Meet The Team

Michael Foley

President - NMLS #197913

About Michael

Phoebe Wetsel

Team Production Manager NMLS #1085184

About Phoebe

Phoebe Wetsel joined the mortgage industry in 2013. She is passionate about being the guiding hand for families during what may be the biggest, most important transaction of their lives. She understands the importance of being thorough and direct but also nurturing and light hearted while she gets your loan from point A to point Z. In her years of experience she has gained the expertise to be able to comb through unique financial scenarios and create files that will smoothly move through each phase of loan origination. She is seasoned in being the right hand of high producing loan officers that cater to all walks of life.

Phoebe is married to her best friend, Jeff. They have two children- Zeke and Georgia. In her free time Phoebe loves to vacation with her family, go on hikes, lift weights, go to church, listen to Rachel Hollis podcasts, cook, go to the movies, and sing Justin Timberlake in the car with her husband.

Bryan Upchurch

Loan Originator - NMLS #1647179

About Bryan

Bryan Upchurch is a husband, father, and mortgage loan originator with Merit Mortgage who takes pride in helping clients achieve their dream of homeownership. He fell in love with Fort Worth in 2012 and enjoys exploring the city with his wife and high school sweetheart, Alyssa, and their son, Josiah (9y) and daughters, Micah Joy (9y) and Ezra Rae (3y). He studied music at Southwestern Seminary where he learned the value of earnest and vigilant attention to detail. He takes with great weight the privilege of guiding clients and friends through their home financing options and equipping them with the knowledge to make informed, confident decisions regarding their most intimate investment.

From the initial consultation to post-closing, Bryan keeps clients informed and provides ongoing support, making sure they feel comfortable and confident every step of the way. By taking the time to understand each client’s unique needs and goals, Bryan is able to provide tailored solutions that best serve their long-term interests, ensuring a successful and financially sound investment in their family’s future.

Mindy Carrasco

Loan Originator - NMLS #1589908

About Mindy

Mindy Garcia Carrasco is a bilingual Senior Loan Originator who has been helping families achieve homeownership since 2017. She has over 19 years of experience in the mortgage industry, having worked on all sides of the transaction, including foreclosure, loan modifications, title, processing, underwriting, and loan origination. Her extensive mortgage background allows her to guide her clients through each step of the mortgage process from start to finish.

Mindy goes above and beyond to ensure her clients feel supported and informed throughout the loan process. Her commitment to smashing misconceptions about getting a mortgage and advocating for those who may not fit into traditional financing guidelines showcases her passion for making a positive impact in the lives of others. Mindy’s expertise extends to a variety of loan options, including FHA, USDA, VA, and Conventional loans, allowing her to tailor solutions to meet the diverse needs of her clients. With a caring heart and a wealth of knowledge, Mindy approaches each client relationship with the goal of not just closing a deal, but truly making a difference in their lives.

Mindy is originally from Fort Worth, Texas, and still lives here with her husband of 20 years, Mario, and their four kids (Aleina, Brianna, Noah, and Guillermo). In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, biking, hiking, crafting, and cooking.

Jacob Vazquez

Loan Originator - NMLS #2352962

About Jacob

Jacob Vazquez is a client-focused, dedicated, mortgage professional. He’s passionate about helping his clients reach their homeownership goals. Jacob started his career in the mortgage industry soon after graduating from Texas A&M with a BBA in Finance in 2020. He’s worked various roles in the mortgage industry. His experience includes Loan Origination, Processing, and Closing.

Jacob values integrity, communication, and building strong relationships with his clients. As your mortgage consultant, you can expect him to hold your hand throughout your real estate transaction and provide tailored solutions for your financing needs.

Outside of work, he loves spending time with his friends and family. He married his wife Haley in 2021. They love the outdoors, visiting state parks, hiking, and kayaking. He also has a love for music and enjoys playing guitar.

If you’re looking for a dedicated mortgage consultant to make your homeownership dream a reality, look no further. Reach out to Jacob today!

Ajay Kurian

Loan Originator

About Ajay

Meet Ajay—a mortgage pro who’s all about helping families and individuals find the perfect loan to fit their goals. With a deep understanding of real estate and market trends, Ajay brings a fresh perspective to the home-buying journey, giving his clients the confidence to move forward. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, upgrading to your dream home, or refinancing, Ajay makes the process simple, smooth, and stress-free.

When he’s not helping clients, Ajay loves spending time with his wife and son. From exploring new places to enjoying cozy movie nights, family time is his favorite time. His passion for home and family is what drives him to help others find the place they’ll love to call home.

Liz Echeverria

Loan Processor

About Liz

Liz is an experienced loan processor who has been with Merit since its inception. She plays an integral part in supporting our loan officers and their clients throughout the entire home loan process. She manages all third party requests. Liz ensures that all necessary documentation is received from our clients to enable a smooth underwriting process and timely closing. She is experienced with FHA, CONV, VA and Jumbo loans. Liz is fluent in English and Spanish. Her attention to detail and cheerful positive attitude make her an extremely valuable asset to our team.
Liz was born in Mexico City, and was raised here in Fort Worth, Texas. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family, loves working out at the gym, and likes taking spontaneous trips. She still lives in Fort Worth, with her 2 children and her husband of 9 years

Craig Kautsch

Founder - NMLS #319405

About Craig

Craig Kautsch has been a lifelong entrepreneur and is the founder of Avocet Ventures, a portfolio real estate company that has cracked the code in providing homeownership to low-income families in DFW. Avocet has been originating portfolio mortgages for over 10 years. His company has made a huge impact in the lives of families that wouldn’t otherwise be able to own a home. He has purchased, restored, and sold over 600 houses in DFW. In 2016, Craig launched Indwell Realty, a business development company where real estate agents can build their perfect real estate career.

Craig is deeply motivated to help high performers excel at work and at home. He has been personally trained by Dr. John Townsend and is a Director in the Townsend Leadership Program. He is also enrolled in the Executive Coaching Graduate Program at the Townsend Institute for Leadership and Counseling at Huntington University.

He is able to draw from his big successes and colossal failures and has extensive experience navigating both. A great balance of scar tissue and high trajectory growth gives birth to his well-rounded and valuable perspective.

Everyone thinks leaders are okay because they appear so strong and capable, but as a leader with first hand experience I know this isn’t the truth. Most leaders aren’t running on all cylinders, because they don’t have a safe place to process their fears and struggles. I know from personal experience that being in isolation can cause you to lose millions. I have a passion for showing leaders the real issues that are holding them back instead of repeating a bunch of strategies and tactics they already know