About us
A family business,
and we mean that literally.
Founded on the principles of integrity and long-term vision, Chris Brown and his children work side-by-side to deliver home lending solutions that treat your family like our own.
Our legacy isn't just in the loans we originate, but in the generational wealth we help our community build.
Our mission
At Brown, we believe that a positive mindset is the foundation of success, and our energy is as contagious as our passion for helping others. Rooted in decades of family tradition and driven by innovation, we are committed to guiding families and individuals through one of life's most significant journeys: homeownership.
Through unwavering optimism, empathy, and expertise, we create an environment where clients, team members, and referral partners thrive, even during turbulent times. Our mission is to empower lives, spread contagious energy, and redefine what it means to serve in the mortgage industry.
One home, one relationship, and one day at a time.
OUR STORY
The name on the sign is the name on the family tree.
For Chris Brown, mortgage lending has always been about more than financing a home. It’s about the families behind every loan, the goals they’re working toward, and the trust they place in the people helping them get there.
That philosophy is at the heart of Brown – A Legacy of Home Lending. After more than 35 years in the mortgage industry, Chris has built a business where relationships come first and clients are treated with the same care, honesty, and personal attention he would expect for his own family.
Today, that legacy continues alongside Chris’s children, who have joined him in building the next generation of Brown. Different roles. Different strengths. One family and one shared commitment: helping people make confident decisions about homeownership.
Being family-owned also shapes how the Brown team works with clients. You aren’t passed through a corporate system or treated like another loan number. You work with people who know one another, communicate with one another, and take personal responsibility for getting you from pre-approval to the closing table.
For the Brown family, success isn’t measured only in mortgages closed. It’s measured in relationships built, families served, and clients who return years later—or send their own children, friends, and family to Brown when it’s their turn to buy a home.
That’s what A Legacy of Home Lending means. It’s not simply the Brown family’s legacy. It’s helping other families build theirs.
THE PEOPLE
The people who'll handle your loan.
Chris Brown
PRESIDENT
NMLS #278941
With 35+ years of mortgage industry experience, Chris Brown leads Brown: A Legacy of Home Lending, serving homebuyers throughout Edwardsville, Southern Illinois, and the St. Louis Metro East. His expertise in home loans, refinancing, and mortgage financing helps clients navigate the lending process with confidence, personalized guidance, and solutions designed around their financial goals.
Brooke Brown
VP of operations
Brooke Brown helps drive Brown: A Legacy of Home Lending, bringing 7+ years of mortgage industry experience to homebuyers throughout Edwardsville, Southern Illinois, and the St. Louis Metro East. She oversees lending operations, team training, client support, and Pathway to Excellence while continuing her family's legacy of trusted, personalized mortgage lending and exceptional service.
Blake Brown
VP | SR MORTGAGE ADVISOR
NMLS #1525629
Blake Brown, VP-Senior Mortgage Advisor at Brown: A Legacy of Home Lending, brings 10+ years of mortgage industry experience to homebuyers throughout Edwardsville, Southern Illinois, and the St. Louis Metro East. He helps clients find the right home loan, refinance an existing mortgage, or finance an investment property with personalized guidance and a smooth, straightforward lending experience.
James Bochnovic
SR MORTGAGE ADVISOR
NMLS #1892655
James brings 5+ years of mortgage industry experience to Brown: A Legacy of Home Lending, helping homebuyers throughout Edwardsville, Southern Illinois, and the St. Louis Metro East. He provides personalized guidance on home loans and mortgage financing, helping clients understand their options and confidently navigate the lending process while building lasting relationships.
Brycen Brown
VP | SR MORTGAGE ADVISOR
NMLS #2567359
Brycen Brown, VP-Loan Officer at Brown: A Legacy of Home Lending, helps homebuyers throughout Edwardsville, Southern Illinois, and the St. Louis Metro East find the right mortgage. Whether buying a first home, refinancing, or financing an investment property, Brycen provides personalized mortgage guidance and matches clients with home loan options designed around their financial goals.
Cheryl Chochran
SR LOAN PROCESSOR
Cheryl is a key part of Brown: A Legacy of Home Lending, bringing expertise, efficiency, and a whole lot of heart to everything she does. She helps support our mortgage team and homebuyers throughout Edwardsville, Southern Illinois, and the St. Louis Metro East, helping keep the home loan process organized, responsive, and moving forward while delivering personalized service to our clients.
Cinthia Arellano Martinez
LOAN ASSISTANT
Cinthia, Loan Assistant at Brown: A Legacy of Home Lending, helps make the mortgage process organized, welcoming, and easier to understand. As a bilingual team member, she provides valuable support to English- and Spanish-speaking homebuyers throughout Edwardsville, Southern Illinois, and the St. Louis Metro East, helping borrowers feel informed and supported throughout their home loan journey.
Alejandro Lopez
MORTGAGE ADVISOR
NMLS #2809688
Alejandro helps homebuyers at Brown: A Legacy of Home Lending navigate the mortgage process with confidence, from pre-approval through closing. A graduate of SIUE’s School of Business, he combines a background in business and finance with personalized service, helping clients throughout Edwardsville, Southern Illinois, and the St. Louis Metro East understand their home loan options and achieve their goals.
Questions about working with the Brown team
Who we are, who will handle your loan, and how to reach the right person at our Edwardsville, Oakbrook Terrace, and Lake Geneva offices.
About Brown
Who is Brown — A Legacy of Home Lending?
Brown is a family-run mortgage team founded by Chris Brown, who has more than 35 years of experience in the mortgage industry. We help buyers and homeowners with purchase loans, refinances, and investment property financing from offices in Edwardsville, IL, Oakbrook Terrace, IL, and Lake Geneva, WI.
Is Brown really a family business?
Yes. Chris Brown works side by side with three of his children: Brooke Brown, VP of Operations; Blake Brown, VP and Senior Mortgage Advisor; and Brycen Brown, VP and Senior Mortgage Advisor. The people handling your file are the people whose name is on the business, and they take personal responsibility for getting you from pre-approval to the closing table.
How is Brown connected to Preferred Rate and American Pacific Mortgage?
Brown is a team of Preferred Rate, a Division of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation (NMLS #1850). You get a local, family-run team you can call directly, backed by a national lender's loan programs and resources.
Working with your team
Who will actually handle my loan?
One loan advisor guides you from pre-approval through closing, backed by the same small team the whole way. Your advisor structures your loan and answers your questions. Cheryl Chochran, our Senior Loan Processor, keeps your file organized and moving. Cinthia Martinez Arellano, our Loan Assistant, helps with documents and updates. You won't be passed to a call center or a different department.
Which Brown loan advisor should I contact?
Start with the advisor at the office closest to where you're buying:
- Edwardsville, the Metro East, and the St. Louis area: Brycen Brown, 618-972-4739
- Oakbrook Terrace and Chicago's western suburbs: Blake Brown, 618-978-5744
- Lake Geneva and Walworth County: James Bochnovic, 630-217-7604
Not sure? Call our main line at 618-323-3508 and we'll connect you with the right person.
Can I call my loan advisor directly?
Yes. Every advisor's direct number is listed on this page, so you reach a person, not a phone tree. Our offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
Does anyone on the Brown team speak Spanish?
Yes. Cinthia Martinez Arellano is bilingual and supports Spanish-speaking homebuyers throughout the loan process. Sí, hablamos español. Call 618-323-3508 and ask for Cinthia.
Do you work with real estate agents and financial planners?
Yes. We partner with real estate agents and financial planners so their clients get fast pre-approvals, clear communication, and on-time closings. See our Realtor Services and Financial Planners pages for details.
Locations, loans, and licensing
Where are Brown's offices, and what areas do you serve?
We have three offices: 231 N Main St, Suite 20 in Edwardsville, IL; 1801 S Meyers Rd, Suite 500 in Oakbrook Terrace, IL; and 753 Geneva Parkway, Building 2, Suite 4 in Lake Geneva, WI. We serve the St. Louis Metro East (including Glen Carbon, Troy, Collinsville, Maryville, Alton, O'Fallon, and Belleville), Chicago's western suburbs (including Oak Brook, Lombard, and Downers Grove), and Southeast Wisconsin (including Delavan, Elkhorn, and Walworth County).
Which states is Brown licensed in?
Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Florida. If you're buying a home in one of those states, any of our advisors can help, even if you live somewhere else today.
What types of home loans does the Brown team offer?
Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, and jumbo loans, plus refinancing and investment property financing. Your advisor will compare the options you qualify for and explain the tradeoffs in plain language. The best first step is a free mortgage pre-approval.
How can I verify my loan advisor's license?
Look up their NMLS number at NMLS Consumer Access (nmlsconsumeraccess.org), the free public registry for mortgage professionals. Our licensed loan advisors include Chris Brown (NMLS #278941), Blake Brown (NMLS #1525629), Brycen Brown (NMLS #2567359), James Bochnovic (NMLS #1892655), and Alejandro Lopez (NMLS #2809688). Preferred Rate is NMLS #1850.