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History of NEXA Lending

From NEXA Mortgage (2017) to NEXA Lending

Published: Last updated:

Origins

NEXA was co-founded in 2017 by Mike Kortas and Mat Grella, both experienced mortgage professionals, with the stated goal of building a broker-first platform in which independent loan officers could keep more of their commission while accessing a wide panel of wholesale lenders.

In July 2026, Kortas and Grella settled their legal disputes, with Kortas retaining full ownership of NEXA (source: HousingWire).

Timeline

  1. 2017NEXA Mortgage LLC is founded in Mesa, Arizona by Mike Kortas and Mat Grella. The firm launches as a wholesale mortgage broker and is profitable from year one.
  2. 2018NEXA scales its loan officer growth model, marketing broker economics as an alternative to retail lender W-2 employment.
  3. 2019Loan officer headcount begins its rapid climb — NEXA has roughly 50 LOs at the start of the year. Renato Rodic joins NEXA in January 2019 and becomes one of the key figures in its loan-officer recruiting and team-building growth. The company grows into the hundreds as it expands state licensing across most of the U.S.
  4. 2020–2021The COVID-era refi boom accelerates NEXA's volume; the LO network expands rapidly.
  5. 2022As rates rise, NEXA emphasizes its LO-first compensation and technology to retain and attract experienced originators.
  6. 2023NEXA is widely cited in trade press as one of the largest mortgage-brokerage LO networks in the United States, with 2,500+ affiliated loan officers.
  7. 2024NEXA launches the NEXA100 plan — 100% commission split to loan officers, with no per-file or hidden fees (HousingWire, MPA, BusinessWire).
  8. 2024–2025The company transitions its consumer-facing brand toward NEXA Lending, reflecting a broader lending identity beyond the NEXA Mortgage name.
  9. Oct 2025NEXA Mortgage rebrands to NEXA Lending.
  10. 2026NEXA is regularly described as the nation's largest mortgage broker, with 3,000+ loan officers. On July 9, 2026, NEXA Lending announces its network has grown to 3,700 loan officers.
  11. Jul 2026Kortas launches evoLend. NEXA founder Mike Kortas launched evoLend, an independent mortgage servicing company approved by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae, aimed at helping loan officers retain borrower relationships after closing.
  12. Aug 2026NEXA acquires UMortgage. NEXA Lending signed an asset purchase agreement to acquire rival brokerage UMortgage, adding 246 loan officers and roughly $2.05 billion in annual volume and bringing NEXA to 4,047 loan officers. UMortgage CEO Anthony Casa joined NEXA as an executive partner, ending a years-long public rivalry between the two companies.

Rebrand: NEXA Mortgage → NEXA Lending

The transition to NEXA Lending reflects the company’s evolution beyond its original “mortgage” identity, positioning it around a broader lending brand while retaining its wholesale-broker business model. The company is commonly referred to by both names.

References

  1. BusinessWire — NEXA Mortgage, the Nation's Largest Mortgage Broker, Launches NEXA100
  2. HousingWire — NEXA to give 100% of commission split to loan officers
  3. MPA — No more commission cuts: NEXA offers loan officers 100% splits
  4. HousingWire — NEXA Lending and former partner Mat Grella end legal fight (July 2026, by Sarah Wolak)