PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — Movement Mortgage, a national top 10 retail mortgage lender, is excited to announce the addition of Branch Leader Jason Knee to the Northeast market. Knee will be based out of the Greater Philadelphia metro area.
Knee brings nearly two decades of experience to the Movement Mortgage team. Starting as a mortgage originator SLM Financial, a division of Sallie Mae, he was quickly scooped up by TD Bank, N.A., an American subsidiary of the Canadian multinational Toronto-Dominion Bank. With nearly 11 years under his belt, Knee moved to Citizen’s National for five years before returning to TD Bank in 2019.
Knee fell into this business by accident during his last year of college. “The air-conditioning in my car needed repair, and I just took the first job I could find because I needed the money,” he laughs.
A pivotal career point was in 2009 when a financial advisor convinced Knee there was no way to annuitize this business, that every day was a new day where you essentially had to start over. That set him on a path of making a name for himself by taking care of each customer, advising them properly, and being a good steward of their money. “I’ve always provided service before sales,” Knee mentions. “I do my best to help others make the right decisions, not just getting them a mortgage and moving on. It’s given me a business I can count on year after year.”
It was obviously a good career choice: Knee closed $ 339 million in 2020. He’s grown his business — and his reputation — not only by working with first-time homebuyers but by developing expertise in Jumbo Loans. One area of focus has been with medical professionals, and because customers feel very supported by Knee and his team, referrals are a big part of his growth strategy.
For Knee, bringing those business relationships to Movement made sense. “I’ve always appreciated Movement’s customer-first attitude over profit,” he says. “I’m not really a suit and tie kind of guy, so I find that if I’m more relaxed, my clients relax. The relationships come easier that way.” This approach also works with agent partners. Knee has found that helping smaller agents grow their business, rather than competing for a piece of the pie with more established agents, has helped him raise his game.
Movement agrees. “Jason has been a long-time legend in our marketplace. I knew from the first time I met him that he was a perfect fit for Movement Mortgage,” recalls Northeast Regional Director Spiro Kontostergios. “Four long years later, I am excited to welcome him to the family.”
When not helping families get into new homes, Knee (NMLS #415918) enjoys real estate investing and ice hockey. Even more important than his work is the life he shares with his wife Sandra and daughters: Brooke, 11 and Emily, 9.
About Movement Mortgage
Movement Mortgage exists to love and value people by leading a Movement of Change in its industry, corporate culture and communities. Movement funded $ 30 billion in residential mortgages in 2020 and is the sixth-largest retail mortgage lender in the U.S. Movement is best known for its innovative mortgage process and referable experience, which begins with Upfront Underwriting and a seven-day loan processing goal. The company employs more than 4,000 people, has more than 750 branches in the U.S. and is licensed in all 50 states. Movement has given $ 260 million of profit to its charitable arm, the Movement Foundation, for reinvestment in schools, neighborhoods and developing countries. For more information, visit www.movement.com.
