4.2.26 Fannie and Freddie Rumors; Relcu’s Abhi Thakur on Ecosystem Building; Trump Relief Remarks

“Rob, what do you hear about Fannie & Freddie being released from conservatorship?” Not much. Although it may change with one random tweet, the idea & process of jettisoning them is not even “on the back burner”… It may be back in the refrigerator. Maybe 2031? Both are certainly building up their net worth, but they don’t have enough capital to be released based on the amount of capital required under an Administrative Rule. The U.S. Government doesn’t want to lose control, or the income, and MBS traders and investors don’t want to lose the government guarantee. Scott Bessent has said, a number of times, that he doesn’t want to do anything to raise mortgage rates. It’s also important to distinguish “release from conservatorship” from what Pulte has oft- tweeted/teased: that the government may sell off a portion of the shares it controls and capture some of the value of the GSEs but still control them from an ownership (and in-conservatorship) standpoint. Perhaps we’ll see some immediate affordability relief by changes in loan level price adjustment, gfee, or MIP changes. Maybe the government should take a hard look at homeowner’s insurance, permit fees, condo fees, utility hookup fees… (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s ‘casts are sponsored by RelCu. RelCu is the all-in-one agentic platform driving conversion, retention, and cross-sell across mortgage and deposits. Today’s features an interview with Relcu’s Abhi Thakur on how to improve decision-making, streamline consumer data management and engagement, and where tech needs to respect legacy knowledge of mortgage operations.)

Employment and transitions

EPM is experiencing record-breaking growth in 2026 and is actively looking to bring on 50 new Account Executives over the next 12 months. EPM is one of the fastest-growing wholesale lenders in the United States, built on a mission of helping homeowners realize the American Dream. Ideal candidates are driven, experienced AEs ready to plug into a platform with real momentum and the support to match. We are also entertaining teams looking for a new home. This is a rare opportunity to join an organization that is scaling rapidly and investing heavily in its people. If you are ready to align yourself with the fastest-moving name in wholesale lending, now is the time. For confidential consideration, please email us. 

Movement Mortgage continues to perform at a national level. In Scotsman Guide’s 2026 Top Originators rankings, nine Movement loan officers earned 12 Top 100 placements across FHA, VA, Non‑QM, total volume, and units closed. Highlights include a Top 10 national ranking in FHA Volume, Top 50 placements in Non‑QM Volume and loans closed, and multiple Top VA Volume rankings. These results reflect consistent production across loan types and markets, supported by a platform built to help top producers scale. To learn more, join a 60‑minute Virtual Discovery Session with Movement leadership on April 22. The session is anonymous and offers a clear, no‑pressure look at how Movement operates.

Deephaven is actively hiring talented Wholesale AEs nationwide. If you're ready for your next chapter, reach out to Tom Davis, Deephaven's Chief Sales Officer, for a confidential discussion, or visit Deephaven at Become A Partner | Deephaven Mortgage to learn more about products.

Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group announced that 35-year vet Gregory Richardson has joined the company as Chief Revenue Officer, where he will lead enterprise revenue strategy and alignment across production, capital markets, product development, and institutional investor relationships. He will “oversee secondary marketing, pricing strategy, pipeline hedging, and investor relationships, while working closely with the company's executive leadership team to support production growth, strengthen capital markets execution, and advance Atlantic Bay's long-term market expansion strategy.”

The Chrisman Job Board is the go-to platform for employment opportunities across the mortgage industry. For employers, adding a job listing is easy. Simply create an account and drop in your existing application link, or forward the details to our team and we’ll take care of it for you. For job seekers, joining our Talent Community is completely free. Upload your resume to be visible to hiring companies across the industry and stay connected to new opportunities as they go live.

Products, services, and software for brokers and lenders

Top performers need access to the latest pricing as soon as it's available… Are you getting that from your tech partners? MCT has rapidly deployed three new Freddie Mac integration updates, including support for Co-Issue All-In Funding (CIX AIF) loan-level pricing and committing, along with new specified pool pay-up categories for LTV and Manufactured Housing. The enhanced Cash Pricing and Cash Committing APIs now deliver both the Contract Asset Price and Contract SRP at the loan level, giving lenders a more complete view of all-in execution. As Phil Rasori noted, “Freddie Mac’s CIX AIF API enhancements unlock loan-level SRP visibility that lenders haven’t had direct access to before. Our job is to make sure our clients have that capability the moment it’s available.” These updates reflect a fast-moving wave of product development and reinforce MCT’s ability to deliver new execution options. The new capabilities are now in MCTlive! for hedge clients and Freddie Mac Cash Window-approved lenders. Read the full press release or contact MCT to learn more.

What would it mean to work with a banking group purpose-built for the mortgage industry? Western Alliance Bank’s Specialized Mortgage Services is exactly that. You’ll work with bankers who have deep mortgage sector expertise and take the time to understand your specific goals before recommending solutions. You’ll find this same approach across Western Alliance. Specialized Mortgage Services is one of 30-plus industry verticals within the bank, which means clients have access to the powerful resources of a national bank with the personal attention of a specialized team. Western Alliance delivers a fully integrated portfolio of services: mortgage warehouse lending, MSR financing, note financing and integrated treasury management. All to help IMBs increase efficiencies and keep capital working harder. Having one dedicated team, one deep relationship and one institution built around your industry is what makes the difference in expert banking. Connect with the Specialized Mortgage Services team to see what purpose-built banking looks like. Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC.

“MortgageFlex is proud to participate in STRATMOR Group’s Solution Provider Advisory (SPA) program*, where experienced, strategic insight is helping accelerate our innovation. STRATMOR has helped MortgageFlex highlight several strengths that distinguish our platform in today’s market: borrower self‑service as a true differentiator, an unusually mature integrated default and loss‑mitigation workflow for a modern system, and a single‑database, real‑time architecture that delivers meaningful operational advantages. They also noted the power of our unified platform (seven systems in one) along with our API‑first design, rapid data conversion, and seamless migration capabilities. Our work with STRATMOR is helping us sharpen our product roadmap, elevate the user experience, and strengthen the capabilities that matter most to servicers and originators. It’s also inspiring new approaches to implementation and client engagement, ensuring every enhancement delivers measurable value. MortgageFlex remains committed to continuous improvement, and STRATMOR’s perspective is helping us move the industry forward with clarity, confidence, and momentum. To learn more, contact John McCrea. *The SPA Program is open to all solution providers supporting the mortgage industry. Contact STRATMOR to learn more.

“U.S. Bank is committed to delivering personalized support, insights, and education designed to support your business growth and solutions for your borrowers. Our leadership in mortgage lending and dedication to sustainable homeownership are matched only by our recognition as a World’s Most Ethical Company® by the Ethisphere Institute for 12 consecutive years, an organization recognized globally for advancing ethical business standards. Connect with a U.S. Bank account executive at upcoming industry events, including the Wyoming Mortgage Lenders Conference, Texas Annual MBA, Great River MBA, and MBA Secondary and Capital Markets Conference. To learn more about our HFA offering visit us at NALHFA Annual Conference or contact a U.S. Bank client sales executive. Together, we empower sustainable homeownership.”

Originating a loan can now cost lenders up to $10,806, making operational efficiency more critical than ever. Independent research from MarketWise Advisors shows that lenders using the Encompass® platform see an average benefit of $1,056 per loan and a 5:1 return on technology investment. Dig into the data to see how Encompass has driven a 10.6 percent year-over-year lift in gross profit potential through automation tools, exception-based workflows and ongoing platform enhancements. Explore the full ROI breakdown now.

(Market data provided in partnership with MBS Live. For free job postings and to view candidate resumes, visit the Chrisman Job Board. This newsletter is intended for sophisticated mortgage professionals only. There are no paid endorsements by me. For the latest mortgage news, visit Mortgage News Daily. For archived commentaries, or to subscribe, go to www.ChrismanCommentary.com. Copyright 2026 Chrisman LLC. All rights reserved. Paid job & product listings do appear. This report or any portion hereof may not be reprinted, sold, or redistributed without the written consent of Rob Chrisman. The views and opinions in this newsletter are mine alone unless otherwise specifically stated herein.)