New American Funding Review: 10 Essential Reasons It’s the Ultimate Choice for Homebuyers

The Evolution of an Industry Leader

The growth of New American Funding (NAF) is a study in strategic scaling and operational agility. Established in 2003 by husband-and-wife duo Rick and Patty

Arvielo, the company began as a modest 40-employee call center in Orange County, California. While many competitors relied on volatile venture-backed

expansion, the Arvielos focused on organic growth and technical efficiency. By 2012, the firm signaled a shift toward a hybrid model by opening its first physical

branch, combining digital speed with localized, human expertise.Today, NAF is an industry giant licensed in all 50 states.

While the company maintains a physical branch presence in 43 states with 299 total locations, its digital reach is absolute. The organization currently manages a

servicing portfolio of more than 280,110 loans valued at over $72.7 billion. This success is largely attributed to the “Leadership Synergy” of its founders, a model

internally referred to as NAF360:

• Rick Arvielo (The Master Executor): As CEO, Rick focuses on the technical infrastructure, marketing, and systems automation. His   philosophy, “Innovation Fuels Evolution,” aims to remove industry inefficiencies through technology, ensuring the complex mortgage process is simplified for the end-user.
• Patty Arvielo (The Heartbeat): With over 40 years of industry experience, Patty leads the sales force and community advocacy. Her “heartbeat to the street” focus is on mentorship, loan officer empowerment, and ensuring the voice of the borrower is heard at the highest levels of housing policy.

Below are the 10 essential reasons why New American Funding has become the premier choice for modern homebuyers.

Reason 1: Industry-Leading Inclusive Lending (The NAF Promise)

New American Funding has institutionalized equity through its “NAF Promise” initiatives, designed to close the homeownership gap for underrepresented

populations. Unlike peripheral corporate social responsibility programs, these are data-driven revenue goals.

• NAF Latino Focus:

  Led by Miguel Villegas, this initiative has a $10 billion commitment to Hispanic borrowers. In 2020, 18% of NAF’s purchase loan volume was to Hispanic borrowers—51% higher than the industry average of 11.9%.

• NAF Black Impact:

  Spearheaded by Mosi Gatling, this program includes a $20 billion commitment. It features the “Housing Advocate” certification for loan officers, ensuring they understand the historical systemic barriers Black homebuyers face. Consequently, NAF’s lending to Black borrowers is 12.4%, which is 85% above the industry average.

• NAF Pride:

  Co-founded by Aaron Arechiga, NAF Pride focuses on creating an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals. By hiring professionals from within the community, the company ensures that LGBTQ+ buyers navigate the mortgage process with the fairness and respect they deserve.

• NAF Heroes:

  This program acknowledges the unique sacrifices of Veterans and military families, providing specialized homeownership pathways and career opportunities within the mortgage industry.

Reason 2: Manual Underwriting for Non-Traditional Earners

One of NAF’s most significant competitive advantages is its use of manual underwriting. While big-box banks rely on rigid algorithms that often reject

freelance, self-employed, or gig-economy workers, NAF employs human underwriters to review a borrower’s full financial story. This flexibility allows the

lender to consider alternative documentation for proof of income, making them a primary choice for the modern “non-QM” (non-qualifying mortgage) workforce.

Reason 3: Stable, In-House Servicing (The 80% Rule)

A common frustration in the mortgage industry is the “hot potato” effect, where a loan is sold to different servicers multiple times. New American Funding

mitigates this friction by servicing approximately 80% of the loans it originates. Their “Funded today, Supported forever” promise ensures that the relationship

built during the application process continues throughout the life of the loan, providing consistency in payment management and escrow handling.

Reason 4: Market-Disrupting Innovation (NAF Cash)

In competitive real estate markets dominated by institutional investors, NAF Cash allows everyday buyers to make all-cash offers. This program provides the

speed and certainty of cash, which significantly increases offer acceptance rates. NAF essentially buys the home for cash on the borrower’s behalf, and the

borrower then buys it back once their permanent financing is finalized.

Reason 5: Extreme Product Diversity and Customization

NAF offers a product menu that caters to a wide spectrum of credit profiles and property types.

Loan Product Comparison Table

*Note: While 580 is standard, NAF’s manual underwriting can sometimes accommodate FHA scores as low as 500 depending on the total financial profile.

Beyond standard products, NAF offers the “I Can Mortgage,” which allows borrowers to customize their loan terms between 8 and 30 years to fit a specific

monthly payment. They also provide FHA 203k renovation loans, enabling buyers to finance both the purchase and the repair costs of a “fixer-upper” into a single mortgage.

Reason 6: The Concierge Experience

Recognizing that the stress of homeownership doesn’t end at the closing table, the NAF Concierge service provides complimentary logistical support. This

service assists new homeowners with setting up essential utilities, home security systems, and insurance, reducing the post-purchase burden and enhancing long-term brand loyalty.

Reason 7: Sophisticated Refinance Solutions

NAF provides a robust suite of options for optimizing existing debt, including a specialized Cash-in Refinance. This allows homeowners to apply a lump sum

(such as an inheritance or bonus) to their principal during a refinance. This sophisticated financial move lowers the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, potentially

eliminating private mortgage insurance (PMI) and significantly reducing monthly interest costs. Other options include traditional Cash-out and Rate-and-Term refinances.

Reason 8: The Synergy of Tech and Human Relationships

Under Rick Arvielo’s direction, NAF is integrating advanced Artificial Intelligence to handle the administrative “drudgery” of lending. However, the company

maintains that AI is a tool to empower, not replace, the human loan officer. By using AI to “simplify the complex” guidelines, loan officers are freed to focus on

the human relationship, acting as both a business advisor and a friend to the borrower.

Reason 9: Superior Pricing Performance Over Digital Competitors

An “Expert Analyst” perspective reveals that NAF often outperforms digital-only giants in cost. In comparative market scenarios, Rocket Mortgage has shown an

average APR of 7.64%, while New American Funding’s average sat at 6.67% for similar profiles. Furthermore, NAF’s focus on accessibility is evidenced by its

loan mix: FHA loans make up 34% of their originations, compared to only 22% at Rocket Mortgage, proving NAF’s commitment to borrowers with less cash on hand.

Reason 10: A Culture of Trust and Verified Excellence

Social proof for NAF is substantial. The company maintains a 4.9/5-star rating based on a massive 410,722 online reviews. This reputation is backed by a

string of 2026 industry accolades:

• Forbes:

  America’s Best Midsize Employers.

• Mortgage Executive Magazine:

  #1 Best Company to Work For in the Mortgage Industry.

• USA TODAY:

  Most Trusted Brands 2026.

• J.D. Power:

  Rated well above average for servicing performance in 2025.