Wynee Bays

I didn't get into mortgage because it was easy. I got into it because I understand what's at stake.

Long before Encore, I was a Realtor — back when that meant printed maps and landlines. I loved real estate, but with three kids in multiple sports year-round, my time wasn't my own. Something had to give, and it wasn't going to be the kids. Between soccer fields, baseball diamonds, hockey rinks, and golf courses, those years were theirs — and I wouldn't trade them for anything. Somewhere in the middle of all that chaos, I made a decision — I started running marathons, and went back to the University of Baltimore's Merrick School of Business as a junior, having already earned an associate's degree in accounting. I sat for the LSAT, but ended up majoring in entrepreneurship instead.

I came back to the industry in 2005 as a loan officer, right into the build-up before the crash. I was in the middle of it in 2008 — I watched borrowers get hurt, I watched lenders fold, and I learned more about this business in that period than any training program could ever teach. When the dust settled I pivoted — I ran an online boutique selling high-end couture, which taught me that branding, customer experience, and luxury are really all about trust. In 2012, I co-founded a mortgage banker corporation licensed in 18 states and Washington D.C. — focused primarily on VA loans for veterans and military families. I sold in 2016 and stayed on to keep doing what I love most: helping borrowers get to the closing table.

But I wasn't done. In 2021, I founded Encore Mortgage Solutions, Corp. My sons, daughter, and their families all live right here in Harford County, and my granddaughters train at ACPR Gymnastics — I work with them privately on the side. They're the reason I'm building something worth leaving behind.

Today my focus is on two distinct groups of clients — Maryland homebuyers and homeowners seeking straightforward residential lending, and real estate investors building portfolios. Through our wholesale lender partners, we assist investors with DSCR and other business-purpose real estate financing in 36 states and Washington D.C. Licensing requirements vary by state and loan purpose.

Whatever your situation, I'll shop your loan across multiple wholesale lenders to find a program that fits — whether you're a first-time buyer in Maryland, refinancing, or building an investment portfolio across state lines. And if you're not quite ready yet, that's okay too. Some of my best client relationships start months before an application is ever submitted. Credit scores, debt ratios, savings strategies — there's more you can do to strengthen your position than most people realize, and I'll walk you through every bit of it. When the time comes, you'll be ready.

And regardless of which group you fall into, working with a broker means working differently. I'm not a bank with one set of products. As an independent mortgage broker I continuously vet wholesale lenders to bring you competitive wholesale pricing and diversified loan offerings — giving you access to far more programs and options than any single bank can offer. My compensation comes from the lender — meaning you pay no out-of-pocket broker fee at closing, and there's never a charge for a consultation. I'm available evenings and weekends too — because that's when real estate actually happens.

Whether you're buying your first home anywhere in Maryland or closing your tenth investment property across state lines, I'm here for both conversations.