California mortgage firm Truss Financial Group announced a pivot into direct lending, making it the latest company this year to make changes in the current business environment that supports operational expansion. 

A specialist in non-qualified mortgages and debt-service coverage ratio loans, Truss will begin serving as a direct lender initially in its home state of California, with plans to build upon the momentum in other parts of the country in coming quarters. Previously, Truss operated exclusively as a mortgage broker, with lending licenses in 44 states and the District of Columbia. 

"Expanding into direct lending allows us to accelerate overall funding timelines, offer direct underwriting transparency and provide enhanced speed for self-employed business owners and portfolio investors requiring reliable liquidity," said Truss Financial Founder and CEO Jeff Miller, in a press release. 

The move will make in-house underwriting, approval and funding available for certain segments of California customers, including self-employed borrowers, real estate investors and seniors. The ability to provide direct underwriting will lead to substantially faster processing and documentation review for the niche of the market Truss reaches, the company also said. 

Core specialized loan offerings at Truss include bank-statement mortgages, DSCR loans and senior equity and asset-depletion products.

Founded in 2006 in Orange County, the company will embark on a hybrid model and continue serving customers outside of California as a broker with loan products available from more than 90 wholesale partners. 

"Clients secure faster turnaround times through our direct in-house funding channels while preserving access to an expansive suite of competitive loan programs nationwide," said Truss Partner and Chief Marketing Officer Jason Nichols.

Other similar moves from brokers

The Truss pivot is the latest corporate announcement indicating how the mortgage market is evolving this year, as companies adjust to new challenges. The growth of non-QM is emerging as a 2026 theme, with increasing volumes in both originations and secondary market activity. 

While the past several months have been marked by numerous merger deals, mortgage companies are undertaking other strategies as well, such as new partnerships or joint ventures, investments in artificial intelligence and expanded operational capabilities. 

In a similar move away from a broker-only model, NEXA Mortgage last year announced plans to transition toward wholesale correspondent business. In the process, the company also changed its name to NEXA Lending.

In March 2026, Tampa, Florida-based Mach Mortgage also made a pivot from its broker roots toward becoming a direct correspondent lender.  Like Truss, Mach operates as a hybrid company, retaining brokerage services in some regions of the country.