Sisters grad is a loan officer with Guild Mortgage

Brennan Layne has deep roots in Sisters. Soon, he and his wife, Megan, will be welcoming the fourth generation to their family. Layne graduated from Sisters High School in 2012. He appreciated his childhood experience so much that he moved his growing family back to Central Oregon, where he has taken up a practice as a loan officer with Guild Mortgage.

“I’m a third-generation Sisters person who really understands the community, and the market. My great-grandfather bought the third house at Black Butte Ranch. My wife and I will be welcoming our first child soon. I was born at St. Charles, and so will our baby,” said Layne.

Layne left for six years while going to Gonzaga University and then working in Spokane. He came back, not just because his family is here, but because he wanted to be in this area and raise a family here.

“I couldn’t imagine doing it any other place, even if my mom and dad didn’t live right down the road,” he said.

Guild Mortgage was a perfect fit for Layne’s growing career.

“I’ve been with Guild for over three years. I’m a loan officer in the Bend branch. We are individual loan officers, but it’s really one big family. Growing up in Sisters, with my grandparents and parents still living in Sisters, I’d love to have more clients in Sisters Country. I run into old friends from Sisters all the time, so it makes sense to work with them too,” he said.

Layne appreciates Guild Mortgage’s long and successful track record in the industry and 61 years in business. Layne is proud of the fact that his company is the number-one purchase lender in Oregon.

“It’s a really good brand. We say it’s not about that 30-day transaction, but the 30-year loan,” said Layne. “We sell mortgages, and help customers manage them. I show them how the initial loan can grow to make more money down the line; like if they take out their equity and buy a rental property. It’s all about managing the mortgage long-term and making it as valuable as possible over time. We take care of people from their first home to their last. You can use your equity to do amazing things. It can open a lot of doors for people.”

One of the favorite parts of Layne’s job is building relationships with people and discovering the best loan possible for them.

“It’s cool meeting new people. Every single person and transaction is a puzzle. No two loans are the same. The challenges are fun,” said Layne.

Business has slowed down due to the economy. Layne is adapting to that change and finding the benefits of being more of a presence outside of the office.

When he’s not working, Layne is an avid skier. He’s looking forward to skiing with family and friends this season.

“I love skiing in Central Oregon, from night skiing at Hoodoo or heading up to Bachelor,” he said. “I grew up skiing at Hoodoo; that’s where I put the skis and board on for the first time and where my parents would drop me off in fifth grade and then someone’s parents would pick me up… that’s where it all began. I taught my wife how to ski.”

During the summer, Brennan and Megan love hanging out at Billy Chinook.

“It’s a great time. We wait in line with all the other crazies,” he said, laughing.

With so many Sisters “kids” returning to Central Oregon, Layne is making all kinds of connections with former classmates.

“My friends are buying houses now; I’d love to work with them and their parents,” Layne said. “A lot of my friends are in business and it’s fun to work with them. We’re all in different industries; all here trying to make a living and growing our families.”

To reach out to Brennan Layne email him at [email protected] His office with Guild Mortgage is located in Bend at 397 SW Upper Terrace Dr., Suite 150, Bend, OR 97702.