Today we’re going to learn about the facts of life. Trivia-loving basketball facts’ fans know that this is the first time the NY Knicks have led in the finals since the night of OJ’s White Bronco car chase. Homeowner’s insurance has become the “you can’t avoid it and you can’t afford it” fact of life for some homeowners in some areas. Rate is selling yoga pants. The increase in credit union’s mortgage activities is a fact and unmistakable, and you can bet CUs will continue to press their “resi” lending advantages. Lastly, and it’s a fact that people in our biz enjoy following money around, every time someone in Europe taps a card at a cafe in Lyon or a pharmacy in Munich, the transaction data leaves the continent. The data flows through servers in the United States, is processed by Visa or Mastercard, and then goes back to Europe. The money moves but the data stays somewhere in America. We’re talking about $24 trillion in annual transaction volume through those two networks. Card payments represent 56 percent of all cashless transactions in the EU. Virtually none of it runs on European infrastructure! (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s ‘casts are sponsored by Experian and the Experian Verify Hub. The platform brings manual submissions in-house and consolidates post-submission activities into a single environment, aiming to provide more streamlined access, faster insights, and a more cohesive user experience. Today’s has an interview with MeridianLink’s Larry Katz on how to simplify the complexity behind lending while empowering financial institutions to focus on what matters most: the people and communities they serve.)
Employment and transitions
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“We are pleased to share with you a leadership change within Chase Correspondent Lending. Lisa Plaien, who has been with Chase since 2006, is our new East Division Manager. Most recently, Lisa led our Central Division and has had leadership roles in Marketing, Sales Support and Client Management. Paul Pritchett, who has been with Chase for 10 years, is our new Central Division Manager. Most recently, Paul was a Client Relationship Manager. He brings extensive industry experience, including roles in Secondary and Mortgage Insurance, to the position. We look forward to Lisa and Paul’s continued contributions to the channel as we strive to bring the full value of JPMorganChase to our clients and the communities we serve.”
Evergreen Home Loans and Sagent Partner to Enhance the Post-Closing Mortgage Experience! The mortgage experience doesn’t end at closing, and Evergreen Home Loans™ is investing in a more connected homeowner journey through its partnership with Dara by Sagent, a digital engagement platform focused on post-closing communication. Together, Evergreen and Sagent are helping modernize mortgage servicing with a digital-first approach designed to improve transparency, accessibility, and long-term customer engagement. The initiative provides homeowners with easier access to servicing information, educational resources, payment and escrow support, and ongoing communication throughout the life of the loan. By combining technology with personalized service, Evergreen is creating a servicing experience that strengthens borrower confidence while helping Loan Officers maintain meaningful customer relationships long after funding. Read Evergreen’s blog, The Mortgage Support You Need After Closing. Looking for a lender focused on innovation, customer experience, and growth? Explore career opportunities with Evergreen Home Loans at DiscoverEHL.com.
Four Primis Mortgage Loan Officers were recognized among Scotsman Guide’s Top Women Originators! Primis Mortgage announced that four of its loan officers were recognized in the 2026 Scotsman Guide Top Women Originators rankings, which highlight high-performing women in the mortgage industry based on production volume from the previous year. Honorees include Jackie Wampler (NC), Kristin Stark (TX), Amy Rockett-Rickman (TN), and Belinda Arender (TN), who collectively delivered strong results across their respective markets. “This recognition reflects the level of talent and unwavering commitment our team brings to the table every single day,” said John Owens, Primis Mortgage CEO. “These leaders continue to raise the bar and have a meaningful impact on the families they serve,” said Chris Blevins, national sales director at Primis Mortgage. If you’re interested in learning more about joining the Primis Mortgage team, contact Chris Blevins.
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.
Lender and broker products, software, & services
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Meet the wholesale lender betting big on brokers. MLB Wholesale is enhancing its Green Advantage program with Arcasa’s Energy-Smart Down Payment Assistance, led by CEO Cole Bestgen and backed by SimpleNexus co-founders Ben Miller and Matt Hansen. Homebuyers can get up to 5 percent down on FHA loans at market rates, with no second payment and no income cap, and because the program is unlocked by solar, utility bills drop after installation while borrowers get immediate help with closing costs, rate buydowns, refinances, or down payments. This FHA loan closes like any other and is investor-friendly, a seamless process for brokers and buyers alike. MLB, led by industry veteran Laura Brandao, is broker-built: free in-house onboarding, no third-party application fees, marketing assets, on-demand education, and dedicated client services from day one. Learn more about Arcasa’s Broker Program.
“CMG Financial is excited to announce the launch of our DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) loan product for our Wholesale Lending channel. This innovative solution for real estate investors emphasizes the property’s cash flow rather than traditional income documentation, making it an outstanding option for investors looking to start or grow their real estate portfolios. Key highlights include maximum loan amounts up to $2,000,000, FICO scores as low as 640 with reasonable reserve requirements. With flexible financing options based on the property’s rental income potential, our new DSCR product may be an excellent fit for your clients. For full program details, eligibility requirements, and current pricing, contact your CMG representative. Interested in learning more about this product or becoming a CMG partner? Contact CMG TPO Helpdesk at 866-597-7778. This product may have higher interest rates, more points, or more fees than other products requiring documentation. CMG Financial NMLS ID# 1820.”
“Luxury Mortgage’s Simple Seconds program has now expanded to 85 percent LTV, increased the loan limit to $1MM, and reduced the lender fee, with pricing improvements up to 100 BPS on larger loans. That’s not all: Interest-Only options are now available, with rates starting at 7.5 percent, and no prepayment penalties! Our Wholesale and Correspondent partners can now offer Simple Seconds for all occupancies using Bank Statement, 1099 Only, and Investor Cash Flow (DSCR) qualification options — delivering more flexibility and more opportunity for borrowers. One call to your Account Executive could unlock a deal you thought was out of reach.”
“RETAIL + DIRECT, SAME SHOP. If you don’t agree AI is violently shifting the customer acquisition game for all of us, you will soon. LOs still drive retail, that won’t change. But consumer-direct isn’t just lead buys anymore; it’s getting found by AI, GEO, the works. And almost every shop is becoming a retail/direct hybrid. Done right, it’s a huge lift for both sides. Organized LO teams in retail shops can work leads like pros, and direct shops can increase conversion with smarter advice/intel for clients. At CI&T, we’re helping retail and direct lenders build for this new reality, and it’s lifted both without overhauling your tech stack. If you’re navigating this same shift, we can show you proven playbooks that deploy TODAY, not quarters from now when GEO becomes pay to play. We should compare notes. Please reach out to Tim Von Kaenel and Dawn Svedberg to talk shop.”
Less back-and-forth. More first-time-right verifications. Truework replaces manual verification waterfalls with a single automated platform, so underwriters, LOs, and ops can cut down the document chasing, conflicting numbers, and last-minute corrections. Lenders see up to 50 percent cost savings on verifications, with faster turn times, higher accuracy, and stronger R&W relief. Trusted by top lenders in the U.S., Truework gives your team verification results they can rely on. Learn more.
The Chrisman Marketplace is a centralized hub for vendors and service providers across the industry to be viewed by lenders in a very cost-effective manner. We’re adding new providers daily, so check back often to see what’s new. To reserve your place or learn more, contact us at info@chrismancommentary.com.
Planning your mortgage travel
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A good place for longer-term conference planning and for organizers to post their events is to start is here for in-person events in the future. Book those flights in advance… they’re not cheap and going up given the war in the Middle East. Lenders and vendors are casting a critical eye on ROI (return on investment) given how much it costs to send an individual thousands of miles away, week after week.
Reverse mortgages create opportunities for professionals who know how to navigate this evolving market. Join NRMLA Western Regional meeting at the Sonesta Irvine Hotel on Tuesday, June 9th from 9-5 for NRMLA’s 2026 Western Regional Meeting, a daylong event featuring insightful business development sessions and meaningful networking that will position you for long-term success.
June 14-16 will be the Ohio Mortgage Bankers Association annual conference near Columbus, Ohio.
Join MBA Hawaii for the 2026 annual conference, June 17th and 18th at Prince Waikiki, Honolulua Luxury Hotel. With a packed 2-day agenda of great speakers, including Mitch Kider, Bob Niemi, Brian Levy, Rob & Robbie Chrisman, onolicious food and lively networking at the beautiful Prince Waikiki!
August 10-12, the California MBA hosts its fabled Western Secondary, not to be missed.
The Louisiana Mortgage Banker Association’s Annual Conference is August 16th-18th 2026 at the Hilton Capitol Center Downtown Baton Rouge.
In September we have, in Hood River, Oregon, the PNMLC yearly conference from 9/13-9/15 as well as, in Dallas from 9/15-16, the LoanVision Innovation conference. (Watch for details.)
From 9/21-9/23 the NY MBA conference is at the Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady NY, close to the Albany International Airport.
10/4-10/6 in Ypslanti, near Detroit, the Michigan Mortgage Lenders Association is having its annual fete.
10/11-10/14 is the MBA “Annual”, this year in Chicago.
On 11/18, in St. Louis, we have the Mortgage Bankers Association of St. Louis annual luncheon, along with other events throughout the year, and on 11/19, in Kansas City, is the annual MBAKC luncheon. (Watch for details.)
Accounting and Financial Management!
The MBA has announced the 2027 IMB Conference, set for January 25-27, once again in Florida, this time in Tampa.
Capital Markets: a deep dive into the MBS world
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Want some good news about mortgage rates relative to other rates? Agency MBS continued to outperform in May, extending a five-year streak of positive May excess returns as declining volatility, strong ETF inflows, and stable Treasury rates provided support. However, that was less about outright spread tightening and more about investors repositioning for a higher-for-longer rate environment. Shorter-duration 15- and 20-year collateral significantly outperformed 30-year sectors as sticky inflation and rising long-end rate risks encouraged investors to shed duration exposure while favoring higher coupons with less extension risk. Encouragingly, demand remains healthy despite elevated supply, with bank holdings stable, Agency portfolios growing modestly, and the aforementioned mortgage ETFs experiencing their strongest inflows since last fall.
But many of the factors that supported mortgages through the first five months of the year are beginning to fade. Seasonal tailwinds turn negative from June through September, inflation risks remain skewed higher, and any sustained rise in long-end Treasury yields could pressure spreads and duration-sensitive sectors. Your takeaway? The sector’s resilience has been impressive, but the market is increasingly transitioning from a carry-and-volatility story to a capital-preservation story, where avoiding extension risk and minimizing payups may matter more than reaching for incremental spread.
Just as inflation can drive rates higher, a hoped-for drop in inflation can do the opposite. U.S. Treasury yields have fallen to a three-week low ahead of employment data that could influence the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate decision under new Chair Kevin Warsh. The yield on 10-year Treasurys has dropped 25 basis points to 4.43 percent over the past two weeks amid optimism that progress in resolving the Iran-US conflict will lead to lower oil prices and eased inflation expectations.
Agency MBS issuance remained remarkably strong in May, surpassing $122 billion and extending a nearly two-year streak of year-over-year supply growth, but the composition of that supply suggests the market may be approaching a turning point. While refinancing activity has been the primary driver of issuance growth over the past year, rising mortgage rates are beginning to erode that support, particularly in the conventional market where refinance-driven issuance fell sharply as a share of total production last month. Underlying loan creation remains healthy, with both conventional and government-backed lending volumes posting double-digit annual growth, evidence that purchase activity has been more resilient than many expected. Your takeaway? Mortgage origination fundamentals remain solid despite higher rates, but future supply growth is likely to become increasingly dependent on purchase demand rather than refinancing, leaving issuance less sensitive to rate rallies and potentially more constrained if affordability pressures continue to weigh on housing activity.
Markets remain caught between a growing geopolitical inflation shock and an economy that has yet to show meaningful signs of buckling under it. Alongside ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the administration’s proposal for new tariffs on imports from dozens of trading partners has added another layer of inflation uncertainty, helping push front-end Treasury yields higher as investors reassess the likelihood of near-term Fed easing. Incoming data will be scrutinized less for signs of weakness and more for evidence that higher input costs are beginning to work their way through the economy. Consensus expectations point to stable hiring and continued expansion in services activity, reinforcing the Fed’s ability to remain on hold while monitoring whether rising energy and trade costs prove temporary or become more deeply embedded in inflation.
In terms of the U.S. economy and news that could/did move rates, yesterday we learned that productivity has picked up nicely from a year ago while unit labor costs have come down, tempering concerns about labor-based inflation pressures. Initial jobless claims for the week ending May 30 increased but remain at levels that are consistent with an otherwise solid labor market.
The war in Iran, and therefore oil prices, can change with a tweet, but this morning we had our usual set of employment data. May Nonfarm Payrolls were +172k (a big jump given the expected +100k) were; the May Unemployment rate was 4.3 percent (expected unchanged at 4.3 percent) was, and May Average Hourly Earnings were decent (+3.4 percent annualized) but not keeping pace with inflation. Immediately after the jobs report we find the 2-year yielding 4.11 (it closed yesterday at 4.05 percent), the 10-year yielding 4.52 (after closing at 4.48 percent yesterday) and Agency MBS prices worse .125-.250 from Thursday’s close given the strong data.
(Warning: parental discretion advised; no complaints please.)
An elderly couple, who were both widowed, had been going out with each other for a long time. Urged on by their friends, they decided it was finally time to get married. Before the wedding, they went out to dinner and had a long conversation regarding how their marriage might work. They discussed finances, living arrangements and so on. Finally, the old gentleman decided it was time to broach the subject of their physical relationship.
“How do you feel about sex?” he asked, rather tentatively.
“I like it infrequently.” she replied.
The old gentleman sat quietly for a moment, adjusted his glasses, leaned towards her, and whispered, “Is that one word or two?”
Visit www.ChrismanCommentary.com for more information on our industry partners, access archived commentaries, or subscribe to the Daily Mortgage News and Commentary. You can also explore the Chrisman Marketplace, a centralized hub connecting mortgage professionals with trusted vendors and solutions. If you’re interested, check out my periodic blog on the STRATMOR Group website. STRATMOR’s current blog is “Pricing That Can Help Borrowers.” The Commentary’s podcast is available on all major platforms, including Apple and Spotify.
qoɹ & ǝᴉqqoɹ
(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.)
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