Landmark Mortgage Adds New Branch, Two Faces

California-based ""Landmark Mortgage Group"":http://www.lmglending.com/ marked another success Tuesday as it announced its expansion to a new branch, its fourth in less than two years, according to a statement. As part of the expansion, Landmark Mortgage will also hire new manager Linda LaGrasso, a Brentwood native, and mortgage advisor Kathy Mertens.

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""We're excited to open our fourth branch in under two years,"" says Rick Benitez, a founding partner with Landmark Mortgage. ""The new branch enables us to offer our mortgage banking expertise to the Brentwood community and we're very fortunate to be growing and actively recruiting new mortgage advisors.""

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Assuming the role of branch manager, LaGrasso, a Brentwood native, arrives with several years of credible experience in mortgage originations, with the statement calling her passionate about assisting families with their lending needs.

""LaGrasso takes pride in her excellent client-communication skills, as well as her ability to maintain high-trust relationships, and aims to make the Brentwood branch the source for East County residents' mortgage loan needs,"" the statement said.

Mortgage advisor Kathy Mertens joins LaGrasso at the new branch. Having worked in real estate since 1990, she retains past roles with operations for Landmark Mortgage at Brentwood, Discovery Bay, and Intero Realty. Twenty-two years of experience help make her a ""tremendous asset for Brentwood's real estate community,"" the statement added.

The new branch merits official attention in Brentwood. According to the statement, Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor and Chamber of Commerce members will be on hand Thursday to cut the ribbon and officially open the grand opening.