Two Illinois Lenders Come Together

Draper and Kramer Mortgage Corp., Chicago, and 1st Advantage Mortgage LLC, headquartered in the suburb of Lombard, Ill., have combined operations. Draper and Kramer Mortgage is an affiliate of Draper and Kramer, Inc., a privately held real estate service company. The companies believe that integrating their businesses will lead to greater efficiency by combining their technologies, systems and management. This will result in pricing benefits and increased locations while they continue to utilize the best methods to bring clients the highest level of service. Paul Lueken will serve as president of the combined operations. He is currently the president of 1st Advantage Mortgage as well as president of the Illinois Association of Mortgage Professionals. "We are very pleased to announce this business partnership," said Forrest D. Bailey, president and CEO of Draper and Kramer Inc. and CEO of Draper and Kramer Mortgage. "Having been active in residential mortgage industry for over 50 years, this initiative underscores our companies continued commitment to the residential mortgage business as one of the four main pillars that make our company what it is today: a strong, diversified real estate company." Headquarters for the combined mortgage operations will be in Lombard. The company will maintain over a dozen offices in Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas and Arizona.