What Arete Mortgage does

Arete Mortgage is an independent, woman-owned residential mortgage brokerage founded in 2001 by Jeanne Randazzo Szczech and headquartered at 2855 Main Ave B105, Durango, Colorado. The firm is licensed in Colorado and New Mexico (NMLS: 291118) and serves homebuyers, refinancing homeowners, and homeowners aged 62+ across Southwest Colorado communities (Durango, Bayfield, Ignacio, Hesperus, Pagosa Springs, Mancos, Cortez, Silverton) and statewide New Mexico. The product portfolio covers the full residential mortgage spectrum — Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo, USDA, HECM Reverse Mortgages, ARMs, fixed-rate, graduated payment, interest-only, and home equity solutions — with a stated specialty in reverse mortgage advisory positioned against large-bank call-center competitors.

The technology stack is intentionally lean: the Loanzify borrower portal handles online loan applications, registration, and pre-qualification, while the public-facing website is built on the LenderHomePage platform and supported by an extensive content library (blog, calculators, learning center, downloadable resources) that functions as the primary top-of-funnel acquisition channel. No proprietary technology, mobile app, API, or AI tooling is documented.

The business model is transaction-based origination commission: as an independent broker, Arete Mortgage does not fund loans directly but matches borrowers with wholesale lender partners and earns origination fees on closed loans. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, centered on direct access to named loan officers (currently Jeanne Randazzo Szczech and Kelli Miller), supported by organic search, content marketing, email, and real estate agent referrals. The firm has no disclosed parent company, institutional investors, M&A activity, or funding history.

Name

Arete Mortgage

Legal name

Arete Mortgage

Website

https://arete.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Arete Mortgage is an independent, woman-owned mortgage brokerage founded in 2001 and headquartered in Durango, Colorado. It serves residential borrowers across Southwest Colorado and New Mexico with conventional, government, jumbo, and reverse mortgage products, specializing in HECM reverse mortgage advisory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mortgage Brokerage

NAICS

Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (522310)

SIC

Loan Brokers (6163)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail Residential Mortgage Brokers (Purchase & Refinance) (FSALABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Reverse Mortgage Origination (HECM & Proprietary) (FSALAIAA)

Keywords

• Mortgage brokerage
• Residential lending
• Reverse mortgages
• Home refinancing
• FHA loans

Headquarters

HQ city

Durango

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Mortgage Origination Commissions: As an independent mortgage broker, Arete Mortgage earns origination fees and commissions from lenders when loans are closed. Revenue is generated on a per-transaction basis as borrowers complete mortgage closings through the broker's recommended lenders and loan programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Arete Mortgage is an independent, woman-owned mortgage brokerage that originates residential home loans by matching Colorado and New Mexico borrowers with multiple wholesale lenders. Its core offering spans purchase mortgages (Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo, USDA), refinancing, home equity solutions, investment and second-home financing, first-time homebuyer programs, and a specialty suite of reverse mortgage (HECM) products for homeowners aged 62 and older. The brokerage delivers this through personalized direct advisory from named loan officers and the Loanzify online application portal, earning commissions and origination fees from lender partners at closing.

Product overview

Arete Mortgage is an independent mortgage brokerage offering a comprehensive suite of residential mortgage products and reverse mortgage services. Their core offerings include conventional loans, FHA loans, VA loans, USDA loans, jumbo loans, and various specialty products like adjustable rate mortgages and graduated payment mortgages. The company specializes in reverse mortgages (particularly HECM products), serving homeowners aged 62+ in Southwest Colorado and New Mexico. As an independent broker, they access multiple lenders to find competitive financing tailored to individual client circumstances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Purchase Loans (Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo, USDA) Mortgage financing for home purchases, including conforming Conventional loans (Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac), FHA-insured loans with lower down payments, VA loans for eligible veterans and service members with no down payment, Jumbo loans above conforming limits for high-value properties, and USDA zero-down-payment loans for eligible rural and suburban areas. For individual homebuyers in Colorado and New Mexico.
• Home Refinancing Options to replace existing mortgages with new loans, potentially lowering interest rates, shortening loan terms, or accessing equity, including fixed rate, adjustable rate, graduated payment, and interest-only refinance structures. For existing homeowners seeking rate/term changes or cash-out.
• Reverse Mortgages (HECM) Home Equity Conversion Mortgages and related reverse mortgage products (HECM, Reverse Mortgage Purchases, Reverse Mortgage Refinancing, Reverse Mortgage Lines of Credit) allowing homeowners aged 62 and older to convert home equity into cash, eliminate monthly mortgage payments, establish a growing line of credit, or purchase a new home without monthly payments. For senior homeowners planning retirement income or aging in place.
• Investment Property Financing Mortgage products designed for borrowers purchasing rental or income-producing investment properties. For individual real estate investors.
• Second Home & Vacation Home Loans Financing options for purchasing secondary residences or vacation properties. For individual buyers of second/vacation homes.
• First-Time Homebuyer Programs Special loan programs and guided support to help first-time buyers navigate the home purchasing process, including access to government-backed (FHA, VA, USDA) and conventional products with education and pre-approval assistance. For first-time homebuyers in Colorado and New Mexico.
• Home Equity Solutions Various options for borrowing against home equity, including home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs). For homeowners seeking to access accumulated equity.
• Retirement Income Planning Strategies Consulting services to help retirees integrate reverse mortgages into their overall retirement financial planning, including strategy around HECM, lines of credit, and home equity conversion. For homeowners aged 62+ planning retirement income.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• LoanzifycoreTechnology or IntegrationLoanzify provides the online mortgage application and borrower registration portal used by Arete Mortgage. The platform enables digital loan applications, pre-qualification forms, and borrower intake workflows.
• Various Wholesale LenderscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAs an independent mortgage broker, Arete Mortgage has access to a wide variety of wholesale lenders and loan programs, enabling competitive financing solutions tailored to borrowers' unique circumstances. Specific lender names are not disclosed on the website.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Rocket Mortgage: Largest US mortgage lender with a call-center/digital origination model that Arete explicitly positions itself against; comparable as the dominant alternative channel competing for the same residential borrowers.
• loanDepot: Large national mortgage lender with retail and direct-to-consumer channels; comparable as a broad incumbent offering the same product suite (conventional, FHA, VA, reverse) that Arete provides.

Direct peers

• Guild Mortgage: Independent mortgage lender with strong retail branch network and full product menu including reverse mortgages; comparable in being a non-bank lender emphasizing relationship-driven origination.
• Embrace Home Loans: Mid-sized independent mortgage lender with retail branches, full product suite, and direct loan officer advisory—comparable in scale (larger than Arete) and in the independent lender model.
• Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation: Large independent mortgage lender/broker operating across the US with a branch-based model where loan officers provide personalized service and access to multiple wholesale lenders—directly comparable to Arete's independent broker structure.
• PrimeLending: National independent mortgage lender offering conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo, and reverse mortgage products through branch-based loan officers; comparable in product breadth and personalized advisor model.
• Newfi: Non-QM and wholesale-focused mortgage lender that works extensively with independent mortgage brokers like Arete; comparable as a broker-channel counterparty and as a competing small/mid-scale lender model.

Emerging players

• Longbridge Financial: Specialized reverse mortgage lender and HECM originator focused on the senior demographic; directly comparable to Arete's reverse mortgage specialty line and the addressable customer overlap.
• Finance of America Reverse: Reverse mortgage-focused lender offering HECM and proprietary reverse products to homeowners 62+; directly comparable to Arete's core reverse mortgage positioning and customer segment.

Others

• United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM): Largest US wholesale mortgage lender that supplies loan products to independent mortgage brokers including Arete; comparable as a key upstream partner and as the dominant wholesale counterparty in the broker channel.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aretemortgageinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arete Mortgage