By Andrew Haff, Founder of Barren Hill Mortgage
When I started Barren Hill Mortgage, my goal was simple: give borrowers more options, competitive financing and a better overall mortgage experience.
What I didn't expect was that an idea I had while working on mortgage files would eventually lead to a $60,000 prize, an opportunity to work directly with Rocket Pro on new technology and a mention in Forbes.
But that's exactly what happened.
On September 11, 2026, Forbes published an article by Tonya M. Evans discussing how mortgage brokers are helping shape the future of artificial intelligence and technology in the mortgage industry. The article featured Barren Hill Mortgage and my experience participating in Rocket Pro's Big Pitch competition.
Seeing my name and company mentioned in Forbes was pretty surreal, especially considering how this whole experience started.
One of the biggest advantages of being an independent mortgage broker is having access to multiple wholesale lenders and hundreds of different loan programs.
But with those options comes a challenge.
Every lender has different guidelines, documentation requirements and eligibility criteria. When you're working with a borrower who has a complicated financial situation, finding the right financing can involve hours of research.
Whether it's a self-employed borrower, an investor, someone with unique income or a buyer who doesn't qualify for traditional financing, there are often solutions available. Finding them efficiently is another story.
I kept thinking there had to be a better way.
What if technology could help mortgage brokers identify financing options earlier, recognize potential problems upfront and eliminate some of the repetitive work involved in originating a mortgage?
That idea eventually became Right Track.
When Rocket Pro announced its Big Pitch competition, I decided to submit my idea.
Right Track was designed around a relatively simple concept: make the mortgage origination process more efficient by using technology to help brokers evaluate loan scenarios, collect documentation and identify potential financing solutions.
Instead of entering the same borrower information into multiple systems or spending hours researching different programs, the goal was to create a more streamlined process.
The concept included an interactive chat-based intake process, upfront document collection and extraction, and the ability to carry borrower information and loan scenarios throughout the mortgage process without repeatedly entering the same information.
It was about giving mortgage brokers better tools to do their jobs, not replacing the relationships and expertise that make independent mortgage brokers valuable.
Rocket Pro selected my idea as one of three finalists from more than 350 submissions.
That's when things really started getting interesting.
After being selected as a finalist, I had the opportunity to work directly with Rocket Pro's team to develop Right Track.
Over the following weeks, we participated in regular Zoom meetings, discussed the challenges mortgage brokers face and worked through how the technology could address those problems.
I had the opportunity to collaborate with Adam Carbeck, Ashleigh Belisle and other members of the Rocket Pro team, along with my account executive, Christie Arenas.
What impressed me most was that Rocket was genuinely interested in hearing from the people who use its technology every day.
Rather than assuming what mortgage brokers needed, the team was asking us to identify the problems and help develop solutions.
Eventually, I traveled to Detroit for Rocket Pro Experience, where the three finalists presented their ideas.
Standing onstage presenting something that started as an everyday frustration in my own mortgage business was an experience I'll never forget.
Right Track ultimately finished in second place, earning a $60,000 prize. Rocket Pro also announced plans to move forward with developing all three finalists' concepts.
A little over a week later, Forbes published an article discussing Rocket Pro's approach to innovation and the importance of involving mortgage brokers in the development of new technology.
The article, written by Tonya M. Evans, explored how companies can approach artificial intelligence differently by involving the people who actually understand the problems they're trying to solve.
It highlighted Rocket Pro's Big Pitch competition, including Right Track and my involvement as the founder of Barren Hill Mortgage.
For me, that was one of the most rewarding parts of the entire experience.
I'm an independent mortgage broker running a small business in the Philadelphia suburbs. Having the opportunity to contribute ideas to a major mortgage company was exciting enough. Seeing those ideas discussed in a national publication was something I certainly didn't anticipate.
More importantly, I appreciated the article's underlying message.
Some of the most useful ideas come from people who encounter problems firsthand.
You don't necessarily need to be a software developer or work for a massive corporation to come up with something that could make an industry better.
Sometimes, you just need to recognize a problem and be willing to do something about it.
Read the Forbes article here:
AI, Blockchain, and the 95% Problem: What Mortgage Brokers Got Right
While the competition, prize money and Forbes recognition have all been incredible, the experience reinforced something I've believed since starting Barren Hill Mortgage.
The mortgage industry has plenty of room for improvement.
Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions most people will ever make. The financing process shouldn't be unnecessarily complicated, and borrowers shouldn't miss out on potential opportunities simply because their financial situation doesn't fit neatly into one lender's guidelines.
That's one of the reasons I chose to become an independent mortgage broker.
Having access to multiple lenders allows me to explore different programs and financing strategies rather than relying on the options offered by a single bank.
Technology like Right Track has the potential to make that process even better.
By reducing repetitive tasks, identifying potential qualification issues earlier and making it easier to evaluate different loan scenarios, mortgage brokers can spend more time helping their clients.
For homebuyers, that could mean a smoother experience and fewer surprises.
For Realtors, it could mean identifying financing challenges earlier and keeping transactions moving.
And for mortgage brokers, it means spending less time navigating complicated systems and more time doing what we do best.
Right Track is still an evolving initiative, but I'm excited about what the future holds.
I want to thank Rocket Pro for creating an opportunity for independent mortgage brokers to contribute directly to the technology being developed for our industry.
A special thank you to Adam Carbeck, Ashleigh Belisle, Christie Arenas and everyone involved in bringing Right Track to life.
I also appreciate everyone who voted, shared my posts, sent messages and supported me throughout the competition.
What started as an idea while working on mortgage files turned into an opportunity to collaborate with an incredible team, present onstage in Detroit, win $60,000 and see Barren Hill Mortgage featured in Forbes.
It's been a pretty incredible experience, and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes from here.
Barren Hill Mortgage is an independent mortgage brokerage based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, serving homebuyers, homeowners and real estate investors.
We work with multiple wholesale lenders to help our clients explore a wide range of financing options, including conventional, FHA, VA, jumbo, investment property and alternative-documentation mortgage programs.
Whether you're purchasing your first home, refinancing an existing mortgage or navigating a complicated financing situation, our goal is to help you understand your options and find financing that fits your needs.
More Options. Better Deals. Smarter Financing.
Visit www.barrenhillmortgage.com to learn more or get started.
Andrew Haff Founder, Barren Hill Mortgage LLC NMLS #1979618 Company NMLS #2825420 Equal Housing Opportunity
Contact Barren Hill Mortgage to review your options and get pre-approved.
As featured in ForbesRocket Pro Big Pitch award winner
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