Homeownership can seem like a fantasy for many people, but with the right team of professionals, it can be more than just a dream.
Flat Branch Home Loans is a division of Flat Branch Mortgage, Inc. founded by Jim Yankee in 2005. In 2021 Yankee decided to sell his majority stake in Flat Branch Home Loans and establish an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The company’s journey and growth ultimately led them to Fayetteville, North Carolina, and the hiring of Constance Paz.
Constance Paz is the Senior Mortgage Banker at Flat Branch Home Loans, a new local mortgage company serving Fayetteville and the surrounding areas. To celebrate this new chapter, Flat Branch Home Loans held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 6 at their new office located at 2504 Raeford Road Ste 202.
Paz graduated from college with a degree in marketing and communications but did not have a clear idea of the career path she wanted to pursue. Her cousin, who had over a decade of experience, introduced her to the field of mortgage lending. As she considered the career option further it was clear that it aligned with her interests.
“I love math. I wanted something in numbers, and then I wanted something in sales,” remarked Paz.
Paz has now been a local lender for four years. She takes pride in helping individuals, families and real estate professionals navigate the homeownership journey with expert guidance and personalized mortgage solutions. Whether buying, selling or refinancing, Paz is detail-oriented and takes the time to get to know the needs of each of her clients.
“I take the time. I hold my clients' hands through it, and it probably doesn’t grow my business as fast as I want sometimes because I’m taking that extra minute to help them understand [things] like what an escrow account is or just giving them that extra explanation. But I truly believe when my borrowers close that they know how to buy a house, and they know the things to watch out for. And the next time they buy a house, if it’s with me…or if they’re in a different state and they end up with a different lender, they know the way that it’s supposed to be done,” shared Paz.
“I think that people don’t realize how much they’re actually able to buy a house. [They don’t realize] how much assistance is out here, like down payment assistance, or different lenders that will help you with your credit repair or things like that,” remarked Paz.
There are many different types of mortgage loans and assistance programs available including: conventional, Federal Housing Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and more. Flat Branch also offers an exclusive program called “Community Champions” for public servants like firefighters, police officers, school staff and more.
“Everything that I stand for in my business is to defy the statistics. So if you are, on a piece of paper, statistically not supposed to buy a home because you’re a single parent and you’re low income…then those are the people I want to help the most,” shared Paz.
The work that Paz does is very personal to her. After her father passed away from cancer when she was 11, her mother struggled as a single mom to take care of them. Paz wishes that her mom had had someone like her to help guide her through the loan process and educate her about the assistance programs available.
In spite of grief and financial hardship, Paz’s mom remained resilient and taught her daughter to do the same. By having faith in God and giving herself and others grace, Paz was able to make remarkable strides in her career.
“I just never gave up, and I finally could start to see everything come together. I mean, I walked into a real estate office every single day for months before anyone in there even remembered my name. I was resilient. And I’m so proud of the name that I’ve established for myself here in just a short four years. I moved here with no one. I didn’t know anybody. So the amount of supporters I have in the real estate community blows my mind. But I’ve just been a good person, and if you’re good to people, they’ll remember you,” remarked Paz.
Paz is proud of her work ethic and the things she’s been able to accomplish at a young age, and she hopes to encourage others to follow their dreams too. She shares that the key to success is figuring out what drives you.
“Figure out what your ‘why’ is. What is your ‘why?’ Why do you wake up every day? Why do you push yourself? There’s something you’re trying to achieve, and my why is to let my mom relax, and myself,” shared Paz.
Though her dad is not here to see the great things his daughter has accomplished thus far, Paz is certain he’d be proud of her.
“I’m super pumped to make things in his legacy,” remarked Paz.
With four years under her belt and many more to go, Paz is only just getting started at making a difference in the lives of Fayetteville’s newest homeowners.
AFCEA- NC Fort Bragg Chapter’s annual summit brings together leaders from industry, academic and research institutions, innovation hubs, Veteran organizations and elite Army and Special Operations commands. Graphic provided by Phil Williams
Fayetteville brokers and agents are entering 2026 with cautious optimism about what lies ahead.
Located at 225 Hay St. in downtown Fayetteville, Cameo Art House Theatre has two auditoriums and screens films ranging from classics to new releases. The theater also prioritizes spotlighting local and up-and-coming filmmakers. Photo by James Throsse
