David Johnston

David’s mortgage lending career began in 1984 as an originator for the Hammond Company, a New Port Beach based mortgage banker, where he became a top producer and was voted “Top Branch Manager,” for 1987.

He later established a branch for Broadview Mortgage in San Diego as a producing branch manager and quickly established relationships with some of San Diego County’s most respected builders and Realtors.

David established PacWest Mortgage in 1992, as president/owner where he set up conventional and government lending conduits.  During that time PacWest Mortgage became a “preferred lender” for both Bank of America and PNC Bank.

David was the senior vice president for McMillin Mortgage where he raised the mortgage volume 114% from 1995 through 1998.  During that time David secured his master’s degree form the University of Redlands, where he completed master’s thesis on fully integrating an in-house mortgage company into an affiliated real estate firm and raising capture rates on buyer-controlled realty business.  Putting his business plan to work, Johnston raised the buyer-controlled capture rate from under 20% to a high of 42%.

During his tenure at McMillin Real Estate and Mortgage David instituted a total quality management approach to the mortgage origination process.  In addition, he was honored as a McMillin Principals award winner in 1998.  Johnston created the operations and operations organization that allowed McMillin Mortgage to close $528 million in real estate loans in 2003.  Also he established the mortgage banking department for the firm, by securing a $35 million warehouse line of credit with Washington Mutual and establishing the correspondent relationships that provided the mortgage products for McMillin Mortgage.

Joining General Mortgage of the Associates Group in June of 2004, Johnston has been assigned the tasks of increasing buyer-side capture rates from Coldwell Banker Associates, its sister company, and expanding the mortgage banking department.  General Mortgage closed over $768 million in real estate loans in 2003, originated by forty loan officers.  The company has origination branches in Mission Valley, Scripps Ranch and Temecula California.

David joined Wells Fargo PMB in August 2007 and quickly qualified for level A underwriting authority.  In addition to working at San Diego Mortgage Network David is an adjunct professor at both City and Mesa Community Colleges, teaching Real Estate Principles and Real Estate Finance.