Teresa Carlile Appointed President of Ridgeland Mortgage

Mortgage industry veteran to lead newly formed joint venture between loanDepot and Smith Douglas Homes

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ridgeland Mortgage, the recently formed joint venture between leading mortgage lender loanDepot, Inc. (NYSE: "LDI") and the nation’s 36^th largest new home builder Smith Douglas Homes (NYSE: "SDHC"), has appointed veteran mortgage leader Teresa Carlile as president. In her role, Carlile will lead the business’ growth and daily operations, striving to provide a smooth and streamlined financing experience for Smith Douglas Homes’ customers.

“Teresa is a trusted leader in the mortgage industry, and as our first key hire, she’s an exceptional addition to the Ridgeland Mortgage team,” said Dan Peña, executive vice president of national joint ventures for loanDepot. “With experience across all areas of the business, she brings a wealth of knowledge about mortgage products, complex guidelines, and operations, positioning her as the ideal leader to guide our team in delivering a best-in-class customer experience.”

With more than 25 years of leadership experience in the mortgage industry—notably in the Atlanta, Ga. area, a key growth market for Ridgeland—Carlile has a proven record of helping families achieve the American dream of homeownership. She also brings extensive experience working with national builders, providing valuable expertise to Smith Douglas Homes and the joint venture.

“As we navigate the early growth stages of Ridgeland Mortgage, we are confident that Teresa’s ability to tackle complex challenges, connect with and inspire others, and foster collaboration will be instrumental to the success of the business,” said Greg Bennett, chief executive officer of Smith Douglas Homes. “She is dedicated to building a strong, cohesive team culture, and we’re excited to see her bring that commitment to life with our team.”

The Ridgeland Mortgage joint venture supports Smith Douglas Homes’ continued growth and success while expanding loanDepot’s footprint in the purchase mortgage market. It pairs Smith Douglas Homes’ focus on building high quality homes at attractive prices in growing markets with loanDepot's lending industry expertise and best-in-class platform. As Ridgeland Mortgage grows, the company plans to operate in the following markets:

• Atlanta and Central GA
• Houston, TX
• Birmingham and Huntsville, AL
• Charlotte and Raleigh, NC
• Chattanooga and Nashville, TN

“Much like the mission of Ridgeland Mortgage, I have dedicated my career to supporting families in achieving their homeownership goals, and I look forward to leading our team to success with a contagious sense of purpose and passion,” said Carlile.

About loanDepot

At loanDepot (NYSE: LDI), we know home means everything. That’s why we are on a mission to support homeowners with a suite of products and services that fuel the American Dream. Our portfolio of digital-first home purchase, home refinance and home equity lending products make homeownership more accessible, achievable, and rewarding, especially for the increasingly diverse communities of first-time homebuyers we serve. Headquartered in Southern California with local market offices nationwide, loanDepot and its sister real estate and home services company, mellohome, are dedicated to helping customers put down roots and bring dreams to life – all while building stronger communities and a better tomorrow.

About Smith Douglas Homes

Headquartered in Woodstock, Georgia, Smith Douglas Homes completed its initial public offering in January 2024. Since its inception, Smith Douglas has been entrusted by over 15,000 families to fulfill their new home dreams. Ranked a top 50 builder nationally for several years and with 2,297 closings in 2023, Smith Douglas currently holds the #36 position on the Builder Magazine Top 100 list. The Smith Douglas communities are primarily targeted to entry-level and empty-nest homebuyers looking to purchase a new home priced below the Federal Housing Administration loan limit in the metro areas of Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Houston, Huntsville, Nashville, and Raleigh. Smith Douglas offers its homebuyers a personalized, affordable luxury buying experience at attractive prices.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250109008163/en/

Media Contact:

Jonathan Fine

VP, Public Relations

(781) 248-3963

jfine@loandepot.com

Smith Douglas Homes Investor Relations Contact:

Joe Thomas

SVP of Accounting & Finance

investors@smithdouglas.com

Source: loanDepot, Inc.