AI bilingual platform helps Hispanic homebuyers navigate mortgage barriers

The nonprofit Hispanic Organization of Mortgage Experts (HOME) has launched a bilingual AI platform that helps loan officers navigate mortgage requirements for Hispanic homebuyers who face language barriers and non-traditional financial situations. The ChatGPT-powered system addresses critical gaps in homeownership access as federal housing agencies shift to English-only services under the Trump administration’s push to make English the official U.S. language.

What you should know: The AI platform streamlines mortgage applications for buyers who traditionally struggle with the homebuying process.

• HOME’s Wholesale Search system lets loan officers quickly compare requirements from more than 150 lenders instead of contacting them individually.
• The platform is designed to handle complicated cases including borrowers without Social Security numbers, minimal credit history, or visa status.
• Limited-English households have tripled over the past four decades, according to the Urban Institute, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit research organization, making mortgage navigation particularly challenging for these communities.

How it works: The AI system uses an internal database to provide customized lending options for each buyer’s specific situation.

• Loan officers can see all lender requirements in one place, narrow their options, and streamline applications.
• The platform’s database updates whenever new loan products become available, and users can flag problems to developers for correction.
• HOME also offers a training program called Home Certified with classes on income analysis, compliance rules, and intercultural communication.

Real-world impact: Loan officer Danny Velazquez of GFL Capital says the platform has transformed his workflow and client outcomes.

• Previously, he had to contact 70 lenders individually and often discovered later that they wouldn’t accept his client’s situation.
• “I am just able to make the process faster and get them the house,” Velazquez said.
• Recent client Heriberto Blanco-Joya completed his Las Vegas home purchase in six weeks, calling the process “pleasant and simple” despite Spanish being his first language.

Safeguards for accuracy: Platform creators acknowledge AI creates new risks when families depend on accurate loan and immigration information.

• “AI is a great tool, but it doesn’t replace that human element of professionalism, and that is why we are constantly tweaking and making sure it is correct,” said HOME founder Rogelio Goertzen.
• The system pulls information directly from lenders and loan officers to reduce errors.

Industry expansion: Other companies are developing similar AI tools for underserved mortgage markets.

• Better Home & Finance has created Tinman, an AI platform for borrowers with non-traditional income or documentation.
• The company’s voice assistant Betsy handles over 127,000 borrower interactions monthly, with a Spanish-language version in development.
• “Tools like Betsy can interact and engage with customers in a way that feels supportive and not judgmental,” said Leah Price, vice president of Tinman platform.

Why this matters: The timing is particularly significant as federal housing policy shifts toward English-only services while Hispanic homeownership rates remain below national averages.

• Homeownership is a key factor in building generational wealth, making access to clear mortgage guidance crucial for underrepresented communities.
• “Education is the gateway to opportunity,” said Cubie Hernandez, HOME’s chief technology and learning officer.