NEW YORK CITY-Over the span of a few shortyears, IraZlotowitz and AbrahamBergman has transformed their business– EasternUnion Commercial – into a nationally-recognized realestate mortgage firm. And during the second quarter alone, the firmexperienced a 150% increase in loan closings compared with Q2 2011,GlobeSt.com has confirmed.

The boutique mortgage brokerage – with its corporateheadquarters in Manhattan and local offices in Brooklyn, NY,Howell, NJ, Bethesda, MD and Philadelphia – finalized more than 100transactions in Q2 alone, the highest number of loans the companyhas ever closed within a single three-month period – a sign that apick up in lending is beginning to take place.

“Interest rates are at an all-time low, and with low rates,there are better valuations,” Zlotowitz tells GlobeSt.com. “Nowwith healthier values combined with low interest rates, that’s themost obvious that’s the driving force. Banks are opening up, andwhen banks are more comfortable and they are healthier, they areable to start lending again.”