Every mortgage broker has an origin story. Mine starts in corporate finance — spreadsheets, risk models, and the kind of analytical rigor that most loan officers never touch. That foundation shaped how I run my brokerage today: data-driven, strategy-first, and obsessed with the long-term financial outcome for every client.
The Corporate Finance Foundation
Before I was originating mortgages, I was analyzing them. My career began in corporate finance, where I learned to read balance sheets, model cash flows, and evaluate risk the way institutions do. That training fundamentally changed how I approach mortgage lending. Most loan officers learn to push a file through underwriting. I learned to structure a loan the way a financial analyst would structure a deal — with the full picture in mind.
When a client comes to me for a refinance, I don't just look at the rate. I look at their entire debt structure — credit cards, auto loans, student debt, HELOCs — and calculate the weighted average cost of capital. Then I show them how consolidating into a single, lower-rate instrument changes their monthly cash flow and their long-term interest expense. That's not a sales pitch. That's financial analysis applied to real estate.
"I don't sell loans. I engineer financial outcomes. The mortgage is just the tool."
Building a 22-State Footprint
Getting licensed in one state is straightforward. Getting licensed in 22 — from Michigan to Florida, Texas to Pennsylvania — requires a level of commitment that most brokers never pursue. Each state has its own continuing education requirements, regulatory nuances, and market dynamics. I chose to invest in that footprint because my clients don't stay in one place. A client who buys a primary residence in Michigan might invest in Florida, refinance in Texas, or relocate to Tennessee. With 22 licenses through West Capital Lending (NMLS #1566096), I can follow them wherever they go.
My NMLS #1448893 and branch NMLS #2609986 (Troy, Michigan) represent more than credentials — they represent a commitment to operating at the highest regulatory standard across every market I serve. When you work with me, you're not getting a call center. You're getting a broker who knows your state's specific programs, grants, and first-time homebuyer incentives.
The Vertically Integrated Model
What sets my practice apart isn't just the mortgage brokerage. It's the ecosystem I've built around it:
- Mortgage Brokerage — 22 states, 170+ lenders, every loan type from conventional to DSCR
- House of Karma — marketing agency serving real estate professionals and lenders
- Studio Escrow — cloud-native transaction technology powering digital closings
- Karma by Design — an art platform with a permanent exhibit at the Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit
The Philosophy: Control the Transaction
The common thread through every business I run is control. When you control the financing, the marketing, the technology, and the transaction coordination, you eliminate the handoffs that create friction, delays, and cost. A client who works with me gets a mortgage broker who understands marketing (so their listing strategy aligns with their financing), access to transaction technology that streamlines the closing, and a single point of contact who sees the whole picture.
That philosophy extends to how I work with my team and my clients. I'm accessible — call my direct line at (949) 569-7945 or my mobile at (313) 522-0229. When you have a question about your loan, you're not routed to a 1-800 number. You reach me, and I have the answer because I structured the deal.
What's Next
With a newly minted California Realtor license and the House of Karma × Studio Escrow partnership, the vision is expanding. The goal isn't just to be the best mortgage broker in Detroit or even in 22 states. It's to build the infrastructure for a new kind of real estate transaction — one where financing, representation, technology, and marketing are connected by design, not by chance.
Follow the journey on Instagram: @moedeuce for mortgage insights and @hokdetroit for the House of Karma side. And when you're ready to experience what a vertically integrated real estate partner looks like, reach out. I'd love to show you the difference.
Ready to work with Moe?
Whether you're buying, refinancing, or exploring investment opportunities across 22 states — let's talk.
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