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NEO Home Loans powered by Better announced on Thursday that the Gustafson Team, a top-producing group that closed 303 loans totaling more than $110 million in 2024, has joined the company.
Led by Gene Gustafson, the Fort Collins, Colorado-based team spent the past 15 years at loanDepot. The team will play a key role in expanding NEO’s regional footprint while “bringing their decades of experience to support both clients and emerging mortgage professionals,” according to the company’s press release.
“We had a good thing going. But when we looked at where the industry is heading and what NEO is building, the decision became clear,” Gustafson said in a statement. “NEO offers the tech, the transparency, and the infrastructure we need to grow, without compromising the client experience.”
NEO Home Loans, powered by Better’s tech stack and artificial intelligence infrastructure, was a key factor in the move, Gustafson said. NEO’s proprietary technology includes AI-powered lead intelligence and conversion support, automated workflows and access to Better’s Tinman platform.
“Most advisors want to provide long-term value, but they don’t have the bandwidth. NEO solved that,” Gustafson said. “They’ve built a machine that empowers great originators to be even better, without burning out or sacrificing follow-up.”
“The Gustafson Team represents everything we believe the future of mortgage should look like; experience, integrity, and a deep commitment to client education and long-term wealth building,” said Ryan Grant, president and co-founder of NEO Home Loans.
“We’re honored they chose NEO powered by Better as the platform to scale their vision. Their decision reinforces that top professionals are no longer looking for just a place to work, they’re looking for alignment, innovation, and a model built to help them thrive.”
NEO Home Loans, Better’s retail partnership channel that began in early 2025, served approximately 1,000 borrowers in the second quarter and posted $428 million in funded volume, per Better’s Q2 2025 earnings release. Better’s expectation for Q3 2025 is that NEO’s volume will exceed $500 million.
