When Irene Amato launched A.S.A.P. Mortgage from her home in 2001, she had three children under age 5 and needed a way to balance work and family responsibilities.
Six months later, her mortgage brokerage was growing so rapidly she had to open an office and hire her first employee. Since then, A.S.A.P. has ballooned to seven office locations, with two in Cortlandt Manor and one each in Croton-on-Hudson, White Plains, New York City, and Fishkill, plus an impending Bronx location in 2020. The 28-employee company, which is in the process of purchasing a new headquarters in Peekskill, has assisted more than 5,000 homebuyers with mortgage financing since its inception and closed more than $2 billion in loan volume — including $300 million in 2019 alone, says Amato.
Beyond offering an array of mortgage products and competitive rates, Amato distinguishes her firm through customer service. “I try to instill in the company the idea we’re delivering an experience, not just a transaction,” says Amato.
Born and raised in the Bronx, Amato’s parents both passed away by the time she was 18. She was determined to carve a successful path for herself. The Cortland Manor resident — a graduate of the educational program Goldman Sachs 10K Small Businesses — now gives back as an instructor at Westchester Community College and a business coach.
“If I can change the world one person at a time, I’m happy with that,” she says.
