The great thing about inflation is if you spend the same on groceries, the bags are lighter and easier to carry home. Restaurants and food companies react to higher prices either by reducing their portion sizes or passing the cost on to the consumer. In real estate, does the modern definition of an “affordable” house mean 350 square feet for $130,000? Lennar thinks so. Owning a home has long been considered the quintessential American dream, but even with 84 percent of Americans saying they’d like to own a home one day, 51 percent who don’t own today worry they’ll never get there. 94 percent of consumers say owning a home is part of the American dream, but 49 percent say they can’t afford a down payment and 40 percent say home prices are too high in their area. Student loan debt weighs heaviest on millennials, with 19 percent citing it as a roadblock to homeownership. (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s is sponsored by Black Knight. Black Knight is an award-winning software, data and analytics company that drives innovation in the mortgage and real-estate industries, and the capital and secondary markets. Listen to an interview with Black Knight’s Andy Walden and John Holbrook on the tappable equity market.)

Lender and Broker Software and Services

Get a discount on sponsoring THE event at ICE Experience 2024! Lender Toolkit’s Supercar Experience last year was fantastic and promises to be just as great in 2024! It will be held right before the opening of the ICE show next March. Lender Toolkit is offering early bird pricing on sponsorships, but only until September 29. As a sponsor at the March 18, 2024, event, you'll be at the center of the most talked-about event of the conference. Just check out these photos from the 2023 Supercar Experience to see how much fun was had! Take advantage of the low rates now! For more info, contact Lender Toolkit or simply download the sponsorship form to apply. And Lender Toolkit and Lodestar are hosting the ultimate MBA Annual kick-off event in Philly. The Independence Block party, complete with ping pong, food, and drinks, takes place from 7:30-9:30 pm on Oct. 15. RSVP here.

“Unlock Success with BlackWolf Advisory Group! Our expert team offers a comprehensive range of services in the mortgage servicing space designed to guide you towards excellence. From regulatory and operational consulting that turns challenges into triumphs, to technological solutions that unlock your organizational potential, we're here every step of the way. With a proven track record of success and a client-centered approach, we're dedicated to understanding your unique needs and tailoring solutions that fit. Our industry experts have 20+ years of experience working for some of the largest servicing companies and government institutions. Our technology partners have an established reputation for success in the financial space, with the ability to develop additional tools and take your servicing operations to the next level. Please contact us today or call 904-207-8331. See more information here.”

“Tickets to the Big Game aren’t available until September 7, but ad sales are already well underway, with many big brands having already secured their $7 million game-day advertising slot. While 2023 has been a lender’s thunder dome, the good news is that you don’t have to shell out millions to compete for borrowers’ attention. Surefire℠, Black Knight’s CRM and Mortgage Marketing Engine, comes packed with everything you need to keep pace with the billboard guys, from prebuilt marketing automation blueprints to award-winning multi-media content to dozens of native technology integrations. Download our free eBook for proven mortgage marketing game plans that won’t break the bank.”

Receiving your Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, or Ginnie Mae approval not only adds value to the net worth of mortgage lenders, but several other doors also become open with these approvals. In this latest whitepaper, Getting Started with Agency Approvals, Jennifer R. Whip, CMB®, Michael Drayne, and MCT offer important tips on how to obtain these approvals. Topics featured in this whitepaper include why originators should seek approval, key components for agency approval, and common challenges and solutions in the approval process. Download the whitepaper today to learn more about getting started with agency approvals.

We’re over halfway done with 2023. For anyone who knows how to stay afloat in the mortgage space, that means keeping yourself abreast of what happened and what trends to expect. In the latest episode of Expert Insights, Joe Welu, CEO of Total Expert, sits down with the founder and CEO of the Basis Point, Julian Hebron, to give us a closer look at the mortgage space in mid-2023. Is the worst over despite the recent challenges and rising interest rates? Will we see a potential improvement in the next 6-12 months? Julian shares his data-driven insights, helping you navigate across issues in the lending and mortgage market­–from lender profitability to affordability challenges for homebuyers. Keep your eyes open to the market realities and the constantly changing landscape of the space. Listen now so you can take on hurdles and opportunities to drive success.

NEW: Maxwell’s Mini-Guide to Surviving Today's Big Housing Market Reset. Is your lending business prepared for a market reset? To thrive, lenders need a fresh game plan driven by home buyer trends, creative lead generation, and insightful data. Maxwell put this guide together to help you refresh your thinking for the market ahead. In it, you’ll find advice from mortgage experts including Maxwell Co-founder & CEO John Paasonen, Rob Chrisman himself, theLender EVP Chris Ledwidge, and more. Their advice will teach you ways to rebuild your pipeline, the borrower segments that are still rising in the housing market, and how to better leverage data to make confident business decisions. Lenders: The next five years likely won’t be anything like the last five. Now is the time to rethink your business. Click here to download your free copy of Maxwell’s Mini-Guide to Surviving Today's Big Housing Market Reset.

Correspondent and Broker Loan Products

The number of people who have been taking out home-equity lines of credit has been increasing. In fact, according to a recent survey performed by Mphasis Digital Risk, 40% of U.S. Millennial and Gen Z residents would opt for a HELOC over other borrowing options, including traditional bank loans, peer-to-peer loans, and credit cards. Whether your clients are looking for help with financial flexibility, debt consolidation, liquidity support, or home renovations, Symmetry Lending’s HELOCs can help. With our flexible options, industry-leading service, and competitive rates, our HELOC solutions can give your clients exactly what they want. At Symmetry, we serve Loan Officers with speed and always make sure to keep the process positive and simple. You’ve got enough on your plate; allow Symmetry to save the day and put our HELOC to work for you and your client. Call your Area Manager today or visit here to learn more.

Are you ready to help clients whose student loan repayments are set to resume? Rocket Pro TPO is preparing broker partners to be part of the solution with Rocket’s Student Loan Busters! From cash out options to home equity loans, clients can potentially reduce their monthly payments, streamline their number of separate payments, and take advantage of tax benefits. Are you offering the Fannie Mae Student Loan Refinance which features a waiver of the cash-out price adjustments? Talk to your Rocket Pro TPO Account Executive to learn more. You need the best affordable lending solutions to deliver options to more clients. ONE+ by Rocket Mortgage provides an incredible opportunity for Rocket Pro TPO partners. With this product, eligible clients provide 1 percent towards the down payment and the other 2 percent down payment requirement is covered. Plus, clients are not responsible for paying the mortgage insurance! And learn how you can use their 3-2-1 Temporary Buydown for additional payment relief. Interested in learning more about a Broker or Non-Delegated Correspondent partnership? Contact Rocket Pro TPO to learn more.

Training and Events Next Week

A good place to start is here, and click on “events.”

Tuesday the 5th is the next Mortgages with Millennials with Kristin Messerli and Robbie Chrisman, and sponsored by National MI. Tune in every Tuesday at 10AM PT to the weekly video show designed to empower mortgage professionals to tap into the millennial market. This show demystifies the psychology of first-time homebuyers and offers strategies to win more market share with a key segment of the market. Sign up for a weekly reminder with the link to join and a sneak peek into the next episode.

Join Plaza Home Mortgage® on Wednesday, September 6th at 11:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM ET for an insightful webinar where we will review Plaza’s Reverse Mortgage file flow process from loan scenario to funding. Plus, with our dedicated Reverse Mortgage Team guiding you through every step of this unique process, feel confident in setting the proper expectations for your senior clients to ensure a smooth closing. Don’t miss out on this important market segment.

Looking for more in-depth commentary on weekly mortgage news? Register here for "Mortgage Matters: The Weekly Roundup” presented by Lenders One. Every Wednesday at 2:00 PM EST/11:00 AM PT is a dive into a range of mortgage-related topics, including market trends, interest rate fluctuations, innovative mortgage products, and industry advancements. Robbie and Rob will bring a unique mix of age perspective, expertise, and charisma to the screen, ensuring that the information is not only educational but also entertaining.

Join Arch MI on Thursday, September 7th at 1PM ET for a featured webinar, Fundamentals of Employment Income, Understanding Documentation and Calculations. Presented by Stephanie M. Clark, AMP and Arch MI Senior National Trainer and Instructional Designer.

Please join MCT's Phil Rasori, Chris Anderson, and Justin Grant on September 7th at 11am PT for an important webinar on MCT Geocoding & Bid Tape Protection Initiatives. In 2018, MCT launched an initiative to replace property address and loan number in the loan trading process. Recent headlines show that data security is more important than ever, which makes now the right time to finish the job and continue to reduce collateral NPI exchanged in the secondary market. Register today for a discussion of NPI, implementation plans to reduce its unnecessary exposure, and a review of internal data security and business continuity practices.

Loan servicers are invited to attend a free webinar on the MERS® Annual Report and third-party review process next Thursday, September 7th, at 3pm ET. Hear from the experts at Falcon Capital Advisors, an experienced and trusted third-party review firm, about the Annual Report process and how your organization can ensure it remains compliant with MERS® System requirements. Click here to register.

The Mississippi Mortgage Bankers Association is holding its fall conference September 7-8 in Jackson. Our theme for this year is “Building a Strong MS” We are focusing on building relationships, strategies, and opportunities for the real estate housing industry in MS. Our fall conference is open to loan originators, realtors, and other industry affiliates. Realtors will receive Continuing ED (CE) credits for attending the Fall Conference. On Friday, September 8th - 10:05 am - 11:00 am, join William Kooper, VP of State Government Affairs and Industry Relations at the Mortgage Bankers Association, for MAA/Legislative update.

Friday the 8th is The Mortgage Collaborative’s Rundown covering current events in the mortgage market for 30-45 minutes starting at noon PT in “The Rundown”.

The NAMB National Conference is just around the corner, and you don’t want to miss the opportunity to join Plaza Home Mortgage® for a thought-provoking session on Reverse Mortgages’ on Saturday, September 9th - 4:00pm at Caesars Palace, Emperor's Ballroom 1. In this session, Mark Reeve, Plaza Home Mortgage® VP, Reverse Mortgage Division, will share why the aging Baby Boom generation, along with senior home equity – approaching close to 13 trillion dollars – is a market you cannot afford to ignore any longer. So, check out these highlights and learn who these borrowers are and how you can reach them.

Register for free with the code PLAZAFREE.

Capital Markets

We’ve now had three straight days of rallies in the bond markets (e.g., prices up, rates down). That’s happened about once in a blue moon as of late (the last time was in May), so good thing that we had a blue moon last night. Or “good” thing that yesterday we received some weaker-than-expected economic data in the form of the private sector adding 177k jobs in August versus 200k expectations, according to the ADP Employment Report. There was also the Dallas Fed Manufacturing Index falling to the lowest since May of 2020 and pending home sales falling in all four U.S. regions compared to one year ago. However, there were no significant changes to rate hike expectations with the implied likelihood of a November hike remaining just below the 50 percent mark.

Today brings the all-important Personal Consumption Expenditure report for July, which saw income and spending (+.2 percent & +.8 percent, respectively, both higher than expected) versus expectations of increases of 0.3 percent and 0.6 percent month-over-month, respectively. The Core PCE Price Index (+.2 for July, +3.3 percent for the year, no acceleration in inflation) versus expectations of it increasing 0.2 percent month-over-month and 4.2 percent year-over-year compared with 0.2 percent and 4.1 percent previously.

In employment news, we’ve also received job cuts from Challenger for August: U.S.-based employers announced 75,151 cuts in August, a 217% increase from the 23,697 cuts announced one month prior, 267 percent higher than the 20,485 cuts announced in the same month in 2022. Weekly jobless claims were 228k, down from 230k, 1.725 million continuing claims. Later this morning brings Chicago PMI for August, Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Markets Survey, and remarks from Atlanta Fed President Bostic and Boston Fed President Collins. We begin the day with Agency MBS prices are better by .125 and the 10-year yielding 4.09 after closing yesterday at 4.12 percent. The 2-year is at 4.86 after the slew of economic news.

Jobs and Transitions

Champions Funding is actively looking for experienced Account Executives in the Non-QM space due to increased loan production and expansions to its product suite. Offering a competitive ITIN solution for both consumers & investors, Champions is increasing opportunities for the American Dream with the upcoming roll-out of Foreign National for investors plus expanded guidelines to include 5-8 units. These programs plus competitive DSCR & No Ratio are meeting the increased need in the market for other Non-QM options while fueling the company's growth exponentially. CDFI improvements on all programs for eligible borrowers also differentiate the Champs from other Non-QM lenders. For immediate consideration, experienced Non-QM Account Executives are encouraged to reach out to Angela Castillo.

Directors Mortgage has hired one of the former NW Mortgage Group owners, Marty Quandt (NMLS-40554), as VP Builder Division to lead Director’s expanding builder division and help lead the company’s loan officer growth and development initiatives across the western United States. Marty, along with three other owners, started NW Mortgage Group in July 1995, just three years before Mark J. Hanna (NMLS-91462) founded Directors Mortgage in July 1998. And from there on, they watched each other’s companies succeed in the marketplace for many years until NW Mortgage Group sold to another company in 2014. “Marty’s years of expertise and leadership will bring a unique set of skills that our team members and clients will benefit from,” said Directors Mortgage CEO & Founder Mark J. Hanna. “To have such a long-standing professional in our industry join us is a testament to what we’ve built at Directors Mortgage.” (NMLS-3240. AZ Mortgage Banker License BK-0942517. Equal Housing Opportunity Lender.)

The Money Store welcomed John Palmiotto, a seasoned industry leader, to the company's C-suite as the Chief Production Officer.