Claudine Claus is the perfect example of the apple not falling far from the tree. A very successful businesswoman, Claudine follows in the footsteps of her parents, Terry and Bunny Claus, both of whom were admired for their business acumen as well as for their generous spirit and community involvement.
Born in Pittsburg , Claudine was raised in Miami and graduated from Palmetto Senior High. She went to college majoring in accounting and finance.
As the owner of the largest independently owned and operated mortgage lender in South Florida, Claudine has taken the company to great heights after ultimately taking over following her parents’ passing. With 2013 annual gross revenue of $11.6 million, the company now is solely owned by Claudine Claus. Earlier this year, Home Financing Center won the REAL (real estate achievers) award from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce in the Finance category.
A firm believer in giving back, in the 1990s, through Claudine’s leadership, Home Financing Center pledged $250,000 for the construction of the new basketball arena at the University of Miami. That philanthropy extended to major support for Doctors Hospital and Baptist Health South Florida. In October 2011, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in memory of Claudine’s mother Bunny Claus who died from breast cancer, Claudine became a Baptist Founders Society Member and participated in numerous breast cancer awareness activities.
She committed her company to co-sponsor ads and even sponsored a pink cupcake sale at Baptist Hospital. In fact, Home Financing also donates money to the Baptist Breast Center for every “fan” or “like” on its Facebook page.
Continuing this legacy of giving, in 2014, Claudine pledged $100,000 to the Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation, which named the staff lounge in honor of Home Financing Center. Claudine also is a big Miami Hurricanes fan and has been personally involved with the Golden Canes, the Ibis Society and the Citizens Board for more than 23 years.
On the professional front, in 2009 and 2010, Claudine volunteered her efforts to revitalize the Mortgage Bankers Association of South Florida (MBA), focusing on promoting best practices in the lending industry, promoting fair and ethical lending practices and educating the community at large. Claudine served as president of that association for two years and continues as a member of its board of directors.
She keeps the Claus tradition created by her dad as a trustee of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. Home Financing Center, with a Claus at the helm, sponsors the annual holiday breakfast every year, in addition to supporting many other chamber programs as a chamber trustee.
Claudine lives in Coral Gables and has two children — Quentin, 15, and Natalia, 7.
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