#mortgage-industry

#mortgage-industry

"Definitely within the last year, we've all from a marketing perspective have had to look at things a little bit differently and focus on being the best answer and not just the loudest bidder," said Sarah DeCiantis, chief marketing officer at United Wholesale Mortgage. "It's challenging all of us to think about things a little bit differently and from more of a consumer-first, consumer-why or consumer-intent perspective, than just focusing on the paid side of things."

Five years later, that decline has reached a clear low point. Only 20 percent of Millennials and Gen Z say they trust mortgage professionals to help them make informed decisions. The knowledge gap remains significant, but in an age when information is everywhere, knowledge is no longer the only barrier. The deeper challenge is a lack of trust, and trust cannot be automated or outsourced. It has to be built in community.

Most respondents expect business to grow next year, with 84.5% forecasting increased activity. Brokers cited stronger referral networks (38.5%), expanded non-QM offerings (30.4%) and improvements in the borrower experience (11.7%) as the primary drivers of growth. Brokers said the biggest challenges in 2025 were external. About 67.8% pointed to broader economic and market conditions, while 43.5% cited rate volatility. Client acquisition challenges were noted by 31.4% of respondents. Internal or operational issues, such as tools or regulatory changes, were cited far less frequently.

Mortgage industry trade groups lauded the order. CHLA commends the Trump Administration for yesterday's Executive Order that will help maximize the full capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI), said Scott Olson, executive director for the Community Home Lenders of America (CHLA). Individual Mortgage Banks are already gaining efficiencies through the use of AI and avoiding a patchwork of 50 different state laws is crucial to those efforts.

The 2026 housing market will be defined by interest rate scenarios and AI advancements according to Joseph Panebianco. AI Summary One key theme among top mortgage players is how they use data to drive their success and guide their decisions. AnnieMac Home Mortgage CEO Joseph Panebianco will pull back the curtain and discuss his approach during his session at the Housing Economic Summit in Dallas on Feb. 10. In this Q&A, Panebianco shares his take on leveraging data, the 2026 housing market and more.

Assumable mortgages which allow qualified buyers to take over a seller's existing loan terms, including its balance and interest rate have drawn cautious optimism from industry participants.

Nathan Ballentine Nathan brings a wealth of experience and a passion for excellence that will undoubtedly drive our regional growth and success, said Andy Pettola, an executive vice president and East retail sales leader. His leadership skills, combined with his deep understanding of the mortgage industry, make him the perfect fit to lead our team to new heights. Ballentine began his career as a loan originator before moving into leadership roles at Wachovia/Wells Fargo and Movement Mortgage.

Numan said he's pleased with the decision, noting that the noncompete provisions in this case are not fair to the loan officers, because at the end of the day, they're just trying to make a living for themselves and their families. They should be allowed to make a living and not be handcuffed just because Rocket doesn't want someone to be a broker, Numan said in an interview. There's no confidential information being used or taken, nor any past client information, in this case.

Lombardo aims to scale Motto's and wemlo's growth, focusing on innovative strategies for Motto Mortgage brokerage owners and loan originators to strengthen offices and build market share.

Yu emphasized the importance of creating a clean file as early as possible in the mortgage process to alleviate last-minute issues for processors and underwriters.

Pennymac plans to use proceeds from its offering to repay borrowings under secured MSR facilities and other secured indebtedness. The offering is contingent upon market conditions.

LoanDepot announced the return of Hsieh as CEO, stressing a focus on profitability, market share recovery, and adoption of artificial intelligence.

Sources indicate that an executive search firm is currently undertaking the process of finding a permanent CEO to replace Isaacs. The Go spokesperson stated they don't comment on personnel matters but reaffirmed commitment to borrower service and strategic goals.

The FHFA's decision to accept VantageScore 4.0 for mortgages corrects the legacy of inefficiency and waste that outdated credit scoring models have perpetuated, said Tony Hutchinson.

Recruiting is about building the right team. Our goal was to create a cost-effective platform for real producing managers who want to grow their footprint.

The series, which expands upon Logan's preexisting non-QM offerings, involves seven specialized Non-QM mortgage solutions designed to help brokers and correspondents serve borrowers who fall outside conventional lending guidelines.

Hutchinson expressed the motivation behind his shift: "For me, this move is about growth both personally and professionally. AnnieMac offers the scale, agility, and culture that align with where I believe the industry is headed."

Guild's customer-for-life strategy emphasizes retaining the retail LO as the primary contact for borrowers throughout the entire relationship—from origination to loan servicing.

Legal/Regulatory/Compliance defects surged to become the leading defect category in the fourth quarter. This increase is particularly concerning given the category's history of volatility.

It is bittersweet to fulfill the plan we always shared to grow EPM together, but they say a legacy only ends when we stop talking about those who have passed.

Chimera's acquisition of HomeXpress aims to enhance cross-selling potential and solidify a foothold in loan acquisition and securitization.

H.R. 2808 aims to ban the use of trigger leads, impacting credit reporting agencies that profit from selling leads after credit pulls.

The velocity and complexity of mortgage transactions create significant challenges in tracking discrepancies, leading to large cash flow variances that hinder effective oversight.

The Q4 2024 critical defect rate dropped 23.2% to 1.16%, signaling significant improvement in mortgage underwriting trends despite increases in legal/regulatory/compliance defects.