2/18/26

In the competitive landscape of New York mortgage lending, the latest
data from Modex, Inc. has surfaced a striking paradox. While industry
giants like JPMorganChase and Rocket continue to dominate the top of
the leaderboard, CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC has surged to the #3
position in the state, fueled in part by the astronomical production
of Zev Spitzer, who currently ranks as New York’s #6 top-producing
loan officer. However, beneath these impressive figures lies a growing
controversy centered on the “Skver Mile” – a one mile radius around
the village of New Square that leadership there has sought to preserve
as a zone that is free of any other Jews other than its own Hassidic
sect. Within this area, community leadership encourages home ownership
to remain within the community including claims that some properties
are rented to unusually high-density occupants or boarding-style
arrangements that make neighboring families uncomfortable and price
out end-users interested in moving in.

The “Mile Scheme” and Fair Housing Concerns

The core of the suspicion surrounding Spitzer lies in hid alleged
involvement with the “Skver Mile” connection. Investigative reports on
withinthemile.com have meticulously documented what is being described
as a coordinated effort that transcends simple aggressive lending.
These allegations suggest a pattern of property acquisition that may
carry serious Fair Housing and RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt
Organizations) implications.

The strategy appears to be focused on:

Zoning Violations and Building Code Exploitation

Discriminatory Deterrence: The scheme reportedly aims to make
neighborhoods surrounding New Square “uncomfortable” for other Jewish
residents who do not belong to the primary local sect. By controlling
who can buy and under what terms, the network effectively engineers
the demographic makeup of the area to ensure total homogeneity.

The impact of this lending volume is most visible in the physical
transformation of the community. Many of the homes financed through
Spitzer and CrossCountry are reportedly purchased by members of the
New Square community who operate these homes as SROs (Single Room
Occupancy) in defiance of local regulations.

Unlawful Occupancy: Homes are frequently converted into multi-family
dwellings, housing far more people than allowed by zoning and building
codes.

Strategic Overcrowding: Critics argue these illegal conversions are
intentional – a way to drive out those who don’t fit the New Square
mold by creating high-density, code-violating environments that
end-users find untenable.

A Question of Accountability

The presence of CrossCountry Mortgage at the #3 spot and Spitzer at #6
in New York raises a critical question: Should “top production” be
celebrated when it is allegedly tied to practices that undermine Fair
Housing laws and local safety codes?

If the “Mile Scheme” is the engine behind these numbers, the industry
isn’t seeing a success story – it’s seeing a blueprint for the erosion
of community standards. We are left wondering if regulatory bodies
will look past the spreadsheets to investigate the actual impact these
transactions have on the ground in New York.