Cendera Funding in Picayune now has an additional licensed loan officer and production partner, Jessica Tebo.

She will be working with Melissa Ruble, the branch production manager, to help Pearl River County residents secure various types of housing loans.

Cendera Funding, located at 104 Kirkwood St., Suite C in Picayune, is one of many branches across the south that provide full service mortgages. Tebo brings 20 years of experience to the area and said she and Ruble have made a great team in the past.

Since Tebo and Ruble will work together to accomplish the same goal, customers will receive double the service, Tebo said.

A new effort is being initiated by the team to promote the community and local businesses by holding public meetings where first-time homebuyers can get information about applying for a mortgage, and business leaders can participate in networking lunches once a month to share ideas and learn about the various services offered in Picayune. Tebo said the networking lunches will help promote local businesses by educating the community about the various businesses in Pearl River County. 

The next first-time homebuyer presentation will be held Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Italian Grill and the next networking lunch will be held at noon March 29, at Cracking Shells and Dipping Tails located on West Canal Street. Subsequent lunches will take place the last Thursday of each month at the same venue.

During the networking lunches, Tebo and Ruble will invite representatives from the various county and city governments along with representatives of the local chambers of commerce and Picayune Main Street. The effort is being called Pearl River Business Leaders, and will provide each attendee an opportunity to talk about their business. During the meetings a representative of city or county government will provide updates about the area.

While at work, the team helps people seeking a mortgage who were recently turned down. Tebo said she and Ruble can help those who currently don’t qualify for a traditional mortgage. Anyone who was told they should wait six months before applying for a traditional mortgage may be approved at Cendera. When that six months elapses, their account can be moved to a traditional mortgage, Tebo said.

Cendera Funding offers an in house bank and zero fees on loans. The staff can help people secure such loans as conventional, FHA, USDA, jumbo, VA and Texas Vet, reverse mortgages, home improvement and interim construction, Tebo said.

Tebo said their average closing time is 22 days and they have access to staff in Louisiana and Texas to assist with the process.

Cendera Funding can be reached at  601-337-0141.