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Month: November 2025

Nov. 14: LO jobs; HELOC, meeting software, MSR valuation tools; M&A for servicing; Freddie & Fannie & price fixing? Extension cost primer

Posted on by Rob Chrisman

I always wonder, when I see two gas stations near each other in a small town, if the owners agree on pricing and share information. But when you’re dealing with trillions of dollars of mortgages and millions of borrowers, well, that’s a different scale, and the leader and boards of directors should be held responsible if the news is correct. Per the AP, “A confidant of Bill Pulte , the Trump administration’s top housing regulator, provided confidential mortgage pricing data from Fannie Mae…

Capital Markets Recap: November 14, 2025

Posted on by Robbie Chrisman

One word for you: “uncertainty,” across both policy and markets, as the shutdown-delayed flow of economic data left lenders, investors, and regulators operating in a fog. The Federal Reserve reiterated that it cannot commit to further rate cuts until it can review labor-market and inflation data that have been missing for weeks. That wait-and-see stance kept Treasury yields confined to a familiar, narrow range despite mixed auction results: the 10-year note stopped through expectations with…

Nov. 13: BI analyst, Investor Ops jobs; data intelligence, CTP products; compliance warning about Thanksgiving; another Fed president to leave

Posted on by Rob Chrisman

In news underwriters will need to know, banks and satirists across the United States are taking Director Bill Pulte’s and President Donald Trump’s 50-year mortgage suggestion are running with it. They (the underwriters) would now require an applicant’s grandkids to co-sign on a 50-year mortgage “just in case” as part of the approval equation. What happens when you leave out a key part of the equation? ( Skip ahead to the two-minute mark for another chuckle.) The IT staffs of lenders and…

The Mirage of the 50-Year Mortgage: Stretching Time, Not Solving the Crisis

Posted on by Robbie Chrisman

A proposal to introduce 50-year fixed-rate mortgages into the U.S. housing market has reignited debate over how best to address the nation’s affordability crisis. Proponents argue that longer loan terms could make homeownership accessible to more Americans by lowering monthly payments. However, a closer analysis reveals that the product offers limited real savings, significant long-term costs, and structural challenges for investors and the secondary market. The 50-year mortgage, if…

Regulation and the Pursuit of Happiness

Posted on by Brian S. Levy

It’s the 100 th edition of these Musings, so it seems I need to write something special: something that is accessible and insightful to all readers and will provide deep meaning and energize your life. [1] At a minimum, this “Musing for the masses” will avoid using acronyms that only my mortgage industry peeps understand and refrain from discussing ongoing litigation implications. [2] I’m even going to spend some time talking about summer camp. So, in this “ Very Special” Edition of the…

Scaling Smarter: Redefining Mortgage Servicing Through Integration, Automation, and Innovation

Posted on by Dana Federspiel

As the mortgage industry closes out 2025, servicing has become a battleground defined by what many are calling the “recapture wars.” In a market shaped by volatility, shifting rates, and heightened customer expectations, retaining borrowers has never been more critical, or more challenging. This evolving landscape presents an opportunity to connect the dots across the mortgage ecosystem to help lenders and servicers operate with greater speed, efficiency, and intelligence. The goal? Give…

Nov. 12: Corres. & wholesale AE jobs; non-QM, broker, AMC, LO survey results; warehouse tools; fast-approaching webinars

Posted on by Rob Chrisman

It’s dog eat dog in the ranks of the FHFA and Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac. The question is, does anyone care, or is anyone surprised? We want to follow the law, right? Everyone knows that the Trump Administration fired the Inspector General and Fannie’s ethics staff . Now the Wall Street Journal reports that, “Fannie Mae Watchdogs Probed How Pulte Obtained Mortgage Records of Key Democrats… FHFA’s acting inspector general handed probe report to U.S. attorney office that had indicted New York…