Mar. 11: AE, LO jobs; eMortgage tech, insurance money buyer, AI tools; webcasts & training this week; deep look at rates

“Buying eggs on the street and weed in the stores: the times they are changing.” Borrowers are certainly reacting to changes in rates as capital markets staffs are dusting off their renegotiation policies, explain early payoff penalties, and strategize on margins in volatile times (all of which are discussed in today’s Capital Markets Wrap at 3PM ET, presented by Polly). Of course, the stock market isn’t the economy, which is a good thing because, as of Friday, Barron’s calculated a $3 trillion reduction in the value of U.S. stocks since Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration. Originators hope that their clients aren’t tying their down payment funds to anything stock market-related, and worry that the mood of potential clients will deteriorate if the stock market keeps falling, which in turn would impact their enthusiasm for buying a home. (More in capital markets section.) Despite Fed Chair Powell’s comments, rate cut expectations have been pushed forward in recent weeks. As deterioration in the labor market builds, coupled with downside growth risks stemming from tariff and fiscal policies, markets are pricing in nearly three rate cuts this year, which is a significant increase from just one expected cut at this time last month. (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s is sponsored by TransUnion. TransUnion offers thousands of B2B solutions designed to address the unique needs of mortgage lenders, especially for their identity-focused, data-driven mortgage insights and solutions. Hear an interview with Mesa’s Maya Velasquez on how young people see the future of mortgage.)

Employment, exec available, & transitions

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A highly accomplished C-level executive in mortgage & adjacent industries, with a proven track record in leadership, turnarounds, growth, transitions, and successful exits, is seeking a new leadership role. Achievements include channel reboot 12x in 11 months. Intrapreneurial experience with rapidly growing companies and start-up/channel/pivot scenarios. Solutionist for “does it work” before MVP. Expert leadership and bridge for operations, sales, vendors, investors, capital markets, marketing, recruiting, and compliance. Background includes ownership, manager/ic-operator, sales, operations, product development, M&A, and P&L success. Exceptional agency relationships and knowledge. Experience with VC-backed firms, PTC’s, banks, PE’s, Insurance, Developer/Builder, IMB’s and brokers. Ideal position is President (line or business), COO/CSO/CBO or similar roles with a VC or FinTech/FinServ tech utilized platform or IMB/Bank/group looking to grow, pivot, or build for superior margins, exceptional scale, and top market share. Contact Anjelica Nixt to connect with this dynamic & driven, galvanizing, goal attaining peak performer.

Partner Home Loans is thrilled to announce that Sean Thompson has joined as SVP, Head of Renovation & Customization Lending! With over 27 years in Mortgage Banking, Sean has been an innovator in Renovation Financing, transforming how these loans are sold, delivered, and utilized across the industry. Sean has excelled in every role, from top-producing loan originator to national leadership, driving major advancements in renovation lending strategies. Now, he’s bringing that passion and expertise to Partner Home Loans. A pioneer in Renovation Platform Development, Sean has designed and implemented end-to-end Renovation Financing Platforms, led Disbursement System Integration to streamline fund management, and enhanced renovation loan origination with Point-of-Sale Tech Integration. Are you interested in learning more or joining our growing team? Contact Sean Thompson.

“Top loan officers are making the move to Canopy Mortgage. Why? With a transparent P&L model, proprietary LOS technology, and a lean structure that eliminates unnecessary overhead, Canopy empowers you to take full control of your business and maximize your earnings. If you’re ready for real transparency, lower corporate margins, and the freedom to scale on your terms, it’s time for a conversation. Call us at 385-273-0404 or email us here for a confidential P&L review today. Canopy Mortgage – Lower Rates. Better Tech. Real People.”

“Towne Mortgage Company is growing, and we’re looking for Account Executives to join our team! Recognized as a Top Workplace by the Detroit Free Press, we offer opportunities across Wholesale, Non-Del, and Full Delegated Correspondent channels, along with a competitive comp and benefits package. We are a fully remote team, licensed in 45 states, a FNMA, FHLMC, and GNMA-approved seller-servicer with in-house retained servicing, providing a full agency product set, including renovation (203K, FNMA, & Freddie Mac), manual underwrites, fully delegated Jumbo, and Towne Flex products, and 1x Close Construction-to-Perm program for Mini-Corr clients. AEs have access to industry-leading tools, a CRM marketing platform automation and market intelligence tools to help you prospect effectively, monthly training to keep you informed on trends and strategies, and a best-in-class culture that prioritizes transparency, growth, and long-term success. Our clients have a comprehensive resource center and monthly training sessions, direct access to an underwriter with an average of 15.75 years of industry experience, ensuring fast answers and easier closings, and competitive product offerings designed to provide flexible financing solutions. For confidential inquiries, contact John Korch, Chief Production Officer.”

Mortgage Powerhouse Patty Newby Joins US Mortgage! US Mortgage proudly welcomes Patty Newby, a top 1 percent mortgage professional, to its team. Known as TheLoanDesigner™, Patty has earned 1,000+ stellar reviews and industry recognition in Scotsman Guide. “I couldn’t be more excited to join US Mortgage,” said Patty. “This team shares my dedication to exceptional service.” Patty sees US Mortgage as the perfect fit to continue delivering personalized mortgage solutions backed by industry-leading tools and resources. Nino Saso, Chief Production Officer, added, “Patty’s expertise and client-first approach make her an invaluable addition to our team.” Founded in 1994, US Mortgage simplifies the lending process with innovative solutions and a customer-first approach. With rapid growth and exciting opportunities ahead, there’s never been a better time to join US Mortgage. 

(As a reminder, anyone searching for employment can post their resume at no charge at www.lendernews.com, and potential employers can view all resumes for several months for only $75.)

Lender and broker products, software, & services

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“AI that cuts mortgage costs! TRAiNED unlocks significant cost reduction with AI-driven mortgage manufacturing. Using actionable LLM’s applied to machine learning workflows, TRAiNED offers the benefits of AI with little business upheaval. TRAiNED plugs into your existing LOS. No change in work process, no new system to learn for your team. Want to unlock immediate cost savings, improved processing speed and reductions in errors? Contact us here. GET A PIECE OF TRAiNED: TRAiNED now offers you the opportunity to participate in our success, by investing in our business through Startengine.com. Join us in reshaping the lending landscape, making it more efficient and cost-effective Invest now to be a part of this pioneering venture. Learn more.”

MGIC’s self-employed borrower and rental income worksheets for tax year 2024 are now available! Editable and auto calculating, these worksheets help you analyze cash flow, liquidity, rental income, and comparative income. Download now! Dive deeper into analyzing self-employed borrowers with MGIC’s 8-module webinar series, breaking down complex SEB concepts into easily understood scenarios. Watch a recorded session or register for an upcoming live session today.

The Credit Optimization Playbook: Your Guide to Better Lending! Stop leaving deals on the table. Drawing from analysis of over 1 billion credit records, our comprehensive playbook shows you exactly how to spot credit improvement opportunities that others miss. You'll learn proven strategies to help borrowers qualify for better rates, reduce PMI, and eliminate loan level pricing adjustments, all in as little as 30 days. Whether you're working with borderline applicants or prime borrowers, these battle-tested techniques will help you close more loans and build lasting client relationships. Download now!

New Insurance Money Buyer Alert: Exclusive Non-QM & DSCR Liquidity from MAXEX. Next week, MAXEX adds exclusive Non-QM and DSCR flow liquidity from a Top 10 global asset manager, further enhancing secondary market access for these growing segments. As demand for Non-QM and DSCR surges, more originators are choosing MAXEX to scale their businesses with unmatched liquidity, competitive execution, and simplified transactions. Whether you need flow or bulk, delegated or non-delegated, MAXEX connects you to premier buyers, through-the-market pricing, and flexible guidelines, all in one platform. Don't miss out: visit our website to elevate your lending strategy.

With the housing market looking more and more uncertain, lenders must remove inefficiencies and change processes to thrive. Join Mortgage Machine’s Dan McGrew and DocMagic’s Brian Pannell for an exclusive webinar on Thursday, March 27, at 1:00 PM EST to explore the transformative impact of eMortgage technology. Learn how adopting eClosings, eNotes, and eVault can reduce cycle times, cut costs, and enhance borrower satisfaction, all while boosting your bottom line. Hear from industry experts on how the right tech stack can drive efficiency and ROI, even in today’s market. Register for the webinar to discover how eClosing technology can help you thrive.

Webcasts, events, and training this week

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A good place for longer term conference planning is to start is here for in-person events in the future; and organizers can post their event!

Today the 11th at 11AM PT, origination takes the focus with Mortgage Pros as Audrey B. and Kevin C. address issues facing residential originators, today featuring Robbie Chrisman.

Don’t miss the joint CRMLA/Canopy Breakfast Event: Lender Panel “Impacts of the NAR Settlement, Tuesday, March 11, 9:30-11:00 at Canopy Realtor® Association. Join highly respected mortgage experts as they discuss the NAR settlement impact on Homebuyers, Lenders, and Realtors.

National MI’s upcoming March 2025 webinar sessions include Mastering LinkedIn for Mortgage Professionals, Session 3 - Brynne Tillman, today at 3 pm ET. Turn Your Pitch into a Success Story - Dr. Bruce Lund, March 13th at 1 pm ET. The 2025 NextGen Homebuyer Report: Key Insights for Winning More Business, Kristin Messerli, March 20th at 1 pm ET.

Looking for more in-depth commentary on weekly mortgage news? Register here for Wednesday the 12ths 11AM PT "Mortgage Matters: The Weekly Roundup” presented by Lenders One!

Register for Logan Finance’s webinar, Wednesday, March 12, 11:00 – 11:45 PDT., Your Compass to Success: Getting to the Non-QM Product Source, Presented by Alex Chavarria, Client Relations AVP. Get the tricks & tips to experience the best that Logan Finance products can offer including customizable white-label marketing materials.

Virtual FHA webinar, March 12 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM, provides FHA quality assurance results for calendar year 2024. It will focus on top findings from loan-level underwriting and lender-level operational reviews. The webinar concludes with a live question and answer session.

Join Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae (the GSEs) for one of four joint webinars to help lenders prepare for the UAD 3.6 and Forms Redesign. These sessions are intended for lenders preparing for the UAD 3.6 and Forms Redesign but are open to other impacted parties (Appraisal Software Vendors, UCDP Direct Integrators, Appraisal Management Companies, etc.). Webinar date: Thursday, Mar. 13 – 3 p.m. ET. Registration is on a first come, first served basis. If a session is filled, a waitlist will be enabled and waitlisted registrants will be notified if a slot becomes available.

Thursday will be another episode of The Big Picture at 3PM ET. Rich Swerbinsky hosts a variety of guests. You can click here to register for Thursday’s 3 PM ET show with Nikki Bialka, National Community Lending Strategy Manager at Fifth Third Bank.

Friday the 14th join Kevin Peranio, Christy Soukhamneut, Courtney Thompson, and Brian Vieaux on the The Last Word! KP, Brian, Christy, and Courtney will discuss This week on The Last Word, our panelists share their insights and opinions on the latest trends in the housing market, including rising inventory, longer days on market, and increasing contract cancellations. They also explore the ongoing insurance crisis, focusing on rising premiums, policy cancellations, and the challenges posed by flood zone inaccuracies. (Learn more here.)

Technology and innovation in residential lending are the focus of Now Next Later next Monday at 1pm ET.

Capital markets: slow economy = low rates

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But is that what we want? Bond traders have been preparing for a potential downturn in the U.S. economy in light of recent chaotic tariff decisions, even as the Trump Administration seeks to deflect these concerns. When asked if he was expecting a recession, President Donald Trump replied that he "hates to predict things like that" and said "there is a period of transition because what we're doing is very big." Meanwhile, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has declared that "there's going to be no recession in America." He told NBC News Trump plans to grow the U.S. economy "in a way we've never grown before." If Trump's bringing growth to America, "I would never bet on recession, no chance," Lutnick and predicted that while some foreign-made products might be more expensive, American products will become cheaper.

But bond traders pay more attention to money and less to politicians. They are more pessimistic and are increasingly buying short-dated Treasuries, with the two-year yield (US2Y) declining sharply over the last two weeks. (The 2-year Treasury note is the most sensitive to interest rate outlooks.) This is despite inflation expectations remaining high due to tariffs and immigration policies, indicating that bond traders are focusing more on long-term growth concerns.

The Atlanta Fed's GDPNow model expects the economy to contract 2.4 percent in the first quarter largely to a huge trade deficit at the start of the year, which subtracted approximately 3.5% from GDP, as U.S. businesses ramped imports to front run Trump's tariffs.

“Rally, rally, the pitcher’s name is…Donald? I thought it was Sally. The bond market experienced a big rally yesterday after President Trump said during a weekend TV interview that the economy is going through a "period of transition" and would not rule out a potential recession. By the time the dust settled, it resulted in the lowest settlement for the 2-year yield since early October while the 10-year yield returned back below its 200-day moving average of 4.23 percent. Inflation concerns, rising volatility and recession worries are dominating headlines, meaning sentiment has gone from exuberance about growth to "absolute despair." On the bright side(?), traders expect the Federal Reserve will have to cut interest rates to boost activity.

As I mentioned yesterday, inflation data is set to take center stage this week, shaping economic sentiment and market expectations. After sharp increases in the previous month, both headline and core Consumer Price Index (CPI) readings are expected to show a more moderate pace of growth in February, keeping annual inflation largely unchanged. Meanwhile, Producer Price Index (PPI) figures are likely to remain elevated, reflecting the continued impact of tariffs and trade uncertainties, with producer prices rising faster than consumer prices for a second consecutive month. On the fiscal front, the federal government may report its first budget surplus of the current fiscal year (we love silver linings). Small business optimism is expected to show a slight decline. Inflation expectations, as measured by both the New York Fed’s consumer survey and the University of Michigan’s sentiment index, are anticipated to trend higher, alongside a weaker outlook for overall economic conditions in early March.

NFIB small business optimism for February led off today’s economic calendar. U.S. small-business confidence dropped for a third straight month in February, wiping away much of the gains notched in the aftermath of President Donald Trump's election victory in November due to mounting concerns over the administration's trade policy. The National Federation of Independent Business said on Tuesday its Small Business Optimism Index fell 2.1 points to 100.7 last month. Later today brings Redbook same store sales, JOLTS job openings, and Treasury activity that will be headlined by $58 billion 3-year notes and a buyback in 2- to 3-year coupons for up to $4 billion. We begin the day with Agency MBS prices roughly unchanged from Monday’s close, the 2-year yielding 3.90, and the 10-year yielding 4.22 after closing yesterday at 4.21 percent.

A man was admiring a shiny American car on a Moscow street when another man approached and also admired it.

The first man said: “What a beautiful Russian car. What magnificent, magnificent work we do here.”

The second man called him a fool. “Don’t you know that that is an American car, not a Russian car?”

The first man replied: “Yes. I know it’s an American car. But I don’t know you.”

Visit www.robchrisman.com for more information on our industry partners, access archived commentaries, or to subscribe to the Daily Mortgage News and Commentary. If you’re interested, visit my periodic blog at the STRATMOR Group web site. This month’s piece is titled, “Natural Disasters and Economic Resilience.” The Commentary’s podcast is live and at any place you obtain your podcasts (like Apple or Spotify).

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(Market data provided in partnership with MBS Live. For free job postings and to view candidate resumes visit LenderNews. This newsletter is for sophisticated mortgage professionals only. There are no paid endorsements by me. For up-to-date mortgage news visit Mortgage News Daily. For archived commentaries, or to subscribe, go to www.robchrisman.com. Copyright 2025 Chrisman LLC. All rights reserved. Occasional 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.)