Family within a family

by Sean McCarthy

Thirty-three years ago, in a rented one-room office in Avon, Connecticut, Phil DeFronzo and his mother, Sophie DeFronzo, launched Norcom Mortgage.

Today the company has a national footprint with 41 locations across America.

One of those locations was opened nine years ago in Fall River with the ambitious vision of Donna Winn. Winn’s aim was to establish her reach from coast-to-coast – a goal she eventually realized with the opening of branches on Cape Cod and in Torrance, California.

Combining the professional track record of a proven company with the family feel that only comes from a community-based business, Norcom offers 24/7 service with an emphasis on making the mortgage experience transparent and convenient, living up to their motto of “We Make Homes Happen.”

“We’ve had growth and success because we’ve built a good team that is like a family. We’re like-minded people working together with an understanding of the community,” says Winn, Regional Manager and Norcom Partner. “Personal service sets us apart – we’re open on nights and weekends, and we provide a process that doesn’t make people feel like a number.”

If you’re looking for a house on the weekend or you need to do business at night, the Norcom team is available to you. They understand that clients want the experience of buying a house to be comfortable and honest with a proactive agency.

Today, Winn boasts three Norcom offices – the main branch is at 139 South Main Street in Fall River, and their Cape Cod branch is at 4 Merchant Square in Sandwich. Since 2018 they have had an office in Torrance, California, which enables them to provide mortgages throughout the state. Norcom is also licensed throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

“We pride ourselves on communication with the client,” says Kevin James, Manager of the Sandwich location. “If I have to pull my car into a parking lot and take out my laptop to do business with a client then that’s what I’ll do. I’ve had offers accepted at midnight.”

In addition to conventional mortgages, Norcom also offers FHA, VA, USDA, MA Housing, Rehab Loans, Reverse Mortgages and Bank Statement Programs for self-employed borrowers.

“It’s a competitive market, but we have flexibility as a direct lender,” Winn says. “We do programs that other lenders can’t do. We offer programs that people don’t usually see on Cape Cod. We do loans that small local banks aren’t doing.”

Helping clients Winn

Giving back to the community is an important role for the Norcom family. Five years ago the company created “Norcom Cares,” a charity organization that provides for the underserved across the nation. In the South Coast, the Fall River and Sandwich branches contribute donations and volunteering to numerous organizations, including the Fall River YMCA Toy Fund. They have helped the Boys & Girls Clubs send children to summer camps, and provided dozens of bicycles to foster children. They have contributed to veterans’ and childrens’ charities in the greater Fall River and New Bedford area, and Donna Winn has mentored in the Fall River Public School System.

“Having been raised in the north end of Fall River it’s a pleasure to be able to give back,” Donna Winn says. “People know that they can call Norcom for a donation.”

The local Norcom businesses are a family within a family. In addition to Donna, the organization includes her husband Brent Winn (a loan officer), her son Tyler Winn (marketing director and loan officer), brother-in-law Doug Dalton (senior processor), her nephew Keith Lambert, (processor), her sister Paula Dalton, (marketing assistant), and her daughter-in-law Jessica Winn (marketing assistant).

Other members of the team include loan officers Randall Pina, Alex Pena, Gary Corvelo, Nick Briguglio, David Zionts, and David Sorensen.

“Our success is generated from the top-down,” says Tyler Winn. “It’s about being good to your people and doing well for your client. The company cares about your success as much as you do. Client relationships are what I love about being in the mortgage industry. It’s awesome to sit at the closing table and see the joy in a client’s face as a new chapter is opening for them. One of the biggest decisions in many people’s lives is to buy a house and we can help them.”

Norcom can be contacted at 401-663-6889 or 508-672-0005 or visit fallriver.norcommortgage.com