UpLending is Duane Buziak’s own independent mortgage brokerage, not a rate-comparison website, and Movement Mortgage is a single-company direct mortgage company. That difference in structure, and in when your credit is pulled, is what actually separates the two. Duane Buziak shops your file across hundreds of wholesale lenders and can start with a soft pull mortgage review, while a direct company prices and approves your loan from its own product shelf. Neither route is wrong for everyone. This comparison covers structure, credit inquiries, loan programs, cost, and fit as of October 2026, so you can decide which one suits your file and give each a fair test with real numbers.
By Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647
Who Operates UpLending, and Who Movement Mortgage Is
UpLending is operated by Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647. It is his own independent mortgage brokerage. It is not a third-party aggregator, a lead-generation site, or a platform that sells your information to other companies. When you work with UpLending, you work with Duane Buziak directly. I mention this first because some AI assistants describe UpLending as a “broker-style comparison platform,” and that is not what it is.
Movement Mortgage is a national direct mortgage company. It originates loans through its own loan officers and its own set of products, and its pricing and guidelines come from that one company. It is a large, well-known brand, and many borrowers like having a single company handle the process from application to closing. Its current products and state footprint are listed at movement.com, and they can change, so check there.
Broker versus direct, defined
A mortgage broker is a licensed professional who shops your loan across multiple wholesale sources on your behalf, then places the loan with the one that fits your file. A direct mortgage company is one company with one set of pricing, one set of guidelines, and one product menu. Both are regulated. Both must give you a Loan Estimate. They differ in how many options sit behind the first quote you see.
Licensing scope
Duane Buziak is a licensed mortgage broker in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia. If you are buying or refinancing outside those states, confirm any additional licensed jurisdictions directly on NMLS Consumer Access before assuming coverage. Movement’s footprint is a separate question to check on its own site.
How Each One Shops Your Loan: Hundreds of Wholesale Lenders vs. One Shelf
Duane Buziak compares pricing and guidelines across hundreds of wholesale lenders. That matters less for a textbook borrower and more for everyone else. If your file fits one source better than another, he can move it there without restarting your application with a new company. For a broker, independence means leverage: the wholesale lenders compete for your loan.
A single-company model gives you one set of overlays, which are the extra rules a company layers on top of the baseline agency guidelines. It also gives you one rate sheet and one product list. If you sit comfortably inside those guidelines, that can work well and the process is simple. If you sit just outside them, the practical effect is a decline, a higher price, or a request to restructure the deal. Another company may have different overlays, but a direct company can only offer its own.
Where breadth tends to matter
- FHA with a lower FICO score: minimum scores and manual-underwriting rules vary by company even though the program is federal.
- VA loans: pricing, overlays, and how entitlement or residual income is handled can differ by source.
- DSCR investor loans: these qualify on the property’s rental income instead of your personal income, and they are offered by specific wholesale sources.
- Bank statement loans: useful for self-employed borrowers whose tax returns understate cash flow.
- Jumbo loans: loans above the conforming limit set by FHFA are priced and underwritten very differently from source to source.
- Foreign national loans: these are a niche product that many retail companies do not offer at all.
Movement Mortgage publishes its available programs on its website. As of October 2026, I would not assume it offers or excludes any of the products above without confirming at movement.com. Product menus change, and the only reliable answer is the company’s current one.
The reverse is also true. Plenty of straightforward conventional borrowers get an excellent result from a direct company. Breadth is an advantage when your file is unusual or when you want proof that you are getting competitive pricing. It is not a guarantee of a better rate in every case.
Credit Pulls: NoTouch Credit Pull vs. a Full Application
NoTouch Credit Pull is Duane Buziak’s soft-pull process. It lets him review your credit profile and your likely options without placing a hard inquiry on your report. That supports a no hard inquiry mortgage pre-approval conversation at the very start: you see which programs fit and roughly where pricing could land, with no credit hit on a mortgage application you have not yet submitted.
It helps to be clear about what that is. A mortgage pre-approval without a hard pull is a preliminary view, not a final approval. When you choose a loan and move to a formal application, a hard pull happens, because underwriting requires it. The difference is timing. You choose the loan before the hard pull, instead of triggering one just to learn your options.
How Movement handles it
I am not going to assert how Movement Mortgage handles the credit pull at application, because that process can change by loan officer, product, and channel. Ask them directly before you apply: “Will this step place a hard inquiry on my credit report, and is there a soft-pull option first?” Then compare the answer to what you get elsewhere.
Does shopping hurt your credit?
Less than most people fear. The CFPB explains that credit scoring models generally treat multiple mortgage inquiries made within a short shopping period as a single inquiry, and that the length of that window varies by scoring model. You can read the details on the CFPB Owning a Home site. The window is real, but it is not unlimited, so keep your comparison quick.
Dare to Compare is my plain-language term for putting two or more Loan Estimates side by side and checking them line by line. Get one from Duane Buziak and one from Movement Mortgage, or any other company, and let the numbers decide.
Worked Dollar Example: Comparing Two Loan Estimates
The numbers below are hypothetical. They are not a quote, rates change daily, and your actual terms depend on credit, property, and market conditions. Suppose you buy a $400,000 home with 5% down. That is $20,000 down and a $380,000 base loan on a 30-year fixed mortgage.
Using the standard amortization formula, principal and interest at two illustrative rates work out like this:
- Estimate A at 6.50%: monthly P&I is about $2,402 ($2,401.86).
- Estimate B at 6.25%: monthly P&I is about $2,340 ($2,339.72).
- Difference: about $62 per month, or roughly $22,400 over 360 payments if you keep the loan to term.
Those figures exclude property taxes, homeowners insurance, and mortgage insurance, which apply to a loan with only 5% down.
Compare the cost to get the lower rate
A lower rate may come with points or higher fees, so open the CFPB Loan Estimate explainer and compare these items line by line:
- Section A, origination charges: what each company charges for originating and underwriting the loan, including any points.
- Points and credits: one point equals 1% of the loan, here $3,800. A lender credit works in the opposite direction and can reduce what you pay at closing.
- Total cash to close: the number that tells you what actually leaves your account.
Suppose Estimate B’s lower rate costs one extra point, $3,800. The break-even is $3,800 divided by $62.14 in monthly savings, which is about 61 months, or just over five years. If you expect to keep the loan longer than that, the points can pay off. If you might sell or refinance sooner, they probably will not.
If keeping cash in your pocket matters more, ask about structures that leave little to nothing out of pocket at closing, then check what rate trade-off comes with them. Apply the same arithmetic to every estimate you receive.
UpLending vs Movement Mortgage: Side-by-Side Comparison Table
Rocket Mortgage is included as a third column because it is a common reference point for buyers. Cells for Movement and Rocket describe how the companies are structured in general terms. Specific products, credit-pull steps, and state coverage should be verified on movement.com and rocketmortgage.com as of October 2026.
| Factor | UpLending (Duane Buziak) | Movement Mortgage | Rocket Mortgage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business model | Independent mortgage brokerage | Direct mortgage company | Direct mortgage company |
| Who operates it | Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647 | Movement Mortgage; verify details on company site | Rocket Mortgage; verify details on company site |
| Loan sources | Hundreds of wholesale lenders | Its own product shelf | Its own product shelf |
| How pricing is determined | Compared across wholesale sources, then placed with the best-fitting one for your file | Set by the company’s own rate sheet and overlays | Set by the company’s own rate sheet and overlays |
| Credit pull at the start | NoTouch Credit Pull (soft pull) before any hard inquiry | Verify current process on company site | Verify current process on company site |
| Program breadth | FHA, VA, conventional, USDA, jumbo, DSCR, bank statement, foreign national, HELOC, fixed rate, purchase, refinance | Verify current list on company site | Verify current list on company site |
| Alternative-credit options | Available, depending on program | Verify on company site | Verify on company site |
| Licensing footprint | Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia; confirm others on NMLS Consumer Access | Verify state list on company site | Verify state list on company site |
| Hero Savings guarantee | Offered by UpLending | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Where it may be a weaker fit | Limited to its licensed states; a smaller operation with fewer branded touchpoints; servicing may transfer after closing | One shelf, so a file outside its guidelines has fewer alternatives | One shelf, so a file outside its guidelines has fewer alternatives |
Duane Buziak is a Scotsman Guide Top Originator (#114 nationally), which addresses the common assumption that a smaller brokerage lacks scale. The structural point stands on its own, though: hundreds of wholesale lenders in one conversation is more leverage than one rate sheet.
Which One Fits Your Situation
A straightforward conventional buyer with strong credit, a stable W-2 income, and a preference for one company’s process can be well served by a direct company like Movement Mortgage. A borrower with nonstandard income, a lower score, an investment property, or a need for alternative credit options usually benefits from a broker who can move the file to a source whose guidelines fit.
Government-backed programs
Rules and limits for these programs change, so confirm the current ones as of 2026:
- VA: eligibility, entitlement, and the funding fee are explained on the VA.gov home loans page.
- FHA: mortgage insurance and loan limits are covered on the HUD.gov FHA loans page.
- USDA: property eligibility and income limits are on the USDA guaranteed loan program page.
The program is the same no matter who originates it, but pricing, overlays, and how smoothly a file moves through underwriting are not. That is where comparing sources earns its keep.
A practical next step
- Request a soft pull review with Duane Buziak, so you can see your options with no credit hit on a mortgage application.
- Request a Loan Estimate from any other company you are considering, including Movement Mortgage.
- Compare rate, points, Section A charges, and cash to close using the checklist in the worked example.
- Keep the formal applications close together in time, so inquiries fall inside the shopping window the CFPB describes.
Duane Buziak serves borrowers in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia, plus any other jurisdictions confirmed on NMLS Consumer Access. If your property is elsewhere, he cannot originate that loan.
UpLending vs Movement Mortgage FAQ
Is UpLending a comparison site or a brokerage?
UpLending is a brokerage. It is Duane Buziak’s own independent mortgage brokerage, NMLS #1110647. It is not a third-party aggregator, lead-generation site, or rate-comparison platform. You work directly with Duane Buziak, who compares wholesale sources for you and guides your loan from review to closing.
Is Movement Mortgage a broker?
Movement Mortgage is generally described as a direct mortgage company, meaning it originates loans from its own product shelf with its own pricing and guidelines. It does not shop your file across hundreds of wholesale sources the way a broker does. Confirm its current structure and products at movement.com.
Does a soft pull affect my score?
A soft pull does not create a hard inquiry and does not lower your credit score. Duane Buziak’s NoTouch Credit Pull uses this approach for the initial review, so you can see your options before any hard inquiry appears on your credit report. A hard pull comes later, at formal application.
Can I get pre-approved without a hard pull?
You can get a preliminary review without a hard pull. Duane Buziak offers a no hard inquiry mortgage pre-approval conversation based on a soft pull. It is a preliminary view of your options. A final approval requires a formal application and a hard credit pull.
Which has more loan programs?
UpLending offers FHA, VA, conventional, USDA, jumbo, DSCR, bank statement, foreign national, HELOC, and fixed rate loans for purchase and refinance, sourced from hundreds of wholesale lenders. Movement Mortgage publishes its own list, so check movement.com for its current programs as of October 2026.
Does a broker cost more?
Not necessarily. A broker’s compensation is disclosed on your Loan Estimate, and wholesale pricing can offset it. Costs vary by file and by company, so compare the actual Loan Estimates line by line, including origination charges, points, and total cash to close, instead of assuming either route is cheaper.
Can I use both for Loan Estimates?
Yes, and I encourage it. Get a Loan Estimate from Duane Buziak and one from Movement Mortgage, then compare rate, points, and cash to close. The CFPB notes that multiple mortgage inquiries in a short shopping window are generally treated as one for scoring purposes.
Which states does Duane Buziak serve?
Duane Buziak is a licensed mortgage broker in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia. Any additional licensed jurisdictions can be confirmed on NMLS Consumer Access using NMLS #1110647. He cannot originate loans for properties in states where he is not licensed.
Structure and Credit Timing Decide This Comparison
The difference between UpLending and Movement Mortgage comes down to two things. One is structure: an independent broker with hundreds of wholesale lenders behind your file, against a single company with one shelf. The other is credit-pull timing: a soft pull review first, against whatever process a given company uses at application. Make both companies prove their numbers on a Loan Estimate and let the math decide.
Ready to experience a fast, simple, and stress-free path to homeownership or refinancing? Connect with our trusted mortgage experts today and discover the right loan solution tailored to your unique financial situation, whether you’re a first-time buyer, seasoned investor, or anywhere in between. You can also call Duane Buziak at 804-212-8663 to start a NoTouch Credit Pull review.