Dec. 26: LO jobs; non-QM, DSCR, pricing engine products; investor’s conv. conforming news flow continues
Did you know that the average age of a real estate agent, per the NAR, is 87? Okay, I’m just kidding. (Hey, the day after […]
Month: December 2025
Christmas Eve: LO jobs; AI POS, subservicing, jumbo products; thoughts on u/w and operating models; Freddie & Fannie news continues
We’re coming up on some time off, with bank wiring not changing schedules despite President Trump giving federal workers more time off. Lenders and vendors like their time off. The Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays are considered to be federal holidays in many countries… but not all countries. In fact, those days are not ones that most people have off worldwide ! There are 5.5 billion people who live in a country where December 25 is a public holiday, and 4.3 billion people who live in a…
The Invisible World Behind Mortgage Locks and Extensions
Behind every mortgage rate, every lock extension, and every borrower question, there is a hidden world of precision, strategy, and high-stakes timing that few ever see. For most borrowers, asking for an extension feels casual. Can I have a few extra days? Maybe a week? In the retail world, it is almost a courtesy. In the world of institutional finance, where Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America operate, time is currency. Every hour counts. Every day matters. When mortgage-backed…
Christmas Eve: LO jobs; AI POS, subservicing, jumbo products; thoughts on u/w and operating models; Freddie & Fannie news continues
We’re coming up on some time off, with bank wiring not changing schedules despite President Trump giving federal workers more time off. Lenders and vendors […]
Reverse Mortgages, Reframed: What the Industry Gets Wrong and What It Needs to Understand
Reverse mortgages remain one of the most misunderstood products in residential lending. Even seasoned mortgage professionals often approach them with hesitation, influenced by outdated perceptions, incomplete information, or reputational concerns. That hesitation is understandable. Reverse mortgages differ from forward loans in structure, servicing, and borrower experience. When properly understood and responsibly delivered, however, reverse mortgages can serve as an effective and powerful…
Dec. 23: IMBs wanted; HELOC (poem), AI POS, cap mkts tools; delinquencies increasing; loanDepot case ethics motion; Bill Dawley interview
Will rates impact the latest MBA origination forecast of $2.2 trillion next year? Sure, although… The Federal Reserve has cut overnight rates, but longer-term rates (like 15- and 30-year mortgages) have done little or have gone up. Recently news came out that Freddie and Fannie are buying securities that they produce. If GM is buying its own cars, should its stock price go up, or does the price of its cars go up? Do GSE MBS purchases really move rates? The recent news that the GSEs have been…
Dec. 23: IMBs wanted; HELOC (poem), AI POS, cap mkts tools; delinquencies increasing; loanDepot case ethics motion; Bill Dawley interview
Will rates impact the latest MBA origination forecast of $2.2 trillion next year? Sure, although… The Federal Reserve has cut overnight rates, but longer-term rates […]
2025: Stabilization, Mix Shifts, and the Quiet Re-Sorting of Mortgage
If you spent 2025 waiting for the market to “come roaring back,” you probably left disappointed. This was not 2020 or 2021. It also was not 2022’s hangover. But it was not the free-fall mood of 2023, either. 2025 was the year the industry proved it can operate in a normal-rate environment, even if “normal” now means a 30-year fixed that starts with a 6. As of last week, Freddie Mac had the average 30-year fixed at 6.21% . ( AP News ) The market did not need a miracle to improve. It needed…
Dec. 22: LO jobs, transitions; broker, HELOC products; loanDepot LO comp case ethics question; dive into data
“My mother used to say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Wonderful woman, lousy surgeon.” Jokes about jobs are usually decent, and, speaking of jobs, as we approach the end of the year, we’re seeing the usual interest in other opportunities, especially if pipelines aren’t full or management is dealing with people “aging out.” I received this note: “Rob, I need a very targeted approach to finding a new CFO, as my current one is retiring. Know anyone who can help?” I do…
Dec. 22: LO jobs, transitions; broker, HELOC products; loanDepot LO comp case ethics question; dive into data
“My mother used to say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Wonderful woman, lousy surgeon.” Jokes about jobs are usually […]