L.A. Institutions Loaned the Most to County Property Owners, Builders : REAL ESTATE

Who were the top lenders to property owners and builders in Orange County last year? According to TRW Real Estate Market Information in Colton, it was big financial institutions in neighboring Los Angeles.

Home Savings of America, based in Los Angeles, was first in loan volume with $1.1 billion. It also ranked first in 1986, according to TRW.

Moving up to second was Security Pacific National Bank, with $979 million in loans. Security Pacific, also based in Los Angeles, was ranked third in 1986.

Third was Wells Fargo National Bank with $966 million. The bank moved up from seventh place in 1986.

Great Western Savings, based in Beverly Hills, was fourth with $812 million in loans. It dropped from second place in 1986.

The fifth-largest real estate lender in Orange County was California Federal Savings & Loan Assn., based in Los Angeles, with $637 million worth of loans. It moved up from sixth place in 1986.

In Orange County, $9.5 billion worth of real estate was bought and sold last year, $2 billion more than San Diego County and second only to Los Angeles County’s $23.4 billion in Southern California.

Add refinancing and construction loans and the amount of financial activity in Orange County real estate rose to $24.4 billion in 1987.