A rebounding housing market in the Wilmington area has led Georgia-based BrandMortgage to open a local branch location.

The office opened its doors at 400 Carl St., Suite 102 in late 2015, according to officials.

“Over the next five years, this port city is ranked among the best markets in the country for projected growth,” the firm’s news release stated. “Home prices are still down nearly 20% since their peak in 2007, which is encouraging people to build and buy.”

Wendy Mitchell and John Friend are the branch managers of the new office. Ashley Ballard is the office’s loan processor.

“The three of us have worked together in the local mortgage market for eight years,” Mitchell said Monday, adding that they have a combined total of more than 60 years in mortgage lending.

The firm’s mortgage products include several very specialized loans, such as residential loans for doctors and dentists and first-time homebuyers.

BrandMortgage is a subsidiary of The Brand Banking Company, which was founded in 1905 and is based in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

BrandMortgage has “pretty much cornered the market in Georgia” and is expanding into new markets, Mitchell said. It now has offices throughout the Southeast and provides loans in 10 states. The firm’s only other North Carolina location is in Charlotte.