Dr. Christopher Mayer has led Longbridge’s growth from a startup company in 2013 to the second largest reverse mortgage lender and the largest wholesale lender in 2023, with a 22% HMBS market share for newly originated loans. He has guided the construction of new proprietary reverse mortgage products and helped develop an innovative new securitization structure to reduce the funding cost of new loans. From 2018-2022, Chris helped manage Longbridge’s growth in funded loans from $377 mm to $2.12 bn, propelling the company to become the industry’s fastest growing major reverse mortgage lender. With an “Excellent” rating on TrustPilot and an A+ rating and finalist for the Torch Award for Ethics at the Better Business Bureau, Longbridge is a mission-driven company helping to serve older Americans.
Previously Chris served as Senior Vice Dean and Director of the Milstein Center for Real Estate at Columbia Business School, where he continues to teach today. Dr. Mayer received his PhD in Economics from MIT and has held positions at the University of Pennsylvania and the Federal Reserve. Earlier in his career, Chris established himself as an internationally renowned expert on mortgages and housing. His research has been published in top academic journals and has been funded by the National Science Foundation. During the Financial Crisis, he often engaged with policy makers, testifying six times before Senate and House Committees and writing for the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. Chris is regularly quoted in the press, including The New York Times, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, and new media such as Vice Media and Yahoo Finance. A true innovator and “Industry Changemaker,” Chris has committed to building and growing a company that helps Seniors responsibly tap their home equity to have a more secure and satisfying retirement.
