Your Partner in Home Finance
& Real Estate Investment
APPLY NOW
Home2026-04-13T12:57:49+00:00

Who are we?

The Wharton Lending Team is a central Ohio based mortgage banker specializing in real estate investment for multi-family and single family homes. Since 2005 they have been focused on providing exceptional service for individual and investment real estate buyers. Wharton Lending specializes in the central Ohio market and linking local properties to those wishing to purchase from out of state. We assist with both property identification and acquisition.

Meet the team

From the blog

Customer Testimonials

If you’re looking for a mortgage process that feels effortless then Chris’ team can get it done. Great rates, no hidden agenda, and perfect communication. Stop looking elsewhere. They have it all.

Paramvir, Mar 1, 2022

Christopher and his team were great! They were very prompt with their email response times, and made the entire process very simply. Will work with them again for the next property :)

zuser201806161116, Jan 14, 2022

For the second time this year, great to work with. Very responsive and professional. Chris and his team are on the ball. Closed in 3 weeks, even before Christmas!

Jay H., Jan 11, 2022

Chris Wharton took good care of me. He helped me find the best options for my mortgage. He was quick to respond to any questions or concerns. Overall it was a good experience with First Ohio Home Finance.

Joyce Wise, Jan 6, 2022

We were first time home buyers and in a hurry to find a new home. Chris Wharton came highly recommended by a co-worker. First Ohio Home Finance was very thorough and great with communication and explaining anything we had questions on. I highly recommend them to anyone searching for initial purchase or refinancing.

Bre Dawson, Jan 6, 2022

Chris and his team at First Ohio Home Finance are amazing! They are very thorough with their information and care about the people they are helping. I would 100/100 recommend them to anyone for any home buying needs.

tjtrigg7, Jan 4, 2022

Such a pleasure to work with
My wife and I are very happy with the prompt service and detail to attention Ashley Cross provided us during our home refi. We highly recommend her for anyone looking for a pleasant experience.

Dustin, Jan 1, 2022

Chris runs a very professional and responsive team who will work you you to understand your needs and find you the right loan. The loan terms & rate was better than other lenders and we closed on time!

Chinmay N, Dec 7, 2021

Chris and First Ohio were recommended to me by an Ohio based Realtor. Being an out of state investor I wasn’t sure who to work with for lending and had to go based on a recommendation. I sure am glad my Realtor recommended Chris and his team at First Ohio. They made the purchase process easy and transparent, which is essential as I’m a remote buyer. We had a little hiccup (my fault) towards the end of the purchase process and Chris was able to clean things up for me so we had no issues closing. A wonderful team, and very highly recommended for anyone needing a loan in Ohio or the 8-9 other states they are licensed in.

Taj Richardson, Dec 2, 2021

Chris Wharton and his team at First Ohio were referred to me by a leading realtor/real estate investor in Columbus. I am an out-of-state real estate investor and Chris handled my 30-year mortgage for a duplex — my first investment in Columbus. From our initial phone consultation, through the closing, Chris and his team were superior on all fronts: knowledgeable, responsive, professional, and results-driven. I highly recommend First Ohio, and look forward to working with them on my next investment. Thank you, Chris and the First Ohio team!

Mike, Dec 2, 2021

Chris and his team were responsive and knowledgeable. Being first time home buyer I had a TON of questions and they answered every last one of them and walked me through the steps. This was a great first time home buying experience and it was very quick. They were upfront about everything and moved us right along in the process. Before I knew it, we were clear to close and it was unreal. First Ohio knows what they are doing and really want to help you with your goal of owning a home. It seemed as though they wanted us to have that house as much as we did and that was a great feeling.

Ranel Heard, Dec 1, 2021

I have used Chris and his team on 4 loans now and they have been awesome to work with. They are great with communication and moved and incredible speed. I recommend them to anyone.

caseyc31, Dec 2, 2021

Had a great time working with Chris and his team at First Ohio. They were very responsive and easy to work with. This was my first time purchasing a home by myself and they answered all my silly questions and explained everything so I could understand.

Cali Castagnola, Dec 2, 2021

We recently refinanced our home and Chris guided us through the process. He made it easy and was always available for any questions or concerns we might have. I would recommend First Ohio Finance to anyone needing a refinance or mortgage.

Elisabeth Honaker, Oct 8, 2021

Contact Us