Mortgage Research Center Announces Launch of First Residential Independent Mortgage

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mortgage Research Center, LLC, the parent company of Veterans United Home Loans, today announced the launch of First Residential Independent Mortgage, a full-service mortgage lender headquartered in Springfield, Mo.

The move marks the sunsetting of the Paddio lending brand. All current Paddio employees will transition to roles at First Residential Independent Mortgage. In addition, First Residential Independent Mortgage plans to hire new loan officers to meet increasing demand and support its continued growth across the country.

"At First Residential Independent Mortgage, our focus is on enhancing as many lives as possible," said Ryan Kluttz, Director of Production at First Residential Independent Mortgage. "We're building on a strong foundation of purchase expertise and national lending experience. We'll be growing our team and investing in technology that allows us to deliver a seamless, personalized borrower experience that takes the guesswork out of buying or refinancing a home," he said.

Built on a Strong Foundation
First Residential Independent Mortgage is owned by Mortgage Research Center, LLC, which has originated more than 800,000 nationwide loans through its lending operations, which include Veterans United Home Loans, the nation's No. 1 VA loan provider.

With deep experience in the purchase market, First Residential Independent Mortgage will specialize in Conventional, FHA loans and will offer Down Payment Assistance loan products through its existing partnerships, ensuring more Americans have access to affordable, accessible home financing options.

Tech-Enabled, People-Focused
At its core, First Residential Independent Mortgage aims to deliver the personalized, high-touch service that homebuyers value, especially during what can be a complicated and emotional journey to homeownership.

The lender's mobile app, which will be available on both Android and Apple devices, is designed to put smart tools and real-time loan information right at buyers' fingertips, allowing them to track progress, upload documents and communicate with their loan team from anywhere.

"We believe buying a home should be simple, seamless and centered around you," Kluttz said. "That belief drives everything we do, from the way we communicate to the tech we build."

About First Residential Independent Mortgage
Based in Springfield, Mo., First Residential Independent Mortgage is a full-service mortgage lender built on the belief that every borrower deserves a loan process that's easy to navigate, responsive and centered around their goals. First Residential offers a range of loan products including Conventional, FHA and DPA products through its existing partnerships. Backed by the same team behind the nation's No. 1 VA lender, First Residential brings a legacy of service, a focus on purchase expertise and smart, user-friendly tools to every step of the home loan journey. To learn more, visit firstresidential.com.

FirstResidential.com | 1-800-906-8960 | 1930 W Bennett St, Suite 100, Springfield, MO 65807 | NMLS # 1907 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). Equal Housing Opportunity. For State Licensing information, please visit www.FirstResidential.com/licenses/.

SOURCE First Residential Independent Mortgage