil. “No customer or loan scenario is ever the same. Our teammates take the time to manually piece the parts of our client’s loan story together to get them across the finish line. A machine cannot do that with the same level of care and passion you’ll find within our walls.”
When McNeil and Horton are not helping clients, they find time to do what they love. “I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two puppies. We are fortunate to have grandchildren who are active, and being their shadow and cheerleader brings me much joy,” says Horton. “I am also involved in my church.”
“In my free time, I cherish spending quality moments with my family, especially with my twin granddaughters. Watching them grow and explore the world around them brings me immense joy and fulfillment,” says McNeil. “Additionally, I find solace and creativity in the kitchen, where I enjoy experimenting with new recipes and cooking delicious meals for my loved ones.”
Tidewater Home Funding is always welcoming and ready to help new clients beginning a new chapter in their financial or homebuying journey.
TO THE POINT:
Tidewater Home Funding
Address: 733 Thimble Shoals Blvd., Ste. 170, Newport News, VA 23606
Contacts: Lisa McNeil, senior mortgage loan originator; Gee Horton, senior mortgage Advisor
Phone: 757-366-8690
Website: www.tidewaterhomefunding.com
