Aren Dergrigorian
Mortgage Loan Originator · Founder, Aspire Mortgage
NMLS #582110 · CA DRE #01991186 · B.S. Finance · MBA
11+ years originating California home loans with a straightforward approach: clear communication, honest pricing, and every file treated like it's your only file.
My Story
Why I do this work, and how I approach every file.
I started originating California mortgages in 2013 after finishing my MBA. Los Angeles has been my home my whole life — Glendale specifically — and helping people buy and refinance homes in the community I grew up in never gets old.
Over the past decade-plus, I've closed hundreds of California residential loans: first-time buyers stretching to make it work in LA, self-employed business owners whose tax returns don't tell the full income story, and real estate investors scaling their portfolios. Every file is different. That's what keeps me interested.
What I promise every client: I'll explain your options in plain English, tell you when a program doesn't fit — even if it would be an easier commission — and treat your file like it's the most important one on my desk. Because to you, it is.
Aspire Mortgage is a DBA of Equity Smart Home Loans, Inc., a California brokerage I chose to partner with for its breadth of lender relationships and its underwriting flexibility. That means when I'm shopping your file, I can compare programs across dozens of investors — not push you into whatever one lender's product happens to be.
Who I Work With
Four borrower profiles I've built real depth in.
First-Time Home Buyers
Conventional 3% down (HomeReady, Home Possible), FHA 3.5% down, VA zero-down, and CalHFA down-payment-assistance programs. If you've never bought before and don't know where to start, that's exactly where I come in — patient walkthrough, no jargon, no pressure.
Self-Employed Borrowers
Bank statement loans (12 or 24 month), non-QM, P&L-only programs, and 1099 loans for business owners, freelancers, and contractors whose tax returns understate actual cash flow. This is where I see other lenders say "no" and I find the "yes."
Real Estate Investors
DSCR (debt service coverage ratio) loans that qualify based on rental income, hard money for fast/asset-based scenarios, and portfolio strategies for scaling from one door to many. Cash-flow qualification, quick closes, investor-friendly structuring.
Jumbo & High-Value Purchases
LA County jumbo pricing above the $1,249,125 conforming ceiling. High-balance conforming strategies to stay under the jumbo threshold when it saves you money. Common in Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Studio City, Westside, and comparable markets.
Credentials & Licensing
Verify any of these directly with the regulator.
Let's talk about your file
No pressure. No obligation. I'll listen, review your scenario, and tell you exactly which loan programs fit — and which don't. Complimentary consultation, always.