Roxanne Carr, one of the trailblazers in the local mortgage lending industry, has announced her retirement effective Jan. 1, 2012. Carr founded The Mortgage House in 1995 after more than 20 years with the then-ARCS Mortgage.
A Southern California native, Carr came to the Central Coast more than 30 years ago to establish an ARCS office in San Luis Obispo. Within three years, her operation was the highest performing of ARCS’ 59 nationwide branches. While at ARCS, she pioneered mortgage banking in the area, establishing FHA and VA lending and offering the area’s first reverse mortgages. She eventually rose to Western Regional Vice President for ARCS, overseeing some 29 branches and more than 300 employees.
Carr and her former boss at ARCS, Ira Cohen, founded The Mortgage House in 1995. The new mortgage banking firm offered clients a firm that was intentionally small, had impeccable integrity and a focus on close; personal service. It quickly became the community’s premier mortgage lending organization and, true to its founding principles, operated without being drawn into the “mortgage meltdown” that characterized many of its business competitors.
Carr says her company reflected her core beliefs and her fervent interest in helping people achieve the goal of home ownership. She has a special interest in women’s issues and has been a powerful public speaker on the topic.
Carr is also a sought-after leader, having served as a founding board member for the UCSB Economic Forecast Project and Mission Community Bank. She is the past president of SLO Rotary and has served on the boards of numerous business and philanthropic organizations. She is a current member of the board of directors of the Cuesta College Foundation.
She authored the successful “Ask Roxanne” columns that appeared in local newspapers for more than 10 years. She has amassed nearly 500 columns and continues to receive questions from throughout the world.
Carr married well-known local architect Rod Levin 18 years ago. The couple makes their home in Shell Beach.
She has named Charlotte Storlie vice president / regional manager to replace her at The Mortgage House. Carr will continue as a senior advisor for the firm.
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