Matador Lending and GoRascal Merge to Accelerate Growth Across Texas and Nationwide

Nearly 50 originators and 25+ years of mortgage leadership join GoRascal's now-50-state platform; Matador will continue to operate under its own name with an ambition to grow its Texas branch to $1 billion in annual volume

HOUSTON, TX — August 17th, 2026 — Matador Lending, a Houston-based independent mortgage broker, and GoRascal Inc., one of the nation's fastest-growing independent mortgage brokerages, today announced a strategic merger that expands GoRascal's presence in Texas while giving Matador's nearly 50 originators access to a nationwide platform licensed in all 50 states. The Matador team — led by mortgage veterans with more than 25 years of combined leadership experience — will continue to operate under the Matador Lending name as a DBA.

The combination brings together two firms that independently built similar flat-fee models for independent mortgage brokers, and that share a common belief: that the best outcomes for borrowers start with a great place for loan officers to do their work.

Today, GoRascal supports more than 400 loan officers nationwide and has built one of the industry's fastest-growing flat-fee brokerage platforms — providing the technology, operational support, recruiting resources, and nationwide licensing originators need to scale their businesses. In 2025, the company funded more than $3.7 billion and is on pace to exceed $5 billion in funded volume in 2026.

Matador enters the partnership on the strength of a team that has grown nearly 70% in the past 18 months and a $200MM annual volume run rate. A key driver of the merger is reach: with GoRascal having just completed licensing in all 50 states, the Matador team gains a decisive edge in recruiting and developing seasoned originators who want to grow their footprint under a single, unified platform — with the pricing power, resources, and operational scale to match their ambitions.

HOW IT CAME TOGETHER

The partnership took shape after Matador President Apurva Sanghavi and GoRascal Co-Founder & CEO Scott Valins connected through their shared cohort in GO! Coaching, the coaching platform founded by Amir Syed. Both leadership teams recognized they had built organizations around the same philosophy: empowering entrepreneurial loan officers with industry-leading pricing, operational support, and a culture focused on long-term success.

“There was a clear synergy the moment we talked about our journeys. GoRascal's slogan — the happiest home for loan officers — aligned perfectly with the core values we live by at Matador. What Scott and David have built, and the growth they've seen, is unmatched in the market. I wanted to work with that kind of velocity, and after vetting many suitors, GoRascal was the clear answer to partner with.”

— Apurva Sanghavi, President, Matador Lending

“What impressed us most about Apurva and the Matador team wasn't just their production — it was the culture they built. This partnership brings together two organizations that believe loan officers deserve more than a place to hang their license — they deserve a platform that helps them build lasting businesses. Together we're creating one of the strongest homes for originators in the country, and we're just getting started.”

— Scott Valins, Co-Founder & CEO, GoRascal

The transaction represents another milestone in GoRascal's national expansion strategy as the company continues investing in high-performing branch leaders and entrepreneurial loan officers seeking greater flexibility, stronger operational support, and access to a nationwide platform.

THE ROAD AHEAD

Together, the organizations plan to invest heavily in recruiting throughout Texas while expanding GoRascal's national footprint. Leveraging GoRascal's operational platform, pricing power, technology, and nationwide licensing, the Matador team has set an ambitious goal of growing its Texas operation to $1 billion in annual production.

ABOUT MATADOR LENDING

Matador Lending is a Houston-based independent mortgage broker founded in 2019. Rather than a single-product lender, Matador shops 80+ lenders to match nearly any borrower — first-time buyers, veterans, self-employed professionals, and real estate investors — with the right loan for the right home. Matador is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #1871433. Learn more at www.matadorlending.com.

ABOUT GORASCAL

GoRascal Inc. is one of the nation's fastest-growing independent mortgage brokerages, supporting more than 400 loan officers across all 50 states. Built on a loan-officer-first philosophy, GoRascal combines industry-leading pricing, modern technology, dedicated operations, and a flat-fee model designed to help originators grow profitable businesses while delivering exceptional borrower experiences. www.gorascal.com

MEDIA CONTACTS

Matador Lending — Apurva Sanghavi, President, apurva@matadorlending.com, (713) 909-0235

GoRascal Inc. — Lexie Liston, VP of Operations, Lexie@gorascal.com, 646-993-4258

Equal Housing Lender. Matador Lending NMLS #1871433. Rates and terms are subject to change at any time without notice. This release contains forward-looking statements regarding growth targets and volume; actual results may differ.