NATIONAL NEWS (AUSTIN, Texas) — — FirstClose™, a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, announced today that Tedd Smith, chief executive officer, has been named to the 2026 National Mortgage Professional Legends of Lending. The honor recognizes mortgage professionals who have made enduring contributions to the industry through innovation, leadership and long-term impact.
Smith is a co-founder of FirstClose and has led the company since its inception. Under his leadership, FirstClose has grown to serve more than 225 financial institutions and supports $129 billion in funded loans. The company’s platform enables lenders to close home equity and second mortgage loans in seven days or less through workflow automation and deep LOS integrations.
“This recognition reflects the work of an exceptional team and the lenders who have trusted us to reimagine what the closing process can look like,” Smith said. “We started FirstClose because we believed technology could fundamentally change the economics of home equity lending, and that belief drives every decision we make.”
Smith’s career in mortgage and housing finance spans more than 30 years. He previously co-founded Flood Zones, Inc., a nationwide automated flood zone certification firm acquired by TransUnion Corporation and now part of Cotality, and Home Equity Loan Corporation, which was sold in 1999.
This year’s Legends of Lending honorees are featured at nationalmortgageprofessional.com.
About FirstClose
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, FirstClose, Inc. provides fintech solutions to HELOC and mortgage lenders nationwide. The company’s mission is to increase profitability and reduce costs for mortgage lenders. FirstClose makes this possible through offering systems and relationships that enable lenders to assist their borrowers more effectively, reduce closing costs, and ultimately shorten closing times. For more information, visit https://firstclose.com.
This version of news story was published on and is Copr. © 2026 Massachusetts Newswire™ (MassachusettsNewswire.com)
