Non-QM lender RateDNA in talks to sell 60% to architecture firm

Architecture and AI firm expands into real estate lending with planned deal

Non-QM lender RateDNA in talks to sell 60% to architecture firm

OFA Group, an architecture and technology firm, said it has signed a letter of intent to acquire a 60% stake in RateDNA, a California-based mortgage lender focused on non-QM and DSCR loans. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

OFA recently completed a $150 million initial public offering (IPO) in May and is pursuing a dual-track strategy that blends AI platform development with real estate market expansion. The firm’s proposed acquisition of RateDNA, also known as Neekee, would mark its entry into the specialty mortgage lending space, with a focus on DSCR and non-QM loans geared toward property investors.

RateDNA is affiliated with Aspire Homes Realty, a brokerage firm focused on investment properties. OFA is also acquiring a stake in Aspire Homes as part of the broader expansion into integrated real estate services. Aspire’s offerings include in-house agent training, staging, design, and construction.

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RateDNA, backed by investment firm AlphaX, supports its investor-focused mortgage business with proprietary technology, including its SFR Analytics platform. According to the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry, RateDNA was first licensed in California in 2022 and currently sponsors 12 mortgage loan originators.

“We believe this proposed transaction represents a compelling opportunity to expand OFA’s presence in two resilient, cash-generating verticals—real estate services and specialty lending,” OFA chief operating officer Thomas Gaffney said in a Press release. “The team we expect to integrate brings deep transactional expertise, dual-licensing capabilities, and a performance-driven culture.”

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OFA’s stock climbed 5.7% following the announcement of the acquisition plan.

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