A Partnership Built for Clients, Powered by Strategy
Wholesale Rates. Wealth Guidance. One Clear Path.
A Platform That Matches Our Mission
At Stairway Mortgage, we focus on helping clients build real, lasting wealth through strategic real estate leverage. To do this well, we partnered with the most powerful mortgage brokerage platform in the country—NEXA Mortgage, founded by visionary leader Mike Kortas.
This partnership means:
- Lower interest rates through wholesale lending
- Faster closings through streamlined systems
- More loan options for every financial scenario
- Strategy-first support, not sales-first pressure
Wholesale Power, Nationwide Access
• 1250+ Lender Network
Conventional, VA, FHA, jumbo, DSCR, non-QM, and more.
• Wholesale Interest Rates
Lower costs. More savings. No retail markup.
• Integrated Tech
NEXA’s Loan Operating System speeds up every step.
• Industry Reputation
Trusted by 3,000+ top-producing loan officers nationwide.
More Than a Mortgage—A Financial Game Plan
Stairway Mortgage trains Certified Stairway Advisors™ to go beyond traditional lending. We guide clients to make strategic financial decisions that grow wealth over time.
We teach our clients how to:
- Use leverage responsibly
- Think like investors
- Protect assets and equity
- Optimize tax and retirement strategy
- Create lasting legacy through real estate
America’s Top Mortgage Broker
Quick Stats Grid:
- 3,000+ Loan Officers
- $8B+ in Annual Volume
- Licensed in 48 States
- #1 Broker Since 2021
- Direct Lending + Broker Model
Smarter Tech. Smoother Closings.
NEXA’s proprietary Loan Operating System connects everything—processors, underwriters, title, and even insurance—into a single platform. It’s modern, fast, and built to serve.
The Only Mortgage Company Offering Residual Income
NEXA offers something no other mortgage brokerage does: lifetime residual income for loan officers. That means:
- Financial stability for your advisor
- Long-term service relationships
- Attracting top talent who care about your outcome
The NEXUS of Financial Power
The name NEXA comes from the Latin nexus, meaning connection. To build on this, Jim Blackburn created the NEXA acronym—defining the core values of the types of elite financial professionals that we like to partner with:
Visionaries Powering Your Process
Featured Bios
- Mike Kortas – CEO and visionary of NEXA Mortgage LLC, pioneering the concept of more for less for both customers and mortgage brokers by creating the best wholesale mortgage brokering platform in the industry.
- Mike Neil – Director of the Correspondent Direct Lending division, overseeing NEXA’s expansion into direct lending.
- Brandon Himmler – One of the original Nexans and a powerhouse in team building.
- Jason Dupont – The #1 team builder at NEXA Mortgage with two decades of industry experience.
- Jeff Dupont – A leader in technology, automation, and innovation, playing a key role in Stairway Mortgage’s business systems.
- Renato Rodic – A pioneer in operations efficiency and transparency, and one of the original Nexans.
At Stairway Mortgage, we integrate these values into every transaction, ensuring our clients receive not just a loan—but a roadmap to financial success.
The Perfect Balance of Access + Strategy
When you choose Stairway Mortgage, you’re not just getting approved—you’re getting a team of experts who align resources, education, strategy, and access into a roadmap for wealth.
- Wholesale Rates
- Intelligent Planning
- Real Financial Guidance
- Long-Term Thinking
Let us help you move smarter, grow wealthier, and reach your next level.
100% Client Satisfaction
Real Comments, Real People
Hear From Some Past Clients of Our Founder
First-time home purchase and refinance with fast closing
Great customer service! We were living in California for 20+ years, and every year our rent went up, so we decided to move to Virginia and get our own house. Jim helped us with our very first home mortgage and constantly updated us with the lowering rates. After we were presented with different options, we decided to do a refi, and his team made it possible for us to grab the opportunity to shorten our term from 30 to 15 years at a much lower rate. In just around three weeks we were able to close. Me and my family will definitely recommend them!
Johnny Blan - via Facebook
Retired Investor -
CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIA
Guidance through the purchase process with clear explanations
They worked with me on the purchase process. Their knowledge helped me to choose the option that was most convenient. From the beginning they explained the process. Thanks Jim!
Dayana Ruiz - via Facebook
Mortgage Loan Originator Columbus Capital Lending -
FLORIDA
FLORIDA
Investor-friendly lender who goes the extra mile
I'm an RE investor. Had multiple loan officers but one really stands out – JIM BLACKBURN. Now, he is working on a third deal with me. He does go the extra mile. A few examples from the past: I have tons of properties and live in China with unique income (he made it work!). He called me in China at 1 AM to get information to close the deal. He is super efficient with collecting the right documents upfront to avoid a lot of back and forth later with processors. You can't go wrong with Jim.
Dennis Nikolaev - Facebook
Studio Leader at APCE Dennis Studio -
CHINA
CHINA