LoanDepot Opens in Towne Centre

With red paint still drying on new curbs in the Towne Centre parking lot, representatives from the city of Lake Forest, , and loanDepot celebrated the business' first day open in town.

LoanDepot management and employees, Lake Forest Mayor Peter Herzog and members of the Chamber of Commerce attended an early afternoon ribbon-cutting outside the company's new offices.

"We're very pleased that you chose this city to bring your business to," Herzog said in a short speech before he cut the ribbon alongside loanDepot founder and Chief Executive Officer Anthony Hsieh.

LoanDepot, a residential mortgage company originally based in Irvine, is bringing more than 500 employees to Lake Forest, including those employed by its wholesale business, O2 Funding, and escrow division.

Hsieh called the grand opening date--8/8--a "good sign," noting that eights are considered auspicious in Chinese culture. 

This weekend, the company moved into nearly 85,000 square feet of office space within two three-story buildings adjacent to the Foothill Ranch Towne Centre food court on Bake Parkway and Towne Centre Drive.

Founded in January 2010, loanDepot is one of the largest online lenders in the country.

The newcomer is also one of the corporate sponsors of the , taking place through Sunday.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the host of the ribbon-cutting. The city of Lake Forest hosted Monday's event.