In this episode of Miked Up, we sit down with Patty Arvielo, CEO & Co-Founder of New American Funding, to break down the mindset, systems, and leadership philosophy behind building one of the largest mortgage companies in the country.

From starting as a loan processor to leading a national powerhouse, Patty shares what it really takes to evolve from employee to entrepreneur—and why most originators never make that leap.

This is not about rates.
This is not about products.
This is about how you think, operate, and build.

• Why passion beats talent in mortgage
• The difference between a loan officer and a business owner
• How top producers build and dominate their database
• What “own your zip code” really means
• Why AI is an advantage—but not a replacement
• The biggest mistake loan officers make with product knowledge
• How to build relationships that outlast rate shopping
• Why the same people hit President’s Club every year
• How mindset—not market—determines success

Patty makes one thing clear:
Loan officers who treat this like a job will lose.

The ones who win:

• Invest in themselves
• Master guidelines and products
• Build real relationships (not surface-level)
• Think like entrepreneurs inside a platform
• Use AI to enhance—not replace—their process

The future belongs to originators who combine execution + relationships + technology.

• “NAF is the platform. The loan officer is the business.”
• “Every time you don’t know a loan program, you lose money.”
• “The next 12–24 months will create an unfair advantage with AI.”
• “The best loan officers are just really good friends.”
• “Winning isn’t the goal—building something that lasts is.”

TrueWork
Income verification doesn’t need to be fragmented. TrueWork brings all VOIE methods into one platform—helping lenders increase completion rates, reduce costs, and close faster with verified data.
https://www.truework.com/2026-mikedup?utm_source__c=MikedUp&utm_medium__c=Podcast-Sponsorship&utm_campaign__c=Q1-2026-MikedUp

FundingShield
Protect your closings from wire fraud and cyber threats. FundingShield delivers real-time transaction verification and certified protection to safeguard funds and validate every mortgage transaction.
https://www.fundingshield.com

In this episode of Miked Up, we sit down with Brent Houston, Chief Operations Officer at ARDRI and a founding member of the organization, for a deep conversation about leadership, innovation, and building a mortgage platform designed for the future.

With more than 30 years of experience across mortgage banking, real estate, portfolio lending, and asset management, Brent Houston represents a rare blend of traditional mortgage expertise and entrepreneurial vision. His career has been defined by identifying where the industry is headed next—and building the infrastructure to support it.

Today, at ARDRI, Brent is helping lead one of the most technology-forward platforms in the Non-QM and Business Purpose lending space, focusing on scalable systems, AI-driven automation, and data-backed operational strategy. In a lending environment that is rapidly evolving, Brent’s mission is clear: make alternative lending faster, smarter, and more accessible for brokers, investors, and underserved borrowers.

This episode explores the entrepreneurial journey behind that mission.

Brent Houston’s career spans three decades of leadership across mortgage banking operations, asset management, and portfolio lending. His background includes launching and managing complex lending operations, building offshore operational teams to drive scale and efficiency, and implementing technology-driven solutions that improve profitability without sacrificing risk management.

As COO of ARDRI, Brent now oversees operations with a focus on:

• Leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline lending workflows
• Using data analytics to enhance decision-making and transparency
• Automating manual processes that slow down mortgage production
• Building scalable infrastructure for broker and investor growth

In this conversation, Brent shares how ARDRI is positioned to transform the Non-QM and Business Purpose lending sector by removing friction and simplifying processes for mortgage brokers and their clients.

Non-QM lending has grown significantly as borrowers and investors seek financing solutions outside traditional agency guidelines. But complexity remains a major barrier for brokers trying to navigate investor guidelines, documentation requirements, and loan structures.

Brent explains how technology is reshaping this environment.

By integrating AI, automation, and intelligent workflow systems, ARDRI is working to create a lending experience that reduces operational bottlenecks while improving transparency and efficiency.

The result is a platform designed to support TPO mortgage brokers, real estate investors, and underserved borrower segments that traditional lenders often struggle to accommodate.

Brent also discusses how operational leadership must evolve in today’s mortgage landscape. Success is no longer just about product offerings—it’s about building systems that can scale efficiently while maintaining compliance, service, and risk discipline.

At the core of Brent Houston’s leadership philosophy is a mission-driven approach to mortgage banking. By expanding access to alternative lending solutions, ARDRI aims to create new pathways to financing for borrowers and investors who are often overlooked by conventional lending models.

This episode dives into:

• Brent’s 30-year journey through mortgage banking and real estate
• How entrepreneurial thinking drives operational innovation
• Why Non-QM lending is entering a new era of technology integration
• The importance of scalable systems in modern mortgage companies
• How lenders can expand access to...

Income calculation has always been one of the biggest friction points in mortgage lending.

Commission income.
Variable income.
Self-employed borrowers.
Rental income.
Part-time and multi-job scenarios.

One miscalculation can derail an approval, delay a closing, or trigger a costly repurchase risk.

In this episode, we sit down with Jim Carroll of Partners Bank to break down everything originators and leaders need to know about Fannie Mae’s new Income Calculator — and why it may fundamentally change how income is calculated, documented, and delivered.

Fannie Mae recently introduced its enhanced Income Calculator tool designed to help lenders:

• Accurately calculate complex borrower income
• Improve consistency across underwriting teams
• Reduce manual errors
• Align income analysis directly with Selling Guide requirements
• Improve loan quality and mitigate repurchase risk

The tool supports multiple income types including:

• Self-employed income
• Rental income
• Variable and commission income
• Overtime and bonus income
• Business ownership structures
• Schedule C and K-1 scenarios

The Income Calculator helps standardize the interpretation of guidelines and ensures calculations align directly with Fannie Mae policy.

Jim walks us through:

• How the new calculator changes workflow
• Where loan officers get income wrong most often
• The biggest mistakes underwriters still see
• How to reduce back-and-forth between sales and ops
• Why this tool improves speed AND compliance
• How leaders should implement it across their teams

We also discuss whether tools like this move the industry closer to automation — and how originators can use technology to strengthen files before submission

TrueWork
Income verification shouldn’t require juggling dozens of vendors. TrueWork consolidates all major VOIE methods into one powerful platform, helping lenders increase completion rates, reduce costs, and close loans faster with verified data.
Learn more:
https://www.truework.com/2026-mikedup?utm_source__c=MikedUp&utm_medium__c=Podcast-Sponsorship&utm_campaign__c=Q1-2026-MikedUp

FundingShield
Wire fraud and cyber risk remain major threats at closing. FundingShield provides real-time transaction-level verification and certified wire fraud protection to safeguard funds and validate the parties and documents involved in every mortgage transaction.
Learn more:
https://www.fundingshield.com