Meet James

With nearly two decades of experience in the mortgage industry, James Harper brings extensive knowledge, leadership, and a problem-solving mindset to every transaction. As Vice President and Branch Manager with First Community Mortgage, James works with homebuyers, homeowners, and real estate professionals to find mortgage solutions that fit their unique needs—even when the path to getting there isn't always obvious.

James considers himself a Mortgage Engineer. His job isn't simply to put a borrower into a loan; it's to look at the entire picture, identify obstacles, engineer solutions, and find a way forward. Whether it's a first-time homebuyer with a complicated situation, a self-employed borrower with unique income, a challenging real estate transaction, or a homeowner looking for the right strategy for their next move, James approaches each situation with the same mindset: There is a solution—we just have to figure it out.

His motto is simple: “The difficult we do now. The impossible takes a little bit longer.”

Throughout his career, James has served in both mortgage production and leadership roles, giving him a broad perspective on what it takes to create an exceptional lending experience. He believes great mortgage lending combines experience with creativity, clear communication, and the willingness to think outside the box. His goal is to make sure borrowers understand their options, know exactly what it will take to accomplish their goals, and have a trusted advisor working alongside them from application to closing.

James is known for being hands-on, persistent, and solution-oriented. When a transaction hits a roadblock, he doesn't simply point out the problem—he gets to work finding a way around it. When others see a complicated scenario, James sees an opportunity to engineer a solution. And when a client has a goal that seems difficult to achieve, he's willing to roll up his sleeves and figure out what it will take to get there.

Whether he's helping a first-time homebuyer purchase their first home, working with an experienced homeowner on their next move, or partnering with a real estate professional to get a challenging transaction across the finish line, James' focus remains the same: Solve problems, communicate clearly, and take great care of the people who trust him with their business.

Based in Middle Tennessee, James understands that mortgage lending is about much more than numbers and paperwork. It's about people, relationships, and helping clients accomplish something meaningful. He is proud to bring his experience, creativity, and problem-solving approach to First Community Mortgage and looks forward to continuing to serve clients and partners throughout Tennessee and beyond.

Real Experiences

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

easy to work with and great communication!

Macey H.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James was amazing and was patient with me through the whole process. Nikki and Andrew were helpful as well!

Samantha Graham .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This team has been absolutely amazing throughout the whole entire process! They are down to earth and walk you through everything. We were first time homebuyers, very new to how the process works, but after dealing with this team, I feel appreciated and have gained so much knowledge regarding home buying. They never gave up, even when certain hurdles fell on our path, they continued to follow through, all while reassuring and keeping us in a positive headspace! Duke was an absolute champ with helping us!! They are focused on helping veterans and will not let you down!!! They have felt like family during the whole process!!! 10/10 would recommend my family, friends, and anyone new to this team!

Sarah Wilson .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James and his team went the extra mile helping my wife and I get out first home! It was a roller-coaster of ups and downs, but everyone on his team was very confident and professional! Five stars for this AMAZING TEAM!!!

Corey Wilson .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

We had a wonderful experience working with Stephanie Fields at Fairway. The team was so helpful in helping us gather the information and documentation needed to complete our loan. They made the process easy and the communication was great.

Valerie Cummings (Cummings Racing) .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hands down TOP NOTCH! Great experience and would recommend to anyone.

Chris Wilson .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James and his team are AMAZING! Or situation for buying a home was a extremely difficult process because of our situation. James took the time to give us a checklist of things we needed to address before we could be approved for a loan. He guided us the whole time. He was in constant contact and was always avaible for our question. If it wasnt for him and his team we wouldn't haven't been able to close on our property. We are now proud owners of 4 acre property that has been our dream for a very long time. We now have our forever home that we use to fantasize about. I can't speak highly enough of our experience. Hands down, TOP NOTCH SERVICE! Thank you sir for helping making our dream come true. Best Christmas EVER!

Christopher W.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James is Amazing! He took his time in helping me understand each step. Our loan process was very unique which required a lot of expertise . He worked very hard to make sure we were able to obtain our dream home! He was quick to answer all my questions. I never felt uncomfortable asking anything. His team is Great too! Monica and Cara helped to ease this whole process. We are so grateful to you all! I will highly recommend you to all friends and family ! Can’t thank you enough!!! 💜

Megan Wilson .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James worked so hard to give me tons of advice to get things lined up prior to loan process. He was so patient and understanding. He took his time with explaining all the steps . His response time was quick so I never had to wait long with my questions . We had a unique loan situation . He made me feel so comfortable through it all. Thanks James for getting us in our dream home for Christmas !!! I'll always recommend you to all my friends!

Megan W.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

was pleasant and easy to work with. As a single mom buying my first home,I went into this process, vy scared, and you guys made it so easy and reassured me every step of the way. I honestly could not have picked a better team to work with.

Alexanderia K.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

the communication was better than I expected, and most documents needed to be signed was done through the app which I loved for easy access. They helped me understand everything I needed to pay for and broke it down for me. great service!

Jada S.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

He loaned me an opportunity of a lifetime. I bought a house worth over 500k for only 160k

Edward James D.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My best experience was the communication and knowledge that was shared.

Teresa Y R.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The whole team was professional, thorough and patient.

Arlie Collier .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The whole team was professional, thorough and patient.

Arlie Marie C.
★ ★ ★ ★

My only frustration was with dealing with the solar Lien. I tried to be up front about it to prevent issues but in the end, I don't fully believe that it was understood or the situation was flushed out enough to prevent some unnecessary bumps in the process. Overall the team helped work through the issue but it wasn't as smooth as I feel it should have been. As a result I couldn't give perfect scores on the survey. Otherwise I would have.

Geoffrey Brent E.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Good communication through out the process

David L M.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James was easy to get ahold of and he quickly anwsered all my questions .

Kayla G.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Everyone worked really hard to make sure I was updated on all info. I felt they all worked really hard to make sure I had every I needed. Working for urself makes transac like this hard , they were there to help and very patient.

Jeremy Edward S.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I just wanna say that Fairway mortgage has been an excellent company to work with their staff is friendly and efficient. They worked very hard on getting me the lowest interest rate possible . I don't usually give reviews, but this team deserved it five stars!

HomeGirlz I.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

loved that most of everything could be done from the APP

Jessica W.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A home loan has many details and can be overwellming and James team worked with us to get to the finish line.

Kirk N.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James Harper and his team were excellent. Each and everyone of them care and are great at communicating. Whenever I would call or text about anything, they would respond within hours, shoot sometimes minutes. Helping their customers and making sure they are knowledgeable about the process is important to James and His team. Nothing but the man upstairs had His hands in and on this team and myself during this process. James and his team are true blessings .

Brittney Bailey .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James Harper and his team were excellent. Each and everyone of them care and are great at communicating. Whenever I would call or text about anything, they would respond within hours, shoot sometimes minutes. Helping there customers and making sure they are knowledgeable about the process is important to James and His team. Nothing but the man upstairs had His hands in and on this team and myself during this process. James and his team are true blessings .

Brittney Tomaiya B.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Communication and updates on my loan was afficiantly fast

Beatriz Elena S.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Awesome team to work with!

Cassie Renee .
★ ★ ★ ★

Closed in 3weeks - awesome teamwork!

Cassandra R S.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

great communication and understanding of the home buying process.

Caleb M.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Quick communication turnaround. And worked to help me get the best deal.

Tiffany J.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Communication with great and any questions we had were answered in a timely manner.

Scott D.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Worked with us through the whole process.

David Miller .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

He helped get the house we wanted

David L M.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The entire process was simple and we had all the assistance needed at anytime!

Teresa J M.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James and his team did a fantastic job with our home loan and couldn’t have made the process any easier! 10/10 would recommend

Brennan E.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

They are great communicators and are quick to answer all questions. They ensure that you feel you are a priority by taking time and not rushing past things. They expertly moved us through the approval and closing process quickly.

Stefanie Renee D.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James Harper and his team are true professionals. From the beginning of remodeling to the closing, they kept me informed and answered any questions I had without delay. I highly recommend them for any mortgage needs you might have.

Rick Prescott
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I was kept informed and any issues were addressed immediately.

Richard Alan P.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James Harper and his team are true professionals. From the beginning of remodeling to the closing, they kept me informed and answered any questions I had without delay. I highly recommend them for any mortgage needs you might have.

Rick Prescott .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James and his team did a fantastic job with our home loan and couldn’t have made the process any easier! 10/10 would recommend

Brennan Ewing
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Was a pleasure to work with Fairway. Always super responsive before, during and after closing. Very knowledgeable team

David Bryant .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Was a pleasure to work with Fairway. Always super responsive before, during and after closing. Very knowledgeable team

David Bryant
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Very professional and knowledgeable company to work with.

David Bryant
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James' responsiveness, helpful to explain things

Jordan Wesley F.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

He was always available and answered all of our many many questions!!

McKenna F.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The process was simple and seamless across the board! All communication was timely and the team did a great job

Donald Lee C.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Helping with all the internet stuff

Vicki L G.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Communication was good and the various people I dealt with were friendly but professional and knowledgeable. I was informed with the process on a regular basis.

Larry Wayne P.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James was so kind and responsive - he was always willing to answer any questions we had and happy to guide us through the lending proces. We are very grateful for James and his entire team!

Kelly D.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James Harper and Monica Webster were amazing help during the whole home buying process and helped me to meet one of my biggest goals. I couldn’t be more excited.

Daviaon Henderson .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James Harper and Monica Webster were exceptional help throughout the whole process and made this an enjoyable and stress free experience.

Daviaon H.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

From beginning to end, communication was great! Fairway made our experience easy & quick. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to purchase a home!

Lori T.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Great experience, highly recommend!

Marcie Kemper .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Appreciate the clear explanation of the process, advise, timely closing.

Sarah K.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James and the team always go above and beyond. This makes the third home I’ve purchased with James, from the initial conversation through the entirety of the loan process he is always there to help and guide through. I truly appreciate him, and his entire team.

Tristan L.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The communication and step by step guidance was fantastic!

Scotty W.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I worked with James on purchasing my third home as a future investment property and had a great experience. He was very easy to work with and provided me with detailed scenario breakouts with multiple options how I could proceed. James wa a always available to chat or answer any questions I had!

Rachael Main .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I worked with James on purchasing my third home as a future investment property and had a great experience. He was very easy to work with and provided me with detailed scenario breakouts with multiple options how I could proceed. James wa a always available to chat or answer any questions I had!

Rachael Main
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James was very thorough with any questions I had and made the process very easy. So happy he was who we worked with!

Macy D.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James Harper and his entire team were great to work with. Clear communication, easy process, and very quick to respond and help us through this home purchase!!

Abraham McCarver .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James Harper is very easy to work with and made the process of buying a house a breeze!

Macy Dixon .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Communication was great, app was very easy to use. All around made the home buying process very easy. I always thought the process of buying a home would be a lot more complicated, but James and his team made it SIMPLE. my favorite part!!

Macey H.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Communications was great, the team worked to make sure that we closed on time and without issues.

Elizabeth S.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Very easy to work with, gave great options to utilize seller credits, and very responsive!

Allison H.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

He was on time with everything. He was always responsive and kept us informed.

Bradley S.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

If you are looking for a lender in Tennessee or Kentucky I highly recommend James. He made our house buying experience amazing.

Tequshia Shelton12 .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James was very supportive and answered any questions we had right away.

Tequshia S.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James Harper at Fairway is amazing. He is so knowledgeable and helpful; he made my home purchase worry-free. I really appreciated him and his Team and recommend them wholeheartedly.

LN Collier .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James was so knowledgeable and helpful; he made my home purchase worry-free. I really appreciated him and his Team.

Lisa C.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James and his team were extremely helpful. They made buying a home stress free. I had complete confidence that James would complete the job. His knowledge and strategic planning skills are very important. I have worked with him 3 times and he never disappoints.

Zuser201608200813592
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fairway Mortgage and his team members are organized and knowledgeable about how the mortgage market works.

debbie wilder .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

They kept an open line of communication. The process was easy to follow. James Harper really worked hard to make sure my loan was approved and closed on time.

Debbie W.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My loan process was smooth and stress free . The Fairway App was easy to use and I was able to track my progress step by step.

Shaletta B.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James and his team were fantastic to work with. Always responsive and transparent. Got me a great rate and their app makes the process seamless.

Mike Neilen .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Transparent, available to talk, patient with helping me understand the numbers. Monica was great too.

Michael N.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James and Monica really made the whole house buying process very easy. Very helpful with explaining stuff and quick and thorough responses to questions. Made it a great experience.

Sue H.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

After several months of dealing with other mortgage companies, I stumbled upon Fairway. I called the office and spoke with James and he confirmed my suspicions of the other mortgage companies. I would have saved ALOT of money by calling Fairway months ago.

Kenneth W.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James and Monica helped me buy my first home. They made the whole process smooth and easy and thoroughly explained any questions I had.

Sue Helmuth .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

James and Monica helped me with my first time buying a home. They made the whole process super smooth and easy and we're quick to answer any questions. Will be recommending then to friends and family.

Sue H.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Thank you Fairway team you made the process so easy and painless, I'm so grateful.

Sara Rucker .

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