In a challenging mortgage landscape marked by rising rates and shifting borrower profiles, the non-QM (non-qualified mortgage) space is emerging as a crucial growth engine —and one that originators ignore at their own peril. With traditional loan volumes in decline and more borrowers falling outside agency guidelines, non-QM is no longer a niche alternative—it's a mainstream necessity. From self-employed entrepreneurs to seasoned investors tapping into home equity, demand for flexible lending options is surging in 2025.
In this episode of MPA Talk, Editor Fergal McAlinden sits down with two industry leaders — Tom Hutchens, President of Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions, and Scott Gruebele, Senior Account Executive at Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions—to unpack what’s driving the rapid rise of non-QM lending. Whether you're just starting to explore this space or looking to deepen your expertise, this conversation offers a clear, actionable guide to staying competitive in a changing market.
Here’s what you’ll take away from the episode:
• Why non-QM is growing while agency lending declines
• The borrower segments fueling non-QM growth in 2025
• Top-performing non-QM products—like second liens, interest-only, and bank statement loans
• How originators can tap into massive untapped home equity
• The steps brokers need to take to become non-QM experts
• Why aligning with an experienced lender like Angel Oak is crucial to success
• Trends on the horizon: investor activity, jumbo opportunities, and more
Don’t fall behind—start building your non-QM pipeline today.
Listen now and discover how to position your business for sustainable growth in the evolving mortgage market.
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In a challenging mortgage landscape marked by rising rates and shifting borrower profiles, the non-QM (non-qualified mortgage) space is emerging as a crucial growth engine —and one that originators ignore at their own peril. With traditional loan volumes in decline and more borrowers falling outside agency guidelines, non-QM is no longer a niche alternative—it's a mainstream necessity. From self-employed entrepreneurs to seasoned investors tapping into home equity, demand for flexible lending options is surging in 2025.
In this episode of MPA Talk, Editor Fergal McAlinden sits down with two industry leaders — Tom Hutchens, President of Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions, and Scott Gruebele, Senior Account Executive at Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions—to unpack what’s driving the rapid rise of non-QM lending. Whether you're just starting to explore this space or looking to deepen your expertise, this conversation offers a clear, actionable guide to staying competitive in a changing market.
Here’s what you’ll take away from the episode:
• Why non-QM is growing while agency lending declines
• The borrower segments fueling non-QM growth in 2025
• Top-performing non-QM products—like second liens, interest-only, and bank statement loans
• How originators can tap into massive untapped home equity
• The steps brokers need to take to become non-QM experts
• Why aligning with an experienced lender like Angel Oak is crucial to success
• Trends on the horizon: investor activity, jumbo opportunities, and more
Don’t fall behind—start building your non-QM pipeline today.
Listen now and discover how to position your business for sustainable growth in the evolving mortgage market.
In a challenging mortgage landscape marked by rising rates and shifting borrower profiles, the non-QM (non-qualified mortgage) space is emerging as a crucial growth engine —and one that originators ignore at their own peril. With traditional loan volumes in decline and more borrowers falling outside agency guidelines, non-QM is no longer a niche alternative—it's a mainstream necessity. From self-employed entrepreneurs to seasoned investors tapping into home equity, demand for flexible lending options is surging in 2025.
In this episode of MPA Talk, Editor Fergal McAlinden sits down with two industry leaders — Tom Hutchens, President of Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions, and Scott Gruebele, Senior Account Executive at Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions—to unpack what’s driving the rapid rise of non-QM lending. Whether you're just starting to explore this space or looking to deepen your expertise, this conversation offers a clear, actionable guide to staying competitive in a changing market.
Here’s what you’ll take away from the episode:
• Why non-QM is growing while agency lending declines
• The borrower segments fueling non-QM growth in 2025
• Top-performing non-QM products—like second liens, interest-only, and bank statement loans
• How originators can tap into massive untapped home equity
• The steps brokers need to take to become non-QM experts
• Why aligning with an experienced lender like Angel Oak is crucial to success
• Trends on the horizon: investor activity, jumbo opportunities, and more
Don’t fall behind—start building your non-QM pipeline today.
Listen now and discover how to position your business for sustainable growth in the evolving mortgage market.
The mortgage industry is evolving, and non-QM loans are no longer just a niche product—they’re becoming a key component of originators’ strategies. With traditional lending tightening and an increasing number of borrowers not qualifying for agency loans, non-QM solutions are stepping in to fill the gap. Whether it’s self-employed individuals, real estate investors, or those with unique financial situations, non-QM lending is helping more borrowers achieve homeownership and investment success.
In this episode of MPA Talk, we sit down with Tom Hutchens, President at Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions, to explore why non-QM is experiencing rapid growth and how mortgage professionals can leverage these opportunities. Tom shares expert insights on the evolving borrower landscape, key non-QM products, and how lenders can differentiate themselves in a competitive market. If you’re looking to expand your business and serve more clients, this is the podcast you don’t want to miss.
Key takeaways from this podcast include:
•Why non-QM lending is becoming a core product for mortgage originators
•The top borrower segments benefiting from non-QM loans, including self-employed individuals and real estate investors
•How Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions is leading the way in non-QM education and innovation
•Common misconceptions about non-QM lending and how to address them
•Practical strategies for mortgage professionals to integrate non-QM into their business models
Don’t get left behind in this shifting mortgage landscape.
Tune in now to gain the insights and tools you need to succeed with non-QM lending in 2025!
We caught up with Association of Independent Mortgage Experts (AIME) chief executive officer Jonathon Haddad to hear about an eventful first year on the job and get his thoughts on some of the top trends set to impact the mortgage market in 2025 – including the ever-contentious issue of trigger leads, an area where brokers are hoping to see reform in the 12 months ahead.
Mortgage professionals across the US are preparing for what's sure to be a busy 12 months ahead, with plenty of twists and turns expected in 2025. How should they be readying for that market - and what's needed to eke out business in the coming year? We caught up with Kristin O'Neil of Open Door Lending to hear what she's been keeping top of mind about her approach to 2025.
Amid a busy year for the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB), MPA Talk caught up with president Valerie Saunders to hear about the association's latest legislative efforts, how it's gearing up for its upcoming fall conference, and why mortgage brokers are playing a more crucial role than ever in steering clients through the homebuying process.
High interest rates and affordability challenges are still a feature of the market for many borrowers – but there’s plenty of opportunity out there for loan officers who look for it, according to CMS Mortgage Solutions’ chief executive officer Corrina Carter. We caught up with the well-known mortgage pro to hear how she’s been handling the current market and what advice she has for LOs.
Brand building is one of the most important ways a loan originator can find success in the industry - but it can be easier said than done. MPA caught up with Shane Kidwell, CEO of Dwell Mortgage, to find out how he cultivated his own brand over the years, and why putting his team first has always been a key focus.
MPA Talk’s guest this time is Ron Vaimberg, who has been in the business for nearly forty years and is an international success strategist, trainer and coach to retail and wholesale mortgage professionals. With a refreshing positivity, Vaimberg shares how he helps those working in the sector take their performance to another level, even in a challenging market. “We have so many people faced with so many different challenges,” he says. “When things are going wrong, there is always an opportunity.” In a fascinating conversation, he imparts his industry insight and recalls the case that still makes him emotional today.
In the spotlight for this week’s MPA Talk is Jason Will, who is senior vice president of growth at Embrace Home Loans, and based in Tampa, Florida. Will reflects on how his late mother, who was a realtor, inspired him into the world of property finance, at the tender age of 18. “The entire time that I was growing up I just saw her in an entrepreneurial spirit,” he says, “persevering and testing and trying and failing and succeeding in different things.” Her “determination and grit”, as Will puts it, still informs his mindset today.
This time on MPA Talk, we meet Marshall Gottlieb, co-owner of Agarve Home Loans in Phoenix, Arizona. His working life began in a pizza restaurant, but he switched to the finance world, initially in wealth management and then mortgages, establishing himself as a mortgage loan originator. Gottlieb tells us how he set up a business, which is now licensed across 14 states and employs 68 people. The link between his restaurant roots and finance isn’t so distant. “We’re in a services business,” he says. “It’s people talking to people.”
Jamie Cavanaugh, president of Amerifund Home Loans and vice president of outreach at AIME – the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts - tells us what drives her, reflects on a case that particularly resonated and gives us her take on the market. “The one thing I always tell loan officers who haven’t been through a cycle like this is understand that it is a cycle,” she says. “It’s not a matter of if the market changes, it’s a matter of when.” She advises: “It really is about going back to basics and doing the things that have always worked.”
For this edition of MPA Talk, we’re in the company of Abe Bergman, president of Eastern Union, a national, commercial mortgage brokerage. Its differentiator, he says, is the way in which it understands deals and its deep knowledge of every asset type. The business focuses on appreciating a client's needs and structuring a solution that works for them, which Bergman finds exciting. He shares that such is the relationship he builds with clients, that he even gets invited to their children’s weddings. We also hear the wise words of a rabbi who told Bergman what made an honest business deal.
For this edition of MPA Talk, we meet Michael Rankin, from Clearpath Mortgage Solutions, who describes himself as a second generation, ‘post-Crash’ mortgage broker. Rankin went to Bible college and planned to work in the Church, but following the birth of his son and needing to earn, he took business classes and followed his father into mortgages. Rankin’s approach is to make the mortgage experience the best part of buying a home. All too often people are treated like ‘transactions’, he says – and they matter. His faith informs the core values of his business.
Our guest on MPA Talk this time is Melissa Cohn, Regional Vice President at William Raveis Mortgage. She tells host Simon Meadows how her business career began selling homemade brownies as a child, before taking a more serious turn into the world of finance – and mortgages. Cohn’s day begins with tennis (there are parallels with mortgages, apparently) and she enjoys working remotely, between Florida and New York. Casting her eye over the market, she advises how loan officers can maximise their opportunities, shares her best business lesson and reveals her idea of a dream home.
In this edition of MPA Talk, we meet Kevin Leibowitz, president & CEO at Grayton Mortgage, based in the New York City Metropolitan Area. Prior to founding his business, Leibowitz worked in senior-level positions in the mortgage and investment banking world. He otes that he tells his clients that real estate is ‘the best get rich slowly’. He accepts this isn’t as exciting, but reasons they’re building net worth over time, with a place to lay their head and no worries about rent increases. Helping people achieve the American dream is fun, he says.
For this MPA Talk, we meet Damon Germanides, a broker who specialises in complex loans, particularly for those who are self-employed. He cut his teeth in the last big financial crisis of 2008, before co-founding Insignia Mortgage in Beverly Hills, California. Beginning slowly, the company established relationships with smaller banks and credit unions, to build the business to where it is today. The son of a restaurant owner, Germanides likens the mortgage industry to the restaurant industry in terms of the tough challenges it presents – it's been his driving force to succeed.
For this edition of MPA Talk, Kristi Hardy, SVP, sales manager and senior loan officer at Atlantic Coast Mortgage shares her best business lesson – to always be gracious in business, to be positive and ‘a shining light, for others on your team’ – and to make room for humor in your working day too. Hardy tells how she started out selling cars and worked her way up, to achieve success in the mortgage business, a career she loves and one which she hopes her sons might one day pursue.
In this episode, Amber Mandir elaborates on her experience as a woman in the mortgage industry. Mandir shares expert insights on the current landscape for women in the mortgage industry, her own difficult experiences that have been related to her gender, the industry’s issues on DE&I and how mortgage professionals can improve their own approaches to DE&I.
Brian McCauley, a North Texas-based loan officer at Fairway independent Mortgage, believes that no self-respecting business these days can ignore presentation and the importance of branding. But it’s not all about image. McCauley is a staunch advocate of nurturing talent, and that having the right attitude is just as important as experience in the mortgage industry.
In a challenging mortgage landscape marked by rising rates and shifting borrower profiles, the non-QM (non-qualified mortgage) space is emerging as a crucial growth engine —and one that originators ignore at their own peril. With traditional loan volumes in decline and more borrowers falling outside agency guidelines, non-QM is no longer a niche alternative—it's a mainstream necessity. From self-employed entrepreneurs to seasoned investors tapping into home equity, demand for flexible lending options is surging in 2025.
In this episode of MPA Talk, Editor Fergal McAlinden sits down with two industry leaders — Tom Hutchens, President of Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions, and Scott Gruebele, Senior Account Executive at Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions—to unpack what’s driving the rapid rise of non-QM lending. Whether you're just starting to explore this space or looking to deepen your expertise, this conversation offers a clear, actionable guide to staying competitive in a changing market.
Here’s what you’ll take away from the episode:
• Why non-QM is growing while agency lending declines
• The borrower segments fueling non-QM growth in 2025
• Top-performing non-QM products—like second liens, interest-only, and bank statement loans
• How originators can tap into massive untapped home equity
• The steps brokers need to take to become non-QM experts
• Why aligning with an experienced lender like Angel Oak is crucial to success
• Trends on the horizon: investor activity, jumbo opportunities, and more
Don’t fall behind—start building your non-QM pipeline today.
Listen now and discover how to position your business for sustainable growth in the evolving mortgage market.
