eXp ends mortgage JV with Kind Lending, eyes Newrez
eXp World Holdings and Kind Lending are closing their Success Lending venture. eXp is now pursuing a new mortgage partnership with Newrez.
EXp World Holdings and Kind Lending are closing their mortgage joint venture, Success Lending. The real estate brokerage group confirmed it is now in talks to form a new venture with the much larger lender, Newrez.
An eXp spokesperson stated the decision to wind down Success Lending was mutual and strategic. "We're grateful for our partnership with Kind Lending and excited about the next chapter for eXp's mortgage strategy," they said. The proposed new venture would combine Newrez's loan origination platform with eXp's network of agents.
A Newrez spokesperson confirmed the exploratory discussions. "We are excited about the opportunity to bring together the strength of Newrez's origination platform and eXp's vast U.S. Agent network," they told HousingWire.
The rise and fall of Success Lending
Success Lending was launched in 2021 as a partnership between eXp Realty's parent company and Kind Lending, founded by industry veteran Glenn Stearns. According to data from InGenius, the venture originated approximately $270 million in mortgages so far this year. Its full-year production for 2025 was $526.5 million, a decline from $658 million the year before.
The joint venture had 113 sponsored loan officers operating across 22 active branches, according to the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System. Its closure reflects a broader industry trend of firms reevaluating such partnerships due to margin pressures and a competitive mortgage market.
The potential new partner: Newrez
Shifting from Kind Lending to Newrez represents a move to a significantly larger mortgage operation. Data from Inside Mortgage Finance illustrates the scale difference between the two potential lending partners.
| Lender | National Rank (H1) | Production (H1) | Year-over-Year Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kind Lending | Top 35 | $7.5 billion | Up almost 50% |
| Newrez | 6th largest | $31.3 billion | Up 11.5% |
Newrez's website indicates it already has about 15 active joint ventures. The company's spokesperson said they look forward to sharing more information on the potential eXp deal when possible.
Broader context for brokerage partnerships
Joint ventures between real estate brokerages and mortgage lenders have become common as companies seek more stable purchase business and closer integration between agents and loan officers. EXp's exploration of a new deal follows this pattern, even as it ends an existing one.
The company has other strategic partnerships beyond mortgage lending. It works with America's Preferred Home Warranty to provide integrated home warranty options. In May 2026, eXp also announced its acquisition of the franchise brokerage NextHome, expanding its business model offerings.
Kind Lending itself was founded in April 2020 after its founder, Glenn Stearns, exited his previous company, Stearns Lending. That firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, was purchased by Blackstone Group, and was later acquired by Guaranteed Rate.
