ABOUT
UNCONVENTIONAL LENDING

Unconventional Loans for Unconventional Borrowers

Derek Bissen is a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator with more than 25 years of experience in banking, finance, and residential mortgage lending. As the founder and primary contributor behind Unconventional Lending, Derek specializes in helping borrowers who do not always fit traditional mortgage guidelines.

His work focuses on complex lending scenarios, including self-employed borrowers, real estate investors, asset-based qualification, cannabis industry income, foreign national lending, bank statement loans, profit and loss statement loans, and DSCR investment property financing. He is known for taking complicated files, breaking them down clearly, and finding practical financing paths when traditional lending rules do not tell the full story.

Before focusing heavily on non-traditional mortgage solutions, Derek built a broad foundation across residential lending, loan structuring, credit analysis, portfolio lending, forensic loan review, commercial loan origination, and small business lending. That depth of experience helps him evaluate files from multiple angles instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.

Derek created Unconventional Lending to give borrowers, investors, and business owners a clearer way to understand their mortgage options. The goal is simple: explain complex loan programs in plain language, match borrowers with the right financing strategy, and help clients move forward with confidence.

Outside of mortgage lending, Derek is a professional saxophonist, visual artist, videographer, and lifelong sci-fi fan. That creative background carries into his lending work, where complex files often require thoughtful structure, problem-solving, and a willingness to look beyond the obvious answer.

Meet Derek Bissen

Our website founder and primary contributor is Derek Bissen, a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator with over 25 years of experience in the industry.

Derek is a residential lending expert known for his ability to work with borrowers who have substantial wealth and non-traditional lending needs. He is a creative loan structurer and specializes in portfolio lending, asset-based lending, bank statement lending, as well as traditional loans such as Conventional, FHA, VA, and first-time homebuyers.

Derek's expertise and depth of knowledge in the mortgage and financial services industry is unparalleled. He has worked in numerous facets of the lending process, including residential and commercial loan origination, loan processing, forensic loan analysis, post-closing analysis, portfolio acquisition, scratch & dent analysis, small business lending, and more.

He is a trusted advisor and a valuable financial asset to his clients, providing them with personalized loan solutions that meet their unique financial goals and needs.

Derek is committed to sharing his knowledge with others. He regularly provides valuable insights and advice to readers looking to navigate the complex world of mortgage lending. His articles are informative, engaging, and backed by years of hands-on experience.

He is a native of Tampa, FL and is professional saxophonist, marketing specialist, videographer, visual artist, Star Trek/ Sci-Fi fan, comic book collector and sports car enthusiast.

With his wealth of knowledge and dedication to his clients, he is the go-to source for all your mortgage lending needs. If you're looking for a reliable and trustworthy mortgage expert, contact Derek today to learn more about how he can help you achieve your financial goals.