B
y Riley Kaminer

    The role of real estate agents in today's market is being reevaluated as homebuyers increasingly take on more responsibilities themselves, thanks to digital platforms like Zillow. To stay relevant, agents need to find new ways to add value to their clients' experiences.

    Luca Dahlhausen and his team at Realfinity are addressing this challenge by enabling real estate agents to offer mortgage services directly to their clients. "We saw inefficiencies in the traditional lending model and realized that real estate agents could add more value by integrating mortgage services into their work," Dahlhausen said.

    Realfinity's platform allows agents to seamlessly provide mortgage services, including quoting rates, pre-approving clients, and managing communications. By embedding mortgage services into a real estate agent's toolkit, Realfinity solves many of the problems associated with traditional lending models, such as branch office leases and interest rate fluctuations.

    The company operates as a correspondent lender, enabling agents to offer mortgage services at lower costs while maintaining compliance. This represents a major shift in the industry, according to Dahlhausen, who believes that integrating mortgage services will help agents differentiate themselves and regain their competitive edge.

    Realfinity's platform also allows agents to monetize not only their future transactions but also their entire client base, past and present. "Our platform maximizes earning potential for agents," Dahlhausen explained. This "dual-licensing" model is key to how Realfinity helps agents unlock a new revenue stream while providing clients with more seamless service.

    Since launching last November, Realfinity has originated over $30 million in loans through its platform and operates in Florida, Texas, California, Oklahoma, and Puerto Rico. The company plans for further expansion as regulatory approvals are obtained.

    Realfinity's platform consolidates several complex processes into a single interface, making it intuitive for agents to offer mortgages without becoming bogged down by the complexities of the mortgage industry. "We remove the barriers that typically prevent real estate professionals from offering mortgage services," Dahlhausen noted.

    The company aims to have 100 agents on the platform by early 2025 and is poised to be at the forefront of a real estate revolution, making mortgages more efficient, transparent, and accessible.