Seeing Around Corners

"I am blessed to call Stan Middleman my friend. He is the epitome of the American success story—hard work, an idea, loyalty, friendship, and treating people right. Stan’s dream has helped thousands and thousands of Americans see their dream of a home for their family come true. My friend Stan has always cared for others and worked to make his community a better place. Stan Middleman’s devotion to his family, his faith, his country, and his friends helps make him such a special person. Stan’s decency and character shine through in all he does every day. Stan Middleman has been an adviser and a friend to me, and I am very lucky that he is a big part of my life."

—Joe Donnelly

"An American success story, Stan Middleman leveraged hard work and a focus on looking around corners to build a mortgage empire. His success is more than that, though. Stan truly cares about providing homeownership opportunities to those striving to climb the economic ladder like he did. His belief in the broad social good from families achieving home-ownership led him to become one of the country’s leading FHA and VA lenders. His business success also derives from planning ahead, knowing that a down market today could be up tomorrow, and that a booming market today won’t last."

—Ed DeMarco

President, Housing Policy Council

Former FHFA Director

"Any historical reference to the United States mortgage market, especially the last twenty years, must include Stan Middleman and the significant expansion of Freedom Mortgage into an industry leader. Stan’s vision, exceptional work ethic, and inability to take no for an answer made him an industry titan whose advice and counsel are in high demand."

—Brian Montgomery

Partner, Gate House Strategies, LLC

"Success is never an accident. It takes commitment, drive, energy, risk taking, and the keen sense to go a different direction from the herd at times. I first met Stan when I was FHA commissioner at HUD back in 2010. In the years since, I’ve seen how Stan has turned Freedom into the massively successful institution it is today while remaining basically a family-owned company. Freedom, under Stan’s leadership, remains on the forefront of the success stories in the mortgage banking industry. Over the past many years, Stan has shown his insights that separate him from others. From bold moves to grow his servicing portfolio, technology implementations that have reduced friction in his loan operations and servicing to significant moves in channel focus on the origination side of the business. This book is a must read for all current mortgage executives as well as the up-and-comers who want to understand what it takes to be simply better than the rest."

—David Stevens, CMB

Former FHA Commissioner

"This book is a joy. It is both the story of Stan Middleman, the founder of Freedom Mortgage, one of the largest government lenders in the country, and a look at principles for managing a successful business, merged together into a really enjoyable to read book."

—Laurie Goodman

Urban Institute

"Stan is not a “go with the flow” guy, and his somewhat unorthodox approach has served him well as he has created and grown one of the nation’s largest mortgage lenders and servicers. He has a passion for providing homeownership opportunities to people from all walks of life, and he gives back generously to causes and organizations that strengthen our communities.

—Robert D. Broeksmit, CMB

President and CEO, Mortgage Bankers Association

"Stan Middleman possesses all of the qualities and then some of the most successful among us: talent, drive, perseverance, and imagination. But what most distinguishes Stan is his heart for the mission—the mission of giving every Main Street American the freedom to choose to own their own home."

—Kurt Potenhauer

Vice Chairman, First American

"Seeing Around Corners is an insightful story about a mortgage banking icon, Stan Middleman, founder and CEO of Freedom Mortgage. As a Pennsylvania native, hearing about Stan’s early years in Philadelphia and his serial approach to entrepreneurship from a very early age helps us understand his journey to leading a top national residential mortgage originator and loan servicer. His story is not for the faint of heart yet shows young entrepreneurs not to be afraid of failure. The book showcases Stan’s indomitable character and his values as a leader. By Seeing Around Corners, Stan anticipated the mortgage cycles over three decades and achieved enduring success as a result."

—Faith Schwartz

CEO and Founder, Housing Finance Strategies