In information security, we’ve long spoken about resilience. The goal has been to withstand an attack, recover quickly, and return to business as usual. But in today’s environment—where attackers adapt and evolve daily—resilience is no longer enough. We must go further. We must embrace antifragility. Nassim Nicholas Taleb coined the term “antifragile” in his book […]
As interest rates continue to ease and borrower confidence rebuilds, originators are operating in a market that demands both adaptability and creativity. To better understand how mortgage professionals are approaching today’s environment, I asked four experienced originators to share how they’re guiding clients, leveraging non-qualified mortgage (non-QM) solutions, and refining their playbooks to stay competitive.
The originator’s playbook: Competing and growing in a shifting market Read More »
For many borrowers, the appraisal is the most stressful step in a refinance: part mystery, part high-stakes hurdle. Will the home appraise high enough? Will it delay closing? What actually determines the final value? Lenders can help ease these concerns by adopting the right combination of technology, strategy, and partnerships to modernize the process. A
Making the 7-day refi reality: Modernizing mortgage appraisals Read More »
For the past decade, rate marketing has been the dominant gravitational force in mortgage acquisition. Whoever shouted the lowest 30-year fixed rate the loudest won the most attention. But attention has never been the same as intent, and intent has never been the same as a closed loan. What’s happening now is more fundamental than
Just in time for the holidays, Troy Palmquist looks at how this legacy manufacturer bounced back from a market downturn and how agents can, too A few weeks ago, on a podcast, I was asked which brands I admire most. Without hesitation, I said LEGO. The toy company has an incredible comeback story, from the
What real estate can learn from LEGO’s reinvention Read More »
There’s a narrative making the rounds in certain mortgage lending circles. Some are suggesting that with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau seemingly scaling back certain activities, compliance pressures may soon be easing. The current federal government shutdown seems to add credence to this story. Is it possible that after years of struggling through the downturn
A slowdown in compliance? Don’t believe it! Read More »
Mortgage refinance demand is 111% higher than last year, a surge fueled by declining mortgage rates and renewed interest from homeowners looking to improve their financial position. Refinancing can certainly be a smart move—a way to lower monthly payments, consolidate debt, or tap into home equity. But this sense of routine can mask the very
Title insurance vital to reduce risk on refinances Read More »
Every few years, someone in mortgage lending announces that we’re witnessing the dawn of the super-lender era. This time, they say, it’s different. The big players have the technology, the capital and the market conditions to finally achieve total vertical integration. Soon, we’ll all either work for a handful of massive institutions or find ourselves
The mega-lender myth: Why consolidation won’t deliver the holy grail Read More »
The idea of the 50-year mortgages flooded the news recently. It is the newest attempt by the Trump Administration to bring down housing costs, but I don’t think it was thought through entirely. On paper, it seems like a crazy but good idea. 50 years is a long time, but at least it would allow
50-year mortgage proposal could reshape U.S. housing costs Read More »
A 2021 NPR podcast segment painted a picture of the American Dream turned Nightmare: a Louisiana family faced the loss of their five-generation-home that had been owned by the family’s great, great, great grandfather, Jacob Loud, who was formerly enslaved. That segment from four years ago is still relevant today. And the Loud family’s story
A rising threat to homeownership: How heirs’ property undermines affordable housing Read More »