WaMu to Open 3 New MF Offices

Washington Mutual Inc., Seattle, has announced that it will open three new multifamily lending offices on the Eastern Seaboard by the end of the year, one each in Boston, Miami, and Washington.WaMu said the planned openings are the company's latest moves to boost its multifamily lending presence in the East. The multifamily office it opened last year in New York City generated $450 million in applications and more than $70 million in closed loans in its first 120 days, WaMu reported. Al Brooks, executive vice president and division executive of WaMu's multifamily lending division, said the lender plans to hire loan consultants, underwriters, appraisers, and closers in each of the new markets. The bank recently hired Jim Whitehouse as senior vice president and Eastern region manager to oversee its multifamily lending in the East, WaMu said. The company now has multifamily lending offices in Los Angeles; Orange County, Calif.; San Diego; Sacramento, Calif.; Oakland, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; Seattle; Denver; Minneapolis; Chicago; and New York. WaMu can be found online at http://www.wamu.com.