About our team
About The Smith Mortgage Group, a Mortgage Company Built on Clarity
We are a Shelbyville, Tennessee mortgage company operating as a division of First Community Mortgage. Led by Sterling Smith, VP & Branch Manager, our team writes conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo and Non-QM loans for borrowers in every state while keeping the service personal.
Our mission
Clarity, Choice and Confidence on Every Loan
Our guiding test is simple: when your loan closes, you should be able to describe it to a friend in a few sentences. That goal shapes how we quote, how we compare programs and how we talk about underwriting. You see pricing in a format you can line up against other offers, and you hear about trade-offs before they become surprises.
Choice matters just as much. Because we operate under First Community Mortgage, Inc. (NMLS #629700), we can match a borrower against a broad range of programs instead of steering everyone toward one product. Explore the full lineup on our mortgage services page, or test a few scenarios first with the mortgage payment calculator.
Confidence comes from knowing what happens next. Terms like debt-to-income, reserves and conditions of approval get translated into plain English, along with the document that satisfies each one and when it is due.
What makes us different
Six Things Borrowers Notice About Us
Local Office, National License
Our branch sits in Shelbyville, the Bedford County seat, yet the team is licensed to originate in all 50 states. A relocation does not force you to find a new lender.
A Deep Program Bench
Government-backed, conventional, jumbo, construction and alternative-documentation loans are all available, so the recommendation follows your situation.
Learn more →No Lender Fees on VA Loans
Through FCM, eligible veterans and service members pay no lender fees on VA financing, which can keep more cash in their pocket at closing.
Learn more →Options Beyond the Tax Return
DSCR investor loans and bank statement programs give self-employed borrowers and landlords a path when standard documentation falls short.
Learn more →One-Time-Close Construction
A single approval and closing can finance the build and roll into permanent financing, which keeps paperwork and duplicate costs down.
Learn more →The Same Advisor Throughout
Sterling Smith stays on your file from the first quote through the final signature, so nobody needs to be re-briefed on your goals midstream.
Leadership
Led by Sterling Smith, VP & Branch Manager
Sterling Smith (NMLS #1726806) runs the branch at 605 Delray Street in Shelbyville and works directly with each client. Many files that arrive here are the complicated ones: a business owner with a short income history, an investor adding another rental, a veteran using entitlement again or a buyer whose gift money needs a clear paper trail.
Rather than turning those scenarios away, our team documents them carefully and structures them around program guidelines. To get to know the person behind the branch, visit Meet the Team, or read how the group came together in our story.
What we stand for
The Values Behind Every Quote
Transparency
Rates, points, credits and third-party costs are shared from the first estimate, and if a number shifts before closing, we explain the reason.
Expertise
Knowing guidelines for rental income, entitlement, gift funds and condo approvals lets us build the file correctly the first time.
Customer-First Advice
If waiting a few months or renting a while longer is the smarter move, we will say so honestly.
Efficiency
Digital document upload and conditions cleared as they arrive help keep your closing date on track.
Integrity
Pre-approvals rest on verified income and credit, so the letter you give a listing agent carries real weight.
Working together
How a Loan Moves Through Our Office
Here is the short version; the full process timeline adds week-by-week detail.
Consultation
A conversation about price range, savings, credit and timing, followed by a shortlist of programs and an estimated payment. Questions from our mortgage FAQ are a great place to start.
Pre-Approval
You submit an application with pay stubs, tax documents, bank statements and ID, all listed on our document checklist. Decisions can arrive in as little as 24 hours.
Underwriting and Processing
Once you are under contract, we order the appraisal and title work, submit the file and tell you exactly which document clears each condition.
Closing
You receive your Closing Disclosure at least three business days before signing. Most loans close in 30–45 days, and qualified files can close in as few as 21.
Want a Clearer Mortgage Experience?
Call or text Sterling Smith at 931-205-9873 or email sterling.smith@fcmhomeloans.com. Expect a reply within 2 business hours, with no hard credit pull to start.
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Let's Talk
Questions about mortgage company?
Send a quick note and Sterling Smith will reply within two business hours (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm CT). Prefer to talk now? Call or text 931-205-9873.
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