In this powerful episode of the podcast, we sit down with Mosi Gatling, Senior Vice President of Strategic Growth and Expansion at New American Funding, to explore the future of homeownership in America and how the industry can take meaningful steps to close the homeownership gap.

Mosi brings over two decades of mortgage industry expertise and has built an impressive career as a dynamic speaker, coach, and leader. She’s been consistently recognized among the top 1% of mortgage originators by Scotsman Guide, with a proven track record of helping families achieve their dreams of owning a home. Her passion lies in creating accessible, affordable, and sustainable homeownership opportunities, especially for underrepresented communities.

As the driving force behind initiatives like New American Funding's Black Impact program and the Housing Advocate Certification training, Mosi has been on a mission to empower both industry professionals and prospective homebuyers. These programs equip loan officers and real estate agents with the tools, knowledge, and cultural competency they need to effectively serve minority homebuyers, particularly in the Black community.

In this conversation, Mosi shares insights into how lenders, agents, and policymakers can work together to remove barriers and ensure that homeownership becomes a reality for more families across the nation. She also opens up about her personal journey, her passion for education, and why she believes in empowering the next generation of homeowners.

Key topics we explore in this episode include:

• Strategies for increasing sustainable homeownership.

• The importance of financial literacy and education in building wealth.

• How loan officers and real estate agents can serve diverse communities more effectively.

• Breaking down systemic barriers to create real, lasting impact.

• Why now is the time to act boldly for the future of housing.

Mosi’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2025, she was honored with the Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award and received her second consecutive HousingWire Women of Influence Award. She also serves on the board of FirstHome IQ, a nonprofit dedicated to providing education and resources for the next generation of homeowners.

This episode is a must-listen for mortgage professionals, real estate leaders, and anyone passionate about expanding homeownership opportunities in America. Mosi’s leadership and vision are inspiring a movement where every family has the chance to achieve stability and wealth through owning a home.

We couldn’t bring you this show without the support of our incredible sponsors:

• Mortgage Connect – A leading provider of innovative mortgage solutions and closing services that streamline the home buying process.
  Visit: https://www.mortgageconnectlp.com

• Aidium – The ultimate CRM for modern mortgage professionals, designed to help teams connect with clients and close more loans efficiently.
  Visit: https://www.thinkaidium.com

• Floify – A trusted point-of-sale solution that helps lenders deliver a seamless digital mortgage experience to their borrowers.
  Visit: https://www.floify.com

• TrueWork – Simplifying employment and income verification for lenders to speed up approvals and reduce friction in...

This week’s episode takes us through a deep, eye-opening conversation with Kevin Peranio, Chief Lending Officer of Paramount Residential Mortgage Group (PRMG). Kevin reflects on a career rooted in adapting, learning, and leading through nearly two decades of seismic shifts in the mortgage industry—from regional markets to nationwide lending cycles.

Kevin’s journey begins in 2001, when he helped expand First Magnus Financial throughout Texas and Florida. As both a launchpad and learning ground, these regional markets taught him the power of regulation, local demand dynamics, and credit evolution—especially as the Community Reinvestment Act influenced lending, independent mortgage bankers rose to prominence, and credit standards expanded.

He then walks us through the factors behind the global financial crisis—risky lending, shifting consumer behavior, big bank practices, and failing oversight—and how those lessons reshaped how lenders should act responsibly. Kevin brings this full circle with the story of North Star Lending, where he served as COO from 2007–2010, rebuilding trust and standards through lean operations and smarter lending after the crash.

Today, Kevin runs the loan process at PRMG with precision—focusing on customer satisfaction and quality control across the board. His experience and leadership offer rare clarity on how to lead lending not just with volume, but with integrity and foresight.

Topics Covered:

• The 2000s real estate boom through regional lenses: Texas vs. Florida

• How lenders balanced community mandates, market expansion, and credit risks

• The origins and impact of the 2008 crisis—then and now

• Building a post-crisis lending business centered around culture, efficiency, and service

• Kevin’s vision for PRMG’s future—balanced, customer-first growth with resilient processes

This episode is essential for originators, executives, and anyone wondering how mortgage leadership evolves in the wake of disruption. Kevin’s story is a reminder that leading lending is equal parts strategy, experience, and responsibility.

About Our Sponsors

• Mortgage Connect – A full-service mortgage solutions partner delivering end-to-end support across closing, title, valuation, and loss mitigation. Visit https://www.mortgageconnectlp.com

• Aidium – Modern CRM and lead management tools built specifically to help mortgage professionals streamline pipelines and grow business. Visit https://www.thinkaidium.com

• Floify – A leading mortgage point-of-sale platform making it easier for lenders, borrowers, and agents to manage digital loan applications from start to finish. Visit https://www.floify.com

• Truework – Employment and income verification solutions built for fast, secure lender access to trusted borrower data. Visit https://www.truework.com

• FundingShield – Advanced risk detection and borrower identity verification tools tailored for mortgage and commercial lending. Visit https://www.fundingshield.com

What does it really take to make homeownership possible for millions of Americans—especially Gen Z, first-time buyers, and families often overlooked by the traditional system? This week, we’re joined by two of the industry’s most passionate voices: Dave Savage and Kristin Messerli, co-founders of FirstHome IQ, a nonprofit on a mission to deliver financial education and empower five million young adults with the tools to become homeowners.

Dave is a legend in mortgage education, known for founding Mortgage Coach and now serving as Chief Innovation Officer at TrustEngine. Over the course of his career, Dave has:

• Conducted over 1,000 interviews with top industry leaders

• Built the Mortgage Coach YouTube channel into a leading training platform for loan officers

• Championed financial literacy as a core mission, believing loan officers are on the frontlines of helping families make smarter financial decisions

• Co-founded FirstHome IQ to tackle the financial literacy gap for Gen Z and first-time buyers

His mantra is simple: Technology won’t replace loan officers—but loan officers who master technology will replace those who don’t.

Kristin’s journey began in social work, where she specialized in serving immigrant and unhoused communities. From there, she launched Cultural Outreach, a groundbreaking multicultural marketing agency, later acquired by NAMMBA. Today, as co-founder of FirstHome IQ, she’s using her voice to bridge the trust gap many consumers feel when it comes to money and financial institutions.

Kristin brings her TRUST Framework and personal experience with financial anxiety into her work, creating tools and strategies that resonate with modern consumers. She believes in radical acceptance, authentic education, and turning complex financial decisions into approachable, confidence-building steps.

• The real state of financial literacy among Gen Z and first-time homebuyers

• Why 5 million young adults are at the center of Dave & Kristin’s vision

• How FirstHome IQ is rewriting the playbook on financial education

• The role of technology, storytelling, and trust in shaping tomorrow’s mortgage industry

• Why relationships—not just rates—will define the future of lending

• The personal stories and leadership philosophies that drive Dave and Kristin

This episode is part education, part inspiration, and all about the mission: building a generation of confident, informed homeowners.

• Mortgage Connect delivers a full suite of innovative mortgage services designed to help lenders and servicers exceed borrower expectations. Learn more at https://www.mortgageconnectlp.com

• Aidium helps mortgage professionals manage leads and relationships with a powerful CRM built for the modern loan officer. Learn more at https://www.thinkaidium.com

• Floify streamlines the loan process with intuitive digital tools for borrowers, lenders, and Realtors—making the mortgage journey faster and easier. Learn more at https://www.floify.com