About Southline Mortgage

An independent brokerage built on one long career in lending.

Southline Mortgage, LLC was founded to give borrowers in Tennessee and Florida a single, direct point of contact backed by more than two and a half decades of residential mortgage experience — and the wholesale lender access that comes with running an independent shop.

The founder

Chip Ward

President, Southline Mortgage, LLC

Direct: 615-500-7579 · chip@southlinemortgage.com

Southline exists because borrowers deserve a broker who has seen enough loan files, in enough rate environments, to tell them the truth about what will actually close.

With more than two decades of experience in residential lending, Chip has guided individuals and families through one of life's most significant financial decisions: homeownership. His approach is personal and direct — every client is informed and supported throughout the process, from application to closing.

Prior to founding Southline Mortgage, Chip served as Vice President of Mortgage Lending at a longtime Middle Tennessee lending institution, where he built his reputation on relationships over transactions. Southline Mortgage, LLC was founded to bring that same standard into an independent brokerage model — one broker, one point of contact, and access to a wide panel of wholesale lenders rather than a single institution's guidelines.

Chip is passionate about building lasting partnerships with Realtors, business professionals, and clients alike. Clear communication, quick responses, and unwavering dedication are the cornerstones of how he works — because trust is earned, not given.

Southline is licensed to originate mortgage loans in both Tennessee and Florida, serving buyers, owners, and investors across both states.

How Southline operates

What "independent brokerage" means in practice.

Broker, not lender

Southline Mortgage, LLC originates and shops loans through wholesale lending partners rather than funding loans directly, so the comparison shopping happens before you ever apply.

Two-state license

Licensed by the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, with NMLS registration on file for both.

Direct originator

Your file is handled by the broker you spoke with at the start — not handed off to a rotating processing queue.

Standards

What Southline holds itself to.

Transparency

Straight numbers, early

Rate, fee, and program comparisons are laid out plainly before an application is taken — not buried until closing disclosure.

Accountability

Licensed & regulated

Southline operates under NMLS registration and state licensing requirements in Tennessee and Florida, with disclosures available on every page of this site.