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Welcome to Thought Leadership, your resource for insights and expertise in the mortgage industry. Explore articles, analyses, and interviews covering the latest trends, regulatory updates, and market dynamics. Whether you're a lender, broker, investor, or industry professional, Chrisman Commentary's Thought Leadership aims to provide the knowledge needed to navigate the evolving mortgage landscape.
An Open Letter to CFPB Leadership
Dear Messrs. McKernan, Vought, Calabria, Musk, et. al., I am the author of a cynical, snarky and heavily footnoted free mortgage industry...
Brian S. Levy
15 hours ago11 min read
Your Home’s Value Could Fall 15-20% - Here’s What’s Coming
If you're a homeowner, life is good right now. You’re sitting on a low-rate mortgage, building equity, and watching home values climb....
Rich Swerbinsky
1 day ago2 min read
Reshaping Home Finance: The Future of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and U.S. Mortgage Policy
The vast majority of residential mortgages in the United States are originated, underwritten, funded, and ultimately sold in accordance...
Rob Chrisman
1 day ago4 min read
The Futility of Rate Predictions: Why Forecasting Interest Movements is a Gamble
The interest rate markets have a way of humbling almost all the ‘experts’ and the very first thing you learn in Secondary Marketing is...
James Hedvall
4 days ago2 min read
The Evolving Role of Appraisal Management Companies in the Mortgage Industry
In recent years, appraisal management companies (AMCs) have played an increasingly vital role in the mortgage industry, addressing...
Sam Grashoff
4 days ago3 min read
Mortgage Lending’s Power Shift: Why Banks Are Poised to Take Back Business
Over the past 15 years, the mortgage lending landscape has completely flipped. In 2010, depository institutions originated 81% of all...
Rich Swerbinsky
6 days ago2 min read
Four Ways to Optimize the Underwriting Process
In today's evolving financial landscape, the current approach to underwriting is falling short and fails to accommodate the profiles of...
Chrissy Brown
Mar 143 min read
How Technology Transformed Secondary Marketing – And What We Shouldn’t Forget
In today’s mortgage industry, technology drives efficiency, speed, and accuracy like never before. But while we celebrate the...
James Hedvall
Mar 102 min read
Prepayment Speeds Hit Seasonal Lows, but March Could Bring a Rebound
Prepayment speeds, aka how quickly borrowers pay off their loans ahead of schedule (whether through refinancing or selling their homes),...
Robbie Chrisman
Mar 72 min read
Automation vs. Situational Awareness
I had my first misfire with Waymo this past weekend. For those who don’t know, Waymo is a fully autonomous ride-hailing service operating...
Marcus Lam
Mar 73 min read
Chainsawing the CFPB
Last May, on the heels of the CFPB’s appropriation case being upheld by the Supreme Court,[1] I agreed with the Mortgage Banking...
Brian S. Levy
Mar 39 min read
Figure and Sixth Street Unveil New Guarantor Vehicle to Strengthen HELOC Market
Yesterday, Figure announced the formation of a new guarantor vehicle in partnership with major asset manager Sixth Street, marking a...
Michael Tannenbaum
Feb 282 min read
The Shrinking Bureaucracy and Constitutional Challenges in Modern Governance
The growth of the federal government and its increasing centralization under the executive branch raise fundamental questions about the...
Robbie Chrisman
Feb 283 min read
The Trump Administration’s Regulatory Overhaul: The Impact on CFPB, FHA, and the Housing Industry
The Trump administration has taken an aggressive approach to downsizing government operations, leading to significant disruptions across...
Rob Chrisman
Feb 283 min read
Why Lenders Should Know the Differences Between Fiscal and Monetary Policy
Fiscal and monetary policies are two key levers that governments and central banks use to manage economic stability, yet they operate in...
Robbie Chrisman
Feb 202 min read
January Prepayment Speeds Decline as Mortgage Rates Remain Elevated
The January prepayment speed report, based on February 2025 data, revealed a notable 14 percent decline in aggregate Fannie Mae 30-year...
Robbie Chrisman
Feb 122 min read
Move Fast and Break Things
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg popularized the ‘tech bro-ish’ saying, “ Move fast and break things ”, but it has clearly been adopted by Elon...
Brian S. Levy
Feb 109 min read
CFPB Bold Predictions 2025
The CFPB is on pause. Will the Bureau ever return? If not, what will be the ramifications for the industry? I gaze into my crystal ball...
Rich Swerbinsky
Feb 102 min read
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