New conversational AI tool provides faster access to product guidelines, scenario exploration, and potential financing solutions while reinforcing the company’s commitment to common-sense underwriting.
(Miami Beach, FL) – Foundation Mortgage Corporation, a national wholesale mortgage lender specializing in Non-Qualified Mortgage (Non-QM) financing, today announced the launch of AskClara, a new AI-powered assistant designed to help mortgage brokers quickly access product information, explore loan scenarios, and identify potential financing solutions for borrowers who may not meet traditional agency lending requirements.
AskClara represents another step in Foundation Mortgage’s ongoing investment in technology designed to simplify the lending process, improve broker efficiency, and make Non-QM financing more accessible. Through a conversational interface, brokers can ask questions in plain language and receive guidance about lending programs, underwriting criteria, documentation options, and potential eligibility.
“One of the biggest challenges brokers face with Non-QM lending is understanding the full range of options available for borrowers who don’t fit conventional guidelines,” said Marc Halpern, Chief Executive Officer of Foundation Mortgage Corporation. “AskClara helps remove that barrier by putting valuable product knowledge directly into brokers’ hands. Our goal is to help brokers recognize opportunities earlier, ask better questions, and find solutions for more borrowers.”
Making Non-QM Knowledge More Accessible
Unlike traditional product guides that require brokers to navigate multiple documents and matrices, AskClara allows users to interact with Foundation Mortgage’s product information through natural-language questions. The assistant is designed to help brokers:
- Explore product eligibility, including credit scores, loan-to-value limits, property types, occupancy, and documentation requirements.
- Evaluate loan scenarios involving self-employed borrowers, investors, foreign nationals, and borrowers with nontraditional income.
- Compare financing options across DSCR, Bank Statement, Asset Qualifier, Closed-End Seconds, and other Non-QM programs.
- Understand underwriting guidelines and documentation alternatives without manually searching multiple reference materials.
- Improve efficiency by identifying potential program fits earlier in the loan process.
Technology That Supports Human Expertise
A central principle behind AskClara’s development is that artificial intelligence should enhance the expertise of mortgage professionals rather than replace human judgment. AskClara can help identify potential eligibility based on published program guidelines, but it is not an automated underwriting or credit approval system.
“Building AskClara was about making sophisticated product information easier to access and more useful in everyday conversations,” said David Butler, Chief Technology Officer of Foundation Mortgage Corporation. “We wanted to create an intuitive tool that allows brokers to ask questions the same way they would speak with an experienced colleague. But technology is only one part of the equation. By combining AI-assisted guidance with the experience of our Account Executives and underwriting teams, we’re creating a more efficient and informed process without losing the human expertise that makes Non-QM lending work.”
A “No” From AI Isn’t Necessarily a “No” From Foundation
Foundation Mortgage encourages brokers to contact their Account Executive whenever AskClara indicates that a scenario may not qualify. The company’s common-sense underwriting approach includes evaluating unique borrower circumstances, alternative structures, and potential exceptions, subject to appropriate review and approval.
“Technology can help identify what fits within published guidelines, but it cannot replace the value of experience, judgment, and the willingness to take a closer look,” Halpern added. “A ‘no’ from AskClara isn’t necessarily a ‘no’ from Foundation. We want brokers to use the technology to start the conversation, not end it. That’s what common-sense underwriting is all about.”
Part of Foundation Mortgage’s Broader Technology Strategy
The introduction of AskClara underscores Foundation Mortgage’s commitment to equipping wholesale mortgage professionals with tools that make navigating increasingly complex lending scenarios easier. The company sees opportunities to use AI-assisted technology to improve access to product information, support broker education, and help originators identify financing alternatives earlier in the process.
AskClara is intended to serve as an evolving resource, with enhancements informed by product developments and broker feedback. Mortgage professionals interested in learning more can visit www.FoundationMortgage.com or contact their Foundation Mortgage Account Executive.
AskClara is an informational resource, not a loan approval, underwriting decision, or commitment to lend. All loan scenarios are subject to applicable program guidelines, underwriting review, and any required exception approvals.
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About Foundation Mortgage Corp.
Foundation Mortgage Corporation (NMLS #5057) is a national Non-QM mortgage lender and third-party originator specializing in wholesale and non-delegated correspondent lending. Headquartered in Miami Beach, Florida, Foundation Mortgage is one of the fastest-growing non-QM (non-qualified mortgage) lenders in the country. The company combines decades of industry expertise with a commitment to “white glove” service, providing partners and clients with a best-in-class home financing experience. For more information, visit www.foundationmortgage.com or contact Foundation Mortgage at (305) 532-3995.
