Orly Hakimi

I'm Orly Hakimi, Senior Mortgage Banker at Lendwise Mortgage, NMLS #1017858. For more than 30 years I've helped thousands of homebuyers, homeowners, and real estate investors finance their homes — and I work with clients in English, Farsi, and Hebrew. Buying a home is one of the most meaningful milestones in a person's life, and what keeps me inspired after three decades isn't closing loans. It's the lasting relationships, and the look on a client's face when they get the keys.

Whether you're purchasing your first home, upgrading to your dream home, refinancing, or investing in real estate, my mission is the same: make the mortgage process simple, transparent, and stress-free. Every client deserves personalized guidance, honest communication, and a lending strategy built around their financial goals — not a script.

I specialize in conventional, jumbo, FHA, VA, and USDA mortgage financing, along with Non-QM programs for borrowers whose income doesn't fit the standard documentation box — including DSCR loans for real estate investors, which qualify on a property's rental income rather than personal tax returns. I also offer ITIN loans for borrowers who pay taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number instead of a Social Security number, and reverse mortgages for homeowners 62 and older who want to put the equity they've built to work in retirement. Beyond traditional home loans, I help investors and developers finance multifamily properties, apartment buildings, construction projects, and bridge loans as they grow their portfolios.

Sometimes the difference between a denial and an approval is someone who takes the time to truly listen. A buyer once came to me after several lenders had turned him down — unconventional income, a credit score that wasn't where it needed to be. Everyone had looked at his file and decided homeownership was out of reach. I took the time to understand his work and his full financial picture, structured the file so the underwriter could clearly see his ability to repay, and worked with him on a plan to strengthen his credit. He owns his home today. Every borrower's situation is different and no approval is final until underwriting is complete, but that file is how I approach every client: listen first, understand the whole story, and find solutions where others only see limitations.

Throughout my career I've consistently been recognized as a top producer, month after month. I'm proud of that — but I'm prouder that most of my business comes from repeat clients and referrals. There is no greater compliment than a client coming back for their next home, or sending me their parents, their children, or their friends.

Language should never be the reason a family feels lost in the biggest transaction of their lives. I proudly guide borrowers in English, Farsi, and Hebrew — explaining every document, every number, and every step so my clients feel comfortable, understood, and empowered from application to closing. For many of the families I serve in the Los Angeles area and throughout California, that comfort is the difference between dreading the process and enjoying it.

The mortgage industry has changed dramatically in 30 years, and I've evolved with it — staying current on lending guidelines, loan programs, and market trends so my clients always hear their real options. Experience matters. So does listening, adapting, and putting the client first, every time.

Whether it's your very first home or your fifth, my goal is for the financing to be one of the easiest parts of your journey. I'm honored by the trust my clients place in me, and when I'm not working, you'll find me where the whole thing starts and ends — with family and friends.