Ashland walked us through every step and made a complicated purchase feel completely manageable — we always knew what was next.
Katie M. · Minnetonka, MNFixer-upper buyer
The people
Meet Lending Lakes & Co
Seven people, one obsession: making the biggest purchase of your life feel calm. Renovation loans have more moving parts than any other mortgage — which is exactly why a full team beats a lone loan officer.
2025HousingWire
Rising Star
Rising Star
Team lead
Ashland Alitz
Branch Sales Manager & Loan Officer · NMLS #1584948
Ashland built Lending Lakes & Co on a simple premise: mortgages are stressful because nobody explains anything — so explain everything. In 2025, that approach helped 136 families personally ($48M in loans) and 963 families branch-wide, earning a 4.89-star average across 423 verified reviews and a HousingWire Rising Star award along the way.
Renovation lending is her team's home turf — the files with contractor bids, HUD consultants, and draw schedules are where a process-obsessed team earns its keep. She's licensed in 10 states and answers texts embarrassingly fast.
The crew
Your loan gets seven brains, not one
Ashland AlitzBranch Sales Manager · Loan Officer · NMLS #1584948
Olivia SwansonDirector of Sales & Client Strategies
Ashlyn LongLoan Officer · NMLS #2775645
Melissa SmithTeam Processor
Ella KrispinLoan Officer Assistant
Mikaela KamishMarketing Director
Molly StenersonMarketing Coordinator
How we work
Serious about loans.
Not about ourselves.
Ashland and Olivia run the client experience side by side — Ashland structures the loan, Olivia makes sure you always know what's happening and what's next. On a renovation file that means milestone updates through every draw, and a straight answer within hours, not days.
The team fuel is Diet Coke. The team standard is closings that happen on the day we said they would.
Real clients, real reviews
Five stars.4.89 across 423 verified reviews
Highlights paraphrased from verified reviews on Experience.com, Google, Zillow & Facebook — every buyer real.
Fast, organized, and honest about our options. The whole process closed ahead of schedule.
Derek S. · Eden Prairie, MNRefinance
She answered every question — even the ones we were embarrassed to ask — and got us to closing without a single surprise.
Amanda R. · Chaska, MNFirst-time buyer
Second loan with Ashland and her team. Communication was constant and everything happened exactly when they said it would.
Jordan T. · Minneapolis, MNRepeat client
The team treated our loan like it was their own home on the line. Detail-obsessed in the best way.
Lauren B. · Prior Lake, MNNew construction
Clear numbers, zero pressure, and a genuinely kind team. We recommend Lending Lakes to everyone.
Chris & Emily W. · Bloomington, MNMove-up buyer
Ashland walked us through every step and made a complicated purchase feel completely manageable — we always knew what was next.
Katie M. · Minnetonka, MNFixer-upper buyer
Fast, organized, and honest about our options. The whole process closed ahead of schedule.
Derek S. · Eden Prairie, MNRefinance
She answered every question — even the ones we were embarrassed to ask — and got us to closing without a single surprise.
Amanda R. · Chaska, MNFirst-time buyer
Second loan with Ashland and her team. Communication was constant and everything happened exactly when they said it would.
Jordan T. · Minneapolis, MNRepeat client
The team treated our loan like it was their own home on the line. Detail-obsessed in the best way.
Lauren B. · Prior Lake, MNNew construction
Clear numbers, zero pressure, and a genuinely kind team. We recommend Lending Lakes to everyone.
Chris & Emily W. · Bloomington, MNMove-up buyer
Found the almost-perfect house?
One conversation with Ashland puts real numbers on the table — the house, the renovation, and the single monthly payment that covers both. No pressure, no jargon, no obligation.