Owen Lee, CEO of Plymouth-based Success Mortgage Partners Inc., was sworn in as 2027 chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) on Sunday, Oct. 11, during the group's annual convention in Chicago.
The MBA announced Lee's appointment alongside two other new officers. The role places Lee, whose firm employs nearly 500 people and closes billions of dollars in mortgage loans each year, at the head of the national trade group for real estate finance.
"The challenges facing housing affordability demand more than discussion — they demand action and greater engagement from our industry," Lee said in the announcement.
Local roots
Lee co-founded Success Mortgage Partners with his father, Vincent Lee, in 2002. The company is headquartered in Plymouth and licensed in 44 states plus the District of Columbia, according to the company's leadership page. SMP has closed billions of dollars in mortgage loans each year since 2016.
Lee also serves as managing member of Title Partners LLC, a full-service title insurance and escrow agency based in Plymouth, according to the company's leadership page.
He earned a political science degree from Villanova University and graduated cum laude with a law degree from Michigan State University.
National policy work
Lee's MBA involvement predates the chairmanship. He served as co-chair of the association's Independent Mortgage Bankers Executive Council and chaired MORPAC, the MBA's political action committee, from 2023 to 2024.
On March 26, while serving as MBA chair-elect, Lee testified before the U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. His prepared remarks said SMP is a top 100 VA lender and has closed between $100 million and $220 million in VA loans each year since 2020, helping more than 3,100 veteran families.
Priorities for 2027
Lee outlined three goals for his term: advancing solutions to make homeownership and renting more accessible, building a pipeline of new talent through career development, and mobilizing loan officers to advocate for policies that expand housing opportunities.
On Oct. 12, MBA and FirstHome IQ announced MBA Homebase, an initiative spearheaded by Lee that offers loan officers training, coaching and opportunities to participate in industry advocacy.
John Hedlund, vice chairman of ICE Mortgage Technology, was sworn in as MBA chair-elect alongside Lee. Jeff Weidell, CEO of Northmarq, was sworn in as vice chair.
