Licensed in 48 States • 280+ Lending Partners

Meet Our Team at Gustan Cho Associates

The mortgage professionals who close loans when others say “no.” Available 24/7, 365 days a year to help you achieve homeownership.

80%+

Success Rate

280+

Lending Partners

48

States Licensed

24/7

Support Available

Meet Our Leaders, Loan Officers ,Operations & Support Team Members

Our experienced leadership team sets the vision and ensures every client receives exceptional service. Licensed mortgage professionals with decades of combined experience in complex lending scenarios. The backbone of our operations, ensuring smooth processing and exceptional client experience.

Gustan Cho

National Managing Director & Mortgage Loan Originator

Gustan Cho has spent decades mastering the mortgage business and created Gustan Cho Associates to help qualify and approve clients whom other lenders say ‘no’ to. Over 80% of our borrowers could not qualify at other mortgage companies.

Specialties:

Manual Underwriting, Bad Credit Loans, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, No Overlay Lending

Gustan Cho
  • He’s called a mortgage expert without overlays because he believes in second chances. When a borrower has a low credit score, a high DTI, or a past bankruptcy, Gustan ensures they still get a fair path to homeownership
NMLS 873293
gcho@gustancho.com
(262) 627-1965
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  • Borrower Testimonial:

    After being denied by two big banks, Gustan personally reviewed my file and approved me for a VA loan. He’s the only reason I’m in my home today.
    James R
    U.S. Veteran

Alex Carlucci

Senior Loan Officer & Regional Managing Director

Alex specializes in FHA, VA, Conventional, and Non-QM loans. He’s the go-to expert for breaking down confusing programs into simple steps so you know what to expect throughout the process.

Specialties:

FHA Loans, VA Loans, Conventional Loans, Non-QM Programs

Meet Our Team
NMLS #229891
alex@gustancho.com
630-915-7550
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  • Borrower Testimonial:

    Alex walked me through every tiny detail. I never dreamed my credit could get me a mortgage, but he found the option I needed
    Danielle L.
    FHA Borrower

John Strange

Senior Mortgage Loan Originator

With over 30 years of experience, John specializes in guiding clients through complex loan processes, particularly for VA loans and borrowers with challenging financial situations. Known for weekend availability and transparency.

John Strange
NMLS #230932
jstrange@gustancho.com
(630) 292-0266
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Specialties:

VA Loans, Complex Situations, Low Credit Scores, Qick Closings

Dale Elenteny

Senior Loan Officer & Regional Managing Director

Dale specializes in challenging loans that others won’t touch. He excels at manual underwriting, high debt-to-income ratios, and FHA and VA loans for borrowers with low credit scores.

Dale
NMLS #1936359
dale@gustancho.com
630-479-2719
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Specialties:

Manual Underwriting, High DTI, Difficult Cases, FHA/VA Loans

Mike Gracz

Senior Loan Officer & Contributing Editor

Former National Sales Manager with extensive experience in FHA and VA loans for borrowers with credit scores as low as 500 FICO. Award-winning mortgage blogger and expert in Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases.

Michael Gracz
NMLS #1160212
mike@gustancho.com
(630) 659-7644
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Specialties:

FHA Manual Underwriting, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, High DTI Ratios, Complex Cases

Chad Bush

Mortgage Loan Originator

Chad Bush has double experience as a realtor and a loan officer. Now, as Branch Manager, he builds connections with homebuyers and real estate agents, ensuring every borrower receives a tailored plan and a smooth closing process.

Chad
NMLS #2044239
chad@gustancho.com
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Specialties:

First-Time Buyers, Real Estate Connections, FHA/VA Loans, Purchase Transactions

Anant Patel

Mortgage Loan Originator

Anant specializes in helping borrowers denied by other lenders due to complex financial situations. Expert in low credit scores, high debt-to-income ratios, and active Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases.

Anant
NMLS #2699145
anant@gustancho.com
(800) 900-8569
Get A Quote
Specialties:

Complex Situations, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, High DTI, Non-QM Loans

Sonny Walton

Mortgage Loan Originator & Real Estate Broker

Sonny Walton is a Mortgage Loan Officer and Real Estate Broker based in Houston, Texas. He leverages Gustan Cho Associates’ access to over 280 wholesale lenders to provide tailored mortgage solutions for clients with challenging financial profiles, including those with low credit scores or complex situations.

Sonny
NMLS #
sonny@gustancho.com
(800) 900-8569
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Specialties:

Real Estate Broker, Low Credit Scores, Non-QM Loans, Bank Statement Mortgages

Rhonda Smith

Mortgage Loan Originator

With over ten years in the financial sector, Rhonda specializes in first-time homebuyers and entrepreneurs navigating complex mortgage processes. Licensed in Alabama with expertise in challenging credit profiles.

Meet Our Team
NMLS #1502981
rhonda.smith@gustancho.com
(251) 298-7697
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Specialties:

First-Time Buyers, Entrepreneurs, Complex Credit, Alabama Market

Ethel Matthews

Mortgage Loan Originator & Realtor

Dual-licensed as both Mortgage Loan Originator and Realtor in South Carolina. Ethel guides clients seamlessly through the entire home buying process, from property selection to securing financing.

Meet Our Team
NMLS #2352355
ethel@gustancho.com
(800) 900-8569
Get A Quote
Specialties:

Dual License, South Carolina, Home Buying Process, Financing Solutions

Tanhia Romero

Mortgage Loan Originator

Tanhia Romero is a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator based in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. She specializes in helping borrowers with challenging financial profiles, including low credit scores down to 500 FICO, high debt-to-income ratios, and non-QM loans for clients one day out of bankruptcy or foreclosure.

Meet Our Team
NMLS #
tanhia@gustancho.com
(251) 298-7697
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Specialties:

Low Credit Scores, High DTI Ratios, Non-QM Programs, Alternative Loans

Angie Torres

National Operations Director

Angie ensures every loan file moves swiftly from application to closing. Her leadership ensures loans close on time, and her commitment to every borrower shapes our caring culture.

Meet Our Team
angie@gustancho.com
Specialties:

Operations Management, Loan Processing, Timeline Management, Quality Control

Margarett Jurilla

National Auditing & Compliance Director

File-flow champion; anticipates underwriter asks to prevent last-minute delays.

Meet Our Team
marga@gustancho.com
Specialties:

Time-sensitive purchases; refinance pipelines

April Cabael

Marketing Assistant and Writer

White-glove borrower experience—answers fast, explains clearly, and sets expectations early.

April
april@gustancho.com
Specialties:

First-time homebuyers, rate-and-term refinance

Anngelli Abenes

Marketing Assistant and Writer

Organized, proactive, and calm—keeps documents pristine and timelines tight.

Meet Our Team
anngelli@gustancho.com
Specialties:

Purchase contracts with short contingencies; condo reviews

Sapna Sharma

Chief Technology Officer & Digital Media Director  

Sapna sets the vision for our digital tools, including mortgage calculators and online forums. She ensures you have access to precise data and user-friendly online resources.

Meet Our Team
sapna@gustancho.com
Specialties:

Digital Tools, Technology, Online Calculators,Web Development

Why Borrowers Choose Us

We specialize in helping borrowers who have been denied elsewhere. Here’s what sets our team apart.

No Lender Overlays

We follow only the official FHA, VA, and agency guidelines—no extra restrictions that other lenders add.

24/7 Availability

Our team is available seven days a week, including evenings and holidays, to assist with your needs.

Proven Results

Over 80% of our clients were denied by other lenders. We convert “no’s” into approvals daily.

Questions Borrowers Ask Most About Gustan Cho Associates

When you talk to a mortgage lender, you may ask, “Who are you?” We get that a lot at Gustan Cho Associates. Most of the time, those asking are clients who are told “no” by everyone else.

We aren’t just any mortgage broker. We are a committed team that believes owning a home shouldn’t be a distant dream for anyone.

As a dba of NEXA Mortgage, LLC (NMLS 1660690), our reach covers 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (MA & NY Pending). We’re the folks in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois (Branch NMLS 2315275). However, the network operates coast to coast—closing loans that felt hopeless elsewhere. In fact, 80% of our clients come to us only after receiving a denial from other lenders.  

When borrowers ask, “What’s the real story?” after so many “no’s,” we share our “yes“ with proof:  

  • We’re Here for You: You can reach a live team member at (800) 900-8569 or gcho@gustancho.com every day, evenings, and holidays.
  • You Come First: No jargon.
  • We walk through each option: an FHA while in chapter 13, or a hybrid loan two months after a foreclosure.
  • Proven Results: Our team has an A+ rating from the BBB and rave reviews on Google, Zillow, and Yelp.
  • You’ll see the same story when you read client testimonials.
  • We convert denials into approvals daily.  

Claudia Pagaza is a perfect example. She was facing a divorce and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, and still, we moved her to yes. Or consider Gina, who won an FHA loan appraisal even while in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy payment plan. Gamers come to us once rejected, and we figure out the pathway. So if the doors seem locked or your score lags, meet the team that refuses to be out of habit. We help you own your place. Call us now to see the next step forward.

We’re a full-scale broker—part of NEXA Mortgage, NMLS #1660690—offering traditional and “non-QM” loans. Overlays are not part of our model.

At Gustan Cho Associates, part of NEXA Mortgage, LLC (NMLS 1660690), we use the term “no lender overlays” to describe a key policy—and it’s especially important for the 80% of our clients who’ve been turned away everywhere else.

  • So, what is it? It’s simple: We stick to the basic guidelines set by FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional programs without adding the extra hoops other banks expect borrowers to jump through.
  • No extra credit, income, or asset rules that complicate the process.
  • By doing that, we can approve and close loans for borrowers who don’t fit the cookie-cutter mold.
  • Whether you have a FICO score as low as 500, a high debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, or an active Chapter 13 bankruptcy, we can still find a path for you.
  • At the same time, other lenders give you a no.
  • When shopping for a mortgage, you’ll run into a term called “lender overlays.”
  • These are extra rules that a mortgage company decides to use in addition to the official guidelines set by the FHA, VA, or Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac.
  • Please think of the official rules as a checklist everyone gets, and overlays as extra questions mortgage lenders add for their protection.
  • Yet, the added questions can sometimes trip up borrowers who thought they’d qualify.

Here’s a Closer Look

  • FHA Official Rule: FHA says you can qualify with a credit score 500 if you put at least 10% down or 580 with 3.5% down.
  • The program even allows a borrower in Chapter 13 bankruptcy to be underwritten manually 12 months after starting repayment.
  • Typical Overlays: In practice, many lenders raise the benchmark by asking for a minimum score of 620 or even 640.
  • They may also impose a mandatory two-year pause after a bankruptcy discharge or set a 43% cap on your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, even if FHA allows higher ratios if you provide compensating factors.
  • When overlays kick in, borrowers may be denied even when they meet the agency guidelines.
  • At Gustan Cho Associates, we stick to the core FHA, VA, and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac rules.
  • That way, we clear unnecessary hurdles and boost the chances you’ll get the mortgage you need.

We offer FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional, Jumbo, and a variety of Non-QM loans, such as bank statements, DSCR, ITIN, and no-doc.  

Gustan Cho Associates is licensed in 48 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (MA and NY pending).  

You can start your online mortgage loan application or call our team to get the process rolling.  

At Gustan Cho Associates, the “no lender overlays” policy lets us say “yes” when others say “no.”

Here’s The Real-World Impact For Our Clients:

  • Lower Credit Acceptances: FHA loans can close with scores starting at 500 (10% down) or 580 (3.5% down). In contrast, VA loans follow the same low-bar policy, meaning we don’t layer on tougher score minimums.
  • Relaxed Debt-to-Income Limits: FHA and VA allow DTI over 56.9%, and so do we, using the health of your overall finances on the application to justify the stretch.
  • A stable job and cash reserves can tip the balance.
  • Faster Comeback After Bankruptcy or Foreclosure: If you’re currently in a Chapter 13 and haven’t missed a payment for 12 months, there’s a path.
  • Or you may close on the same day as a traditional or non-QM loan discharge.
  • Other lenders may ask you to sit for two years or sometimes four.

We look at the entire picture, not just the numbers. Eight out of ten borrowers find us after being turned away somewhere else. We are more than a broker—we are your advocate. Our A+ rating with the BBB and dozens of five-star reviews on Google, Zillow, and Yelp show we deliver what we promise: no overlays, just results.

” FHA, VA, USDA, or a non-QM loan, our team crafts solutions for every story. Call us today at (800) 900-8569 or drop a note to gcho@gustancho.com. We’ll make it happen. “

Contact us today if any other lender has said “no” to you. We can show you how our no-lender-overlay plan can make your dream of owning a home come true. This means we accept the same rules you can read on government sites, without layers of internal “bonus” restrictions.

Definitely. More than 80% of our loans started after another lender said “no.” When we say “yes,” we mean your path to a mortgage is clear.

Absolutely! You can use Gustan Cho Associates’ online best mortgage calculators anytime, or chat with specialists on the GCA Forums.  

Most loans close in 21 days or sooner if your documents are ready on time.  

Ready to Work with Our Team?

Contact us today for a free consultation. Our experienced team is ready to help you achieve homeownership, even if others have said “no.”

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Real Client Impact

  • After my Chapter 13 and divorce, lenders told me I couldn’t refinance. Gustan Cho Associates got me the loan, and they walked me step by step through the process.
    Claudia P.
    South Carolina
  • I have a 720 score and still my credit union demanded I wait two years after Chapter 13. With manual underwriting and no overlays, Gustan Cho approved my FHA loan on the spot.
    Anonymous
    North Carolina
  • My Chapter 13 was still open, so most places denied me. Gustan Cho came through with an FHA loan after just 12 months, no overlays, and no pressure.
    Gina Schroeder
    Wheeling, Illinois