Leo Whitton

About

Morning coffee with Leo Whitton, Managing Partner and VP of Sacramento’s Empire Home Loans

Meeting Leo Whitton for morning coffee at a bustling midtown café in Sacramento, I can tell right away that he isn’t your typical loan officer.

After a few sips and some small talk, I ask Leo what sets him apart.

“I’m not interested in transactions,” he answers after carefully considering the question. “I’m interested in people. So, my goal is always to forge meaningful relationships with my clients, becoming a trusted mortgage advisor and even their friend.”

For nearly three decades, he’s done just that, serving the greater Sacramento area with precision, a pillar in the lending community and stalwart in Sactown’s business scene.

“I want to be there for them long-term, helping them make smart choices when it comes to one of the most important financial decisions they’ll make,” he adds.

Starting as a retail loan officer in 1993, Leo soon transitioned into the wholesale side of the business. He spent nearly 20 years in wholesale, supporting hundreds of mortgage brokers, and managing large teams of Account Executives throughout Northern California. His wholesale personal production exceeded more than $4 billion.

A member of the California Association of Mortgage Professionals (CAMP) since 2005, his love of the industry caught the attention of his peers, who voted him a board member for the Greater Sacramento Chapter in 2007. Leo went on to become the president of that Sacramento chapter and Leo went on to become the president of the Sacramento chapter and served four terms as president. In 2017, he was named vice president of the California Association of Mortgage Professionals at the state level, a distinct honor.

Throughout his tenure as an advocate in the mortgage community, Leo has focused on uplifting the standards of the industry by hosting numerous educational and speaking engagements throughout California.

The next evolution in Leo’s career led him to cut the ribbon on Empire Home Loans, Inc. (NMLS#: 1839243, DRE #: 02086593) in the Summer of 2019, getting back to his roots as a mortgage broker.

“I’ve spent the last 20 years educating and supporting others, so I felt it was time for me to jump back into originating so I can give my clients more personal attention,” says Whitton. “Teaming up with an experienced and dedicated mortgage originator like Anthony Lombardo really made the decision a no-brainer.”

A dedicated father to two grown sons, Leo is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying biking, boating, snowmobiling, scuba diving, and camping in our beautiful northern California nature.

He’s active in the local community, living in Auburn, where he grew up and graduated from Oakmont High in ’86.

“I’m just a local guy who loves to help people,” he says as we get up to leave, Leo waving goodbye and thanking the familiar staff. “That’s my north star. It keeps me working hard every day, and I consider myself darn fortunate to still be able to do that after all these years.”

I encourage you to contact Leo Whitton if you have any questions about buying a home or refinancing – or just to grab a cup of coffee and get to know him, too!