About Us
Merchants Mortgage & Trust Corporation is a premier nationwide private real estate lender with a strong focus on non-owner-occupied Fix & Flip Properties, Ground-Up Construction, Multifamily Projects, and DSCR Financing.
We have decades of expertise funding complex transactions, crafting flexible and logical loan structures, and delivering fast, reliable underwriting that meet the unique needs of each client. Our commitment to efficiency and service enables real estate investors to act quickly in competitive markets, backed by a lender who understands the nuances of real estate investing.
Founded in 1961 and headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, Merchants has grown its presence nationwide with established offices and lending partners across the U.S. In 2022, we took a transformative step by partnering with the global investment firm KKR. This alliance has significantly strengthened our resources, enhancing our ability to support investors and expanding our reach and influence within the real estate lending market.
Our Story
60+ years of proudly serving the real estate community with integrity
Expansion of Federal Housing Authority (FHA) programs, Creation of Ginnie Mae
1970
Merchants Mortgage & Trust Corporation is founded in Greenwood Village, Colorado
Creation of Freddie Mac, Introduction of adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), High inflation rate environment
1980
- Merchants becomes a leading lender to land developers in the Western U.S.
- Establishes reputation of being a bridge between banks and developers, providing loan hypothecation and purchase facilities to enable developers to obtain liquidity on financed sales of real estate parcels
Tax Reform Act, Savings and Loan Crisis
1990
- Merchants pioneers financing for fractional ownership projects in the real estate industry, focusing on mountain towns and resort destinations.
- The company continues to cultivate partnerships with national banks to secure repo-type and operational facilities, exemplifying an advanced capital stack.
Great Recession, Subprime mortgage crisis
2000
- Merchants opens multifamily and commercial lending departments and establishes relationships with money centers and financial institutions across the US.
- Opens regional office in Phoenix, Arizona and expands their lending footprint.
Dot-com crash, Dodd-Frank Act
2020
- Merchants partners with Orchard Funding to provide 24-hour financing for real estate auction purchases in Arizona and other markets, evolving into a full product suite joint venture
- Raises private funds through secured debt and equity offerings, establishing a strong and diversified capital stack.
- Merchants and Orchard Funding merge product offerings and continue to grow as a national lender opening regional offices in Southern California and Oregon.
- Begins selling loans to institutional loan aggregators in the RTL space
COVID-19 pandemic, National housing shortage
2024
- KKR acquires Merchants and Orchard Funding
- Merchants establishes 40+ state footprint, focused on RTL, DSCR, Ground-Up Construction, and Multifamily Lending
- Crosses $5 billion in total RTL loans funded to thousands of borrowers, with over $2.5 billion in RTL loans in a five-year period, making it one of the largest national lenders to the space
- Becomes largest contributor/originator of loans to the first ever rated securitization in the RTL space, which was issued by Toorak Capital in 2024
- Recognized as an approved servicer by Morningstar DBRS, highlighting their back-office and operational excellence.
Interest rate uncertainty
Despite an unpredictable interest rate environment, Merchants remains on a strong growth trajectory, steadily expanding their market share across the U.S.
Industry Affiliations
Merchants is proud to partner with the following organizations