Highlands Residential Mortgage

What Highlands Residential Mortgage does

Highlands Residential Mortgage is a privately held retail residential mortgage lender founded in 2010 and headquartered in Allen, Texas. The company originates and services home purchase and refinance loans including conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, renovation, and new construction products, serving individual homebuyers and homeowners across 17+ states through a network of 40+ branches and dedicated local loan officers. Loan servicing is delivered through both LoanCare, LLC and Highlands' own servicing platform.

The company operates an integrated technology stack supporting both customers and originators. Customers access the Highlands Digital Mortgage App (iOS and Android) which enables 97% of the loan process to be managed remotely, complemented by a web-based In-Process Loan Portal for document upload and eSign, and a Loan Administration Portal for post-closing servicing. Loan officers use an internal CRM-integrated platform with automated marketing, retargeting digital advertising, an automated survey system linked to social posting, client retention automation that surfaces contacts ready for a mortgage transaction, and MBS Highway market intelligence content.

Highlands makes money primarily through transaction-based origination fees on closed mortgage loans (purchase and refinance) and secondary revenue from loan servicing. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through branch-based loan officers and indirect through referral partnerships with real estate agents, brokers, and home builders. The company is founder-owned (Bill Starkey Sr., Ken Hickman, Brian Starkey), licensed in 44+ states plus DC (NMLS #134871), and has grown organically since inception without disclosed external funding rounds, reaching an employee count of 251-500.

Name

Highlands Residential Mortgage

Legal name

Highlands Residential Mortgage, Ltd.

Website

https://highlandsmortgage.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Highlands Residential Mortgage is a privately held retail residential mortgage lender serving homebuyers and refinancers across 40+ branches in 17+ U.S. states with conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, renovation, and new construction loan products delivered via local loan officers and a proprietary digital mortgage platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Mortgage Lending

NAICS

Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (522310)

SIC

Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162)

akta.pro primary industry

Purchase Mortgage Origination (Homebuyer Focused) (FSALAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Renovation Mortgage Origination (FHA 203(k), HomeStyle, CHOICERenovation) (FSALAAAL), Prime (Agency/Conforming) Mortgage Servicing (FSALAEAA)

Keywords

• Residential mortgage lending
• Home purchase loans
• Mortgage refinance services
• Government-backed mortgages
• Loan origination

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices48 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Mortgage Origination: Revenue generated from originating residential mortgage loans including purchase mortgages and refinances. The company offers conventional loans, government loans (FHA, VA, USDA), renovation loans, and new construction loans.
2. Loan Servicing: Revenue from servicing mortgages after closing, including payment processing, escrow management, and customer service. The company services loans through LoanCare, LLC and Highland's own platforms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Highlands Residential Mortgage is a retail residential mortgage lender that originates and services home purchase and refinance loans through a network of 40+ branch locations staffed by dedicated loan officers across the United States. The company offers conventional loans, government-backed loans (FHA, VA, USDA), renovation loans, and new construction loans to individual homebuyers and homeowners, supported by a digital mortgage platform and mobile application.

Product overview

Highlands Residential Mortgage operates as a retail mortgage lender offering a unified lending platform for home purchases and refinancing. The product portfolio centers on the core Highlands Digital Mortgage Platform supported by the Highlands Digital Mortgage App (mobile iOS/Android), which allows borrowers to manage 97% of the loan process remotely. Loan products span Conventional Loans, Government Loans (FHA, VA, USDA), Renovation Loans, and New Construction financing for purchases, plus refinance options including rate-and-term and cash-out products. Post-closing, Highlands provides Loan Servicing for closed loans including payment processing and escrow management. The Loan Officer Technology Suite (CRM, automated marketing, digital advertising, retention automation) supports internal originators, while borrowers access their loans through the In-Process Loan Portal and Loan Administration Portal. The company has grown from Texas-only origins in 2010 to over 40 branch locations across the country.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Home Purchase Loans Residential mortgage products for home purchases, including Conventional Loans, Government Loans (FHA, VA, USDA), Renovation Loans, and New Construction financing, offered to individual homebuyers and families.
• Refinance Loans Mortgage refinance products including rate-and-term refinances, cash-out refinances, and home equity leverage options for existing homeowners seeking to lower payments, access equity, or change loan terms.
• Loan Servicing Post-closing loan servicing including payment processing, escrow management, tax and insurance payments, insurance claims handling, and customer support for borrowers with closed loans, serviced through LoanCare, LLC and Highlands' own platforms.
• Highlands Digital Mortgage App Mobile application (iOS and Android) enabling borrowers to manage their loan process, access documents, eSign disclosures, check loan status, and communicate with loan officers from their mobile device, with 97% of the loan process manageable through the app.
• In-Process Loan Portal

Quantifiable outcome

• NPS of 97 in 2025, significantly exceeding industry benchmarks
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Equitable Mortgage Corporation (Equitable Mortgage)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2026Highlands Residential Mortgage acquired The Equitable Mortgage Corporation, a Columbus, Ohio-based lender founded in 1995 that has funded over $6 billion in residential loans across Central Ohio and Florida. The acquisition brings together two mortgage lending firms with shared focus on customer relationships, strengthening Highlands' footprint in Central Ohio while expanding national presence. Post-acquisition, Equitable Mortgage's team continues operating under existing model while leveraging Highlands' scale, tools, and platform.
• Texans on MissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHighlands partnered with Texans on Mission to provide flood relief for Central Texas communities affected by devastating floods. The partnership included financial support and employee/volunteer participation.
• North Texas Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHighlands team partnered with North Texas Food Bank to help fight hunger in the community by sorting and packing thousands of meals for families in need.
• Habitat for HumanityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationally recognized charity partner supporting efforts to better lives through homeownership and housing assistance.
• Make a Wish FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationally recognized charity partner supporting wish-granting efforts for children.
• Feed My Starving ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHighlands team volunteered with Feed My Starving Children to pack meals for children around the world. In under two hours, the team packed enough meals to feed 80 children for an entire year.
• Rehoboth Children's VillageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Rehoboth Children's Village in South Africa to help provide support, care, and safety for orphaned children living with HIV/AIDS. Highlands leadership (Ken Hickman as Chairman of Themba Foundation) is directly involved with this organization.
• Grace and Truth InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner supporting education and community programs for those in desperate need in South Africa.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Guild Mortgage: Privately held retail residential mortgage lender with similar branch-based distribution model and focus on purchase lending. Both are mid-size, employee- and customer-experience-focused originators with comparable product menus (conventional, government, renovation).
• Fairway Independent Mortgage: Privately held retail mortgage lender operating a similar branch network across multiple states with comparable product offerings. Direct competitor for loan officer recruits and purchase market share.
• Movement Mortgage: Large privately held retail mortgage lender with branch-based origination model and focus on customer experience. Competes directly with Highlands for branch managers and loan officers in overlapping states.
• PrimeLending: National retail mortgage lender with branch distribution and broad loan product offering. Highlands' CIO Josh Hebert and other executives previously held roles at PrimeLending, and the companies compete for talent and production in overlapping geographies.
• Nations Lending: Mid-size privately held retail mortgage lender with multi-state branch presence and similar product breadth. Highlands' current Chief Production Officer Corey Caster previously led Nations Lending, indicating direct competitive and talent overlap.
• Caliber Home Loans: Large retail and correspondent residential mortgage lender with similar product mix including government, conventional, and renovation loans. Direct competitor in retail origination across multiple states.

Broad incumbents

• loanDepot: Public retail mortgage lender (NYSE: LDI) with both direct-to-consumer and branch-based origination at significantly larger scale. Competes across Highlands' footprint, particularly through its consumer-direct channel.
• Rocket Mortgage: Largest US mortgage lender (NYSE: RKT) with national direct-to-consumer platform. Sets pricing and customer experience benchmarks that Highlands competes against, especially in the purchase market.
• United Wholesale Mortgage: Largest US wholesale mortgage lender focused on the broker channel. Indirectly competes with Highlands by empowering mortgage brokers rather than retail loan officers, shaping the competitive landscape for origination share.
• NewRez (Rithm Capital): National mortgage lender and servicer (subsidiary of Rithm Capital) offering retail, wholesale, and correspondent channels. Competes with Highlands across retail origination, with Highlands' CPO Corey Caster previously at NewRez.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HighlandsMortg
• Facebookfacebook.com/highlands-residential-mortgage-228575527510880
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/highlands-residential-mortgage
• Instagraminstagram.com/highlandsresidentialmortgage/?hl=en

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Highlands Residential Mortgage