NEO Home Loans, powered by Better, announced Monday that it added Jim Juergens to the team as a branch leader, distributed retail.Juergens brings nearly two decades of lending expertise to the role, closing $43 million in production and 91 closed loans last year.
“At NEO, there’s a different mindset,” said Juergens. “It’s not about racing to the bottom. It’s about elevating the client experience, being empowered to grow personally and professionally, and surrounding yourself with people who think long-term. After getting to know NEO’s leadership through programs like L360 and Loan Atlas, it became clear: NEO was the right move for my business, my team, and my future.”
Operating out of the northwest Dallas-Fort Worth area, Juergens will play a key role in expanding NEO’s presence in Texas.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Jim to NEO,” said Ryan Grant, president of NEO Home Loans. “His leadership style, growth mindset, and client-first approach perfectly embody the future of our industry. At NEO, we don’t just close loans, we create long-term value, and Jim is an outstanding example of that.”
Juergens added, “For the first time in a long time, it feels like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. NEO’s culture, mindset, and systems provide everything I need to keep growing and helping clients achieve much more than just homeownership.”
NEO Home Loans, Better’s retail partnership channel that began in early 2025, served approximately 1,000 borrowers in the second quarter and posted $428 million in funded volume, per Better’s Q2 2025 earnings release. The retail channel has been rapidly expanding, most recently bringing on the Gustafson team from loanDepot in September.