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ESSA Bank & Trust will pay over $3 million to resolve redlining allegations, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday evening.

The Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania-based bank, from 2017 to 2021, did not sufficiently serve the credit needs of majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in and around Philadelphia by “failing to provide mortgage lending services” and “discouraging such borrowers,” the DOJ alleges. The city has a history of redlining practices that goes back to the 20th century.

Per a consent order, which is subject to court approval, ESSA will invest $2.92 million in a loan subsidy fund to increase access in minority neighborhoods, $125,000 on community partnerships and $250,000 on outreach and consumer financial education efforts. 

At least 50% of the subsidy fund must be used for consumers applying for loans in majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts within a five mile radius of the bank’s Upper Darby and Lansdowne branches, the court order said.

Additional stipulations of the order require the bank to hire two new mortgage loan officers to serve its existing branches in West Philadelphia, and for ESSA to conduct a research-based market study to identify the needs for financial services in communities of color. These requirements will stay in effect for five years. 

ESSA’s President Gary Olson said he “vehemently [denies] the government’s allegations of redlining” but added that the company “cooperated expeditiously and fully with the investigation into this matter.” 

Olson called the settlement a “constructive resolution to a dispute that has lasted several years.”

“We plan on using these loan subsidy funds to expand opportunities for qualified borrowers who can benefit from this assistance,” he added.

The now-settled allegations were brought to the attention of the DOJ by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. in June 2022, prompting the department to open an investigation on Aug. 15, 2022. 

“Redlining in Philadelphia has deep roots, which has led decades of disinvestment in communities of color,” said Jacqueline C. Romero, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, in a written statement. 

“Accessing the American dream of owning your own home is possible only when there is equality for all in their opportunities to access lending in the residential mortgage markets,” she said. “We appreciate ESSA’s prompt cooperation with the department’s investigation.”

The settlement with ESSA is part of an interagency initiative involving the DOJ, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which was launched in October 2021 by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland to combat redlining.  

Since then, the DOJ has announced seven redlining cases and settlements totaling over $87 million in relief for communities of color, the department said. This includes a $9 million settlement with Park National Bank in March and a $31 million settlement with City National Bank in January, the largest in the department’s history.

Source: nationalmortgagenews.com

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If you’re looking for personalized service, instead of a call-center home loan, you might want to check out Summit Mortgage.

The privately-owned direct lender was started by husband and wife loan originators Diana and Robert Carter way back in 1992.

The goal was to create a business from an originator’s point-of-view, focused on providing an “unparalleled homebuying experience.”

That meant identifying the traditional pain points of getting a home loan and taking steps to avoid them.

After all, buying a home is supposed to be an exciting moment, one they believe shouldn’t be overshadowed by a miserable mortgage experience.

Summit Mortgage Fast Facts

  • Direct-to-consumer mortgage lender
  • Offers home purchase loans and mortgage refinancing
  • Founded in 1992, headquartered in Plymouth, MN
  • Licensed to do business in 17 states
  • Funded more than $6 billion in home loans last year
  • About two-thirds of last year’s volume was home

Summit Mortgage Corp. is a direct-to-consumer mortgage lender that offers home purchase financing and mortgage refinances.

The Plymouth, Minnesota-based company got its start way back in 1992, making them one of the older lenders in existence.

Last year, they produced more than $6 billion in home loans, with a 67% home purchase share and 33% refinance share.

This tells me they have strong relationships with local real estate agents, and the ability to close loans on time.

Summit Mortgage is a big-time mortgage lender in their home state of Minnesota, which accounts for about 40% of total production.

In fact, they ranked 6th there in 2021 behind only the big players such as Rocket Mortgage, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo.

They are also very active in the states of Florida, Pennsylvania, and Colorado.

At the moment, the company is licensed in 17 states nationwide, including California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

For the record, they are known as “Summit Home Mortgage” in the states of Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

How to Apply with Summit Mortgage

To begin, you can visit their website to find a loan officer near you. Their online directory allows you to search by property location or loan officer name (if you’ve been referred).

You can review profiles online and obtain licensing and contact information. Once you find the individual you want to work with, you can apply for a home loan directly from their personal webpage.

When you’re ready to move forward, you’ll be prompted to create an “Ascent App” account, which will also give you the option to download a free smartphone app.

Whether you apply on a computer or smartphone, there is an easy to follow step-by-step application process.

Benefits of using the app include a document scanner to upload required paperwork, along with a built-in auto-save feature.

The Ascent App will automatically save all data entered so you won’t need to re-enter fields that have already been completed.

And you can even take a break and return to the loan application from a different device, which allows you to work at your own pace.

It’s all powered by SimpleNexus, a leader in the digital mortgage space.

Aside from a digital application, you should be able to eSign disclosures and closing documents, message your loan officer, and track loan status from start to finish.

Your Summit Mortgage loan officer can also get you a pre-approval letter if you’re currently shopping for a home.

To that end, Summit Mortgage also offers a $10,000 underwriting guarantee in which they’ll pay the seller $10k if your loan doesn’t close.

This can help your offer stand out in a competitive housing market or even compete with all-cash buyers.

Summit Mortgage Rates

But before you begin the application process, it might be wise to get a mortgage rate quote.

There is a rate quote request form on the Summit Mortgage website, but it’s probably quicker just to call a loan officer directly.

Once you give them the details of your loan scenario, they’ll be able to provide a real-time mortgage rate quote.

Be sure to take note of any lender fees associated with your rate, such as an application fee or loan origination fee.

Also pay attention to any discount points required for the quoted rate, as they will increase your closing costs.

Unfortunately, Summit Mortgage doesn’t list daily sample mortgage rates on their website, nor do they list their lender fees.

So you’ll need to get all these details from a loan officer before you proceed.

Take the time to shop around and gather quotes from other banks, lenders, and mortgage brokers to ensure they are competitively priced.

Loan Programs Offered by Summit Mortgage

  • Home purchase loans
  • Refinance loans: rate and term, cash out, streamline
  • Home renovation loans: FHA 203k and Fannie Mae HomeStyle
  • Conforming loans
  • Jumbo loans
  • FHA loans
  • USDA loans
  • VA loans
  • Down payment assistance: State grants and tax credits
  • Fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages in various loan terms

Summit Mortgage Corp. offers a wide range of loan programs to suit aspiring home buyers and existing homeowners.

If you’re short on funds, they can tap into a variety of down payment assistance programs to help you across the finish line.

Those who are purchasing a fixer-upper can take advantage of programs like Fannie Mae’s HomeStyle Renovation or the FHA 203k loan program.

They got the full suite of government-backed home loans available, including FHA, VA and USDA.

And jumbo loans are a possibility if you’re purchasing an expensive home.

All major property types are acceptable, including single-family homes, condos/townhomes, vacation homes, and investment properties.

Both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages are available in various loan terms, such as 15-year mortgages and 5/1 ARMs.

In short, you should have plenty of options to choose from no matter your personal situation or preference.

Summit Mortgage Reviews

On Experience.com, Summit Mortgage has a solid 4.94-star rating out of 5 from roughly 15,000 customer reviews.

You can fine-tune those reviews by individual if you want to narrow down your list of loan officers.

They have an even better 4.98-star rating on Zillow from over 1,500 reviews, which is pretty much flawless.

But wait, there’s more! A perfect 5.0-rating from over 250 Google reviews, along with a 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot from about 500 reviews.

Additionally, they are an accredited company with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and currently hold an ‘A+’ rating based on customer complaint history.

In closing, Summit Mortgage appears to be a good candidate for home buyers thanks to their personalized service, $10,000 underwriting guarantee, wide range of loan programs, and many 5-star reviews.

If their pricing is also on point, they could be an excellent choice for an existing homeowner in need of a refinance as well.

Summit Mortgage Pros and Cons

The Good

  • Can apply for a home loan online or via smartphone
  • Offer a digital mortgage application process
  • $10,000 underwriting guarantee
  • Good selection of loan types to choose from
  • Thousands of excellent customer reviews
  • A+ BBB rating, accredited business
  • Free smartphone app
  • Free mortgage calculator and home loan guides

The Maybe Not

  • Only licensed in 17 states currently
  • Do not publicize mortgage rates or lender fees

(photo: Andy Harbach)

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) this week announced that it had secured a settlement of more than $3 million from Philadelphia, Penn.-based ESSA Bank & Trust over allegations that the company engaged in redlining majority Black and Hispanic communities from access to credit services around the Philadelphia area.

According to a complaint filed by DOJ in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, ESSA “failed to provide mortgage lending services and did not serve the credit needs of majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in the Philadelphia metropolitan area” from 2017 to 2021.

“For too long, residents of communities of color have been unlawfully denied equal access to credit and shut out of economic opportunities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ Civil Rights Division in the DOJ announcement. “When banks engage in redlining, they perpetuate existing patterns of segregation and widen the racial wealth gap in our country. This resolution makes clear our commitment to holding banks and financial institutions accountable for modern-day redlining while ensuring access to fair lending in communities of color.”

Under a consent order still subject to court approval, ESSA has agreed to invest $2.92 million in a designated loan subsidy fund designed to increase access to credit for home mortgage, improvement and refinance loans, as well as home equity loans and lines of credit, in majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods within the bank’s lending area.

ESSA has also agreed to spend $125,000 on community partnerships and $250,000 on advertising, outreach, consumer financial education and credit counseling to the impacted communities specified in the complaint and consent order.

“The consent order also requires the bank to hire two new mortgage loan officers to serve its existing branches in West Philadelphia and conduct a research-based market study to help identify the needs for financial services in communities of color,” the DOJ added.

In a statement announcing the settlement, ESSA “categorically denies violating any fair lending laws or engaging in ‘redlining,’” according to a press release.

“ESSA and its Board of Directors believe this is a constructive resolution to a dispute that has lasted several years,” said Gary Olsen, ESSA’s president and CEO. “It is consistent with our guiding principles and longstanding commitment to provide equal lending opportunities to all of the communities we are privileged to serve. We plan on using these loan subsidy funds to expand opportunities for qualified borrowers who can benefit from this assistance. We’re happy and pleased to help families purchase homes. It is simply the right thing to do.”

Olsen added that during the the time period covered by the government’s complaint, “ESSA did not receive a single fair lending complaint from any customer or potential customer.” He also said that the company opened a branch and business center in downtown Allentown, “in a majority minority census tract.”

DOJ opened the investigation into ESSA after being referred by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

“ESSA fully cooperated with the department’s investigation and worked expeditiously to resolve these allegations,” DOJ said.

ESSA’s redlining settlement agreement is the latest in a series of cases brought by the DOJ. In January, Los Angeles-headquartered City National Bank agreed to pay $31 million to settle a case that alleged it avoided providing mortgage services to majority Black and Hispanic neighborhoods between 2017 and 2020.

In July, the DOJ and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced a $24.4 million consent order with Trident Mortgage Co., a subsidiary of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway.

In September, the DOJ also reached a $12 million-plus settlement with Lakeland Bank over claims the lender engaged in redlining in the Newark, New Jersey metropolitan area.

Source: housingwire.com

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Reverse Point-of-Sale, Marketing and PR, TPO Products; Random TPO News; Ugly Insurance and Water News

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By:
Rob Chrisman

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While lenders are grappling with steadily increasing Agency repurchase requests, it’s National Donut Day! Someone had better offer those folks at State Farm Insurance a donut… maybe they’ll change their mind about cutting off insuring properties in California. Three thousand miles away, I wonder if Florida home owners should be happy of even having insurance despite it being four times cost of the national average. And good luck insuring anything built near the coast prior to 1992’s Hurricane Andrew. While we’re on the topic of Mother Nature and economics, it’s fine for the Biden Administration, or any politician, to call for more affordable housing, but what about where’s there’s no land or a community limiting development due to running out of water like in Phoenix!? (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s is sponsored by Lenders One, one of the largest mortgage co-ops in the country with a diverse mix of 250+ member companies and providers of an end-to-end solution independent mortgage professionals trust to drive profitability and growth. Listen to an interview with nCino’s Ali Maquet and Brett Dooies on why experience-driven automation should matter to financial institutions.)

Lender and Broker Products, Software, and Services

It’s time to schedule your firm’s 2023 MERS Annual Review and e-Annual Report with TENA! Every MERS member is required to complete a MERS Annual Review. If on March 31, 2023, your firm’s count of active MINs was 1,000 or more, then the 2023 MERS Annual Review for your firm must be completed by an independent third party, with the results submitted to MERS not later than December 31st. For significant savings, sign up early for a MERS Annual Review and provide TENA with all of the necessary documentation by August 31st. Avoid the last-minute rush! To ensure that your firm is in compliance, contact TENA today to initiate your firm’s 2023 MERS Annual Review. TENA also offers a full range of MERS reviews, including MERS Data Reconciliation and MERS Document Reviews. TENA Companies, Inc. has been the mortgage industry’s trusted source for Mortgage Quality Control Audit Services and Software since 1982.

“Experience for yourself what NexBank’s Wholesale, Non-Delegated Correspondent, and Delegated Correspondent clients have to say: ‘Everyone from AE to Underwriter and in between is amazing to work with all around.” and “I have been doing this a long time and have done a ton of loans and I finally feel like I found a team that cares about my clients as much as I do.’ NexBank’s goal is to make our TPO clients successful as we continue to roll out new, competitive products –> Announcing NEW pricing improvements on low loan balances to further promote affordable homeownership (< $275K) by introducing a Loan Balance Adjuster on Agency Conforming 30- & 25-year products, with certain restrictions. Plus, Escrow Holdbacks are now Eligible with Conforming Conventional, Mortgage Connect Full Doc and Non-QM, allowing our clients to close more loans in a timely manner. Contact us today. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, NMLS 672886.”

Looking for Marketing and PR Assistance? The Seroka team has you covered! Seroka Brand Development, the mortgage industry’s leading marketing and PR firm, is here to provide the extra resources you need. With over 30 years of industry experience and strong media relationships, Seroka offers a complete turnkey solution to support your marketing and PR efforts. Whether you need project work, a new campaign, or to outsource your whole marketing department, Seroka can help. Seroka’s specialties include content marketing, digital marketing, social media, strategic planning, public relations, and campaign measurement. Its goals are to optimize your marketing spending and drive the best ROI. Seroka excels in boosting SEO, improving engagement, and generating more leads from your target audiences. If you’re stretched thin and need to achieve more with fewer resources, let Seroka Brand Development assist. Contact Seroka today to schedule a call and explore how their team can help you!

“Lenderful Solutions is excited to announce our latest release, with the support of Joe Rinner at Watermark Capital Reverse, a POS Solution specifically to guide borrowers interested in a Reverse Mortgage. This solution gives convenience and control to borrowers interested. A borrower can learn about their options, shop displayed calculate benefits based on their situation, determine their preferred payment options, and apply for a reverse mortgage in minutes. Data is delivered to lenders reverse mortgage LOS systems. Lenderful Solutions adding to our ability to digitize the process, so Loan Officers can continue to humanize the experience. Use automation tools like AVM, VOE, VOA, VOI, and Credit Pull to offer borrowers insurance for Home or Auto… without ever leaving your website. Our strong lineup of solutions including Mortgage with PreQual Express, Home Equity/HELOC, HE Turbo, Construction, Commercial, Consumer and more… clicking here or contacting us at (313) 910-3070.”

Wholesale and TPO News

Sometimes news from third party investors falls into neat categories, like conventional conforming changes, or government (FHA &VA & USDA) updates. Sometimes the news doesn’t, so with that in mind, let’s see who is doing what regarding policy and procedure changes.

United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) announced PA+, a service that offers an additional level of loan processing support when needed. When an LO or processor orders PA+, they’ll get a dedicated UWM Loan Coordinator who will work with them and their borrower to help ease some of the most time-consuming parts of the loan process, from import to closing. UWM also announced UWM Portal, a bi-directional API that lets independent mortgage brokers who work with UWM seamlessly link their Loan Origination System (LOS) platform to UWM’s EASE system, further helping to streamline the entire loan process. This will allow brokers to sync their data to their LOS and eliminate the need to manually reconcile information during the loan.

On 5/25/2023, with Amendment No. 3 to DR-4699, FEMA granted individual assistance to Butte County impacted by California flooding.

After a thorough review of the most common reasons for the IRS rejection of the new Form 4506-C, AmeriHome provides some best practices and tips for successfully executing the new IRS Form 4506-C as another resource for its Sellers. See AmeriHome Product Announcement 20230503-CL for details.

Brokers, Kind Lending has extended CalHFA loan options to California homebuyers. Kind Lending offers CalHFA Conventional, Government and MyHome Assistance.

Rocket Pro TPO Partners have its new Home Equity Loan1 (HEL) product, helping clients achieve their financial goals. Clients can tap into their home equity without adjusting their first mortgage structure. Compare a Home Equity Loan to a cash-out refi with our HEL vs Cash-Out Calculators on PathfinderSM by Rocket.

Leverage another great tool from Rocket Pro TPO to win more business and potentially save clients thousands on their mortgage. Credit Upgrade, Rocket Pro’s free rapid rescore program, really works. In the first quarter of 2023, Credit Upgrade saved clients over $4 million on mortgage payments.

United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) announced the roll out of Six Fixed-Rate Jumbo Products. Brokers now have access to more competitive jumbo pricing, along with transparent investor guidelines and loan qualifications. Additionally, UWM expanded its Conventional 1 percent Down product to 80 percent AMI. UWM supports independent mortgage brokers with industry-leading training, technology, and service.

Pennymac Correspondent Group posted three new announcements: Announcement 23-37: Navigating Form 4506-C: Insights and Tips for Completing, and Announcement 23-38: Fannie Mae SEL 2023-02 Required Use of Condo Project Manager.

Citi Correspondent Lending implemented changes to the CRA Schedule, effective for Best Effort locks completed on/after Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Two changes are being made related to MSA 35004 – Nassau. Agency LMICT premium is increasing to 1.50 from 1.00. MSA 35004 is being added to the Non-Agency Best Efforts grid.

Capital Markets

We had a massive amount of data for markets to digest yesterday, which, along with news that the House and Senate passed the bill to raise the debt ceiling, pushed investor sentiment and ultimately price movement toward the third consecutive day of gains (rates down) in the bond markets. That comes as a welcomed relief considering that mortgage rates jumped again last week to hit new year-to-date highs, according to the latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey from Freddie Mac.

In terms of economic data, the May ISM Manufacturing Index fell further into contractionary territory, the seventh consecutive month of general contraction in manufacturing activity. The Production Index climbed back into expansionary territory, giving some hope for an improvement in the coming months. The ADP Employment Change Report for May showed an estimated 278k jobs were added to private-sector payrolls, well above 160k expectations on the heels of a downwardly revised 291k in April. Job growth is still strong, but pay growth is slowing. The weekly initial jobless and continuing claims report both corroborated the ongoing strength in the labor market as businesses overall remain reluctant to cut staff size in large numbers, leaving the level of initial jobless claims well below what is typically seen in a recession environment.

The Revised Q1 Productivity and Unit Labor Cost report showed productivity was weak in the first quarter (declining 2.1 percent, better than expected), and unit labor costs were up 4.2 percent versus the advance estimate of up 6.3 percent. Total construction spending increased 1.2 percent month-over-month in April, better than expected after increasing 0.3 percent in March. Continued weakness in new single-family construction was overshadowed by strength in private and public nonresidential spending. On a year-over-year basis, total construction spending was up 7.2 percent.

We are 50 percent through the Signature and Silicon Valley Bank portfolio liquidations, at least in specified pools, and according to BofA’s Bill Bekery, by nearly every metric these have been “a resounding success in terms of execution, clearing level, and both dealer and customer participation. Given the performance and execution of the last ‘reverse inquiry’ auction, we would expect that an announcement is imminent for round two of reverse inquiry, which will further bring us closer to the end date of this sell program. 20-year pools have stood out to us as a standout performer, with payups outperforming. There has been strong customer demand for pools such as 100 percent Florida, Texas, and low FICO pools.

However, many other specified sectors are trading less well: REIT demand generally has underwhelmed as of late, and $200-275k balance pools as well as FICO/LTV/investor have struggled to find footing in production coupons. Loan balance 6.5 percent pools remain somewhat of a no-mans-land sector. 70 percent of Agency MBS outstanding is held by the Fed and banks, both of which are net selling. That continues to be an area of concern for mortgages, as does impatience by monetary policymakers regarding the lagged effects of 500 basis points of rate hikes and/or a resumption of the banking crisis resulting in additional bank portfolio liquidations.”

Today brings the all-important May jobs report. Nonfarm Payrolls increased by 339k versus expectations of +230k, up from the prior month of +253k, while the unemployment rate jumped from 3.4 to 3.7 percent when it was seen ticking up to 3.5 percent. Hourly earnings were +.3 percent, as expected, year over year +4.3 percent. There are no other economic releases of note scheduled for today. Despite yesterday’s rally to open June, the 2-year U.S. Treasury yield increased by 33 basis points over the month of May and the 10-year yield increased by 19 basis points. After the solid employment data we begin the day with Agency MBS prices worse about .125, the 10-year yielding 3.64 after closing yesterday at 3.61 percent, and the 2-year up at 4.40.

Employment and Transitions

“Equity Resources is independent and family-owned mortgage banker that is very proudly celebrating our 30th anniversary this year! While many lenders are reducing staff and are uncertain about their future, we are creating opportunities for our award-winning loan officer team! We are actively seeking career-focused loan officers throughout our footprint states. Equity Resources is currently licensed in 19 states along the east coast and mid-west. We are an agency direct lender that offers an exceptional marketing platform for our loan officers, including a media and video production team. We offer a full suite of loan products and programs (including several specialty lending programs.) If you are frustrated with the direction of your mortgage banking career and not getting the support you deserve; or simply would like to have a conversation about “Why Equity Resources”, please contact Tom Piecenski, Executive Vice President of Sales and Development (614.327.5353).”

A Louisiana based full-service, independent mortgage banker averaging $1 billion in production annually is searching for a proven retail sales leader to run all business development initiatives. The Sales, Recruiting, and Marketing departments will report directly to this head of business development role, and the role will report directly to the CEO. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated track record of hiring and managing multiple production offices across several states. The IMB is well capitalized, has agency direct approvals, offers niche products, significant technology advancements and a world-class operations team with experienced, tenured sales and fulfillment employees. For confidential consideration, please email confidential resume to Chrisman LLC’s Anjelica Nixt.

The Loan Store, Inc. announced that Phil Shoemaker has assumed the role of chief executive officer. Shoemaker was named incoming CEO on April 7 when it was announced that The Loan Store had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire certain assets of Homepoint’s wholesale originations channel. Mark Lefanowicz, who has served as The Loan Store’s president and CEO since 2019, will continue as chairman of the board.

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Source: mortgagenewsdaily.com

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While the debate about cross-subsidization, the politicization of the agencies and whether we even need LLPAs rages on, we wanted to look at the practical implications of the FHFA courting borrowers at the bottom rungs of the pricing matrices and making it more expensive for other prospective borrowers. 

Are low-FICO, first-time homebuyers better off with a conventional mortgage and reduced LLPA fees, or an FHA loan with none at all? We spoke to multiple loan officers and Washington, D.C.-based think tank Urban Institute to hear their takes.

MIP cuts and LLPA cuts

Because an FHA loan requires lower minimum credit scores and a required down payment as little as 3.5%, they are especially popular with first-time homebuyers. While the FHA loan allows a borrower to put less money down and doesn’t come with LLPAs, that flexibility comes with a high upfront and annual costs in the form of mortgage insurance premiums (MIP). 

In March, FHA Commissioner Julia Gordon made it a little cheaper. She announced that the agency would be reducing annual mortgage insurance premiums by 30 basis points to 55 bps, reducing costs for already-stretched borrowers as home affordability hit an all-time low.

It’s not a huge cut, but it’s enough to tip the scales in favor of FHA loans for some borrowers even with the LLPA reductions on conventional loans, several LOs told HousingWire. Borrowers with low- and moderate incomes and lower FICO scores will still pay more for a conventional mortgage after factoring in PMI costs that are triggered for borrowers putting down less than 20%, the LOs said. 

“The real issue is that with these adjustments, these 660 FICO borrowers with 5% down, they’re going to end up going FHA because not only is their rate going to be higher on the conventional loan, their mortgage insurance costs are going to substantially higher than FHA,” a production manager in Northern California said. 

Of course, every borrower’s financial situation is a little different and the new LLPA changes will add borrowers for whom conventional lending is marginally more attractive than getting a FHA loan, said Janneke Ratcliffe, vice president of Housing Finance Policy Center at Urban Institute.

“That used to be [the case] for nobody with LTV above 95 based on our calculations, but now the people with the very highest credit scores will have a breakeven choice with FHA vs conventional GSE loans,” Ratcliffe said. 

For example, borrowers with credit scores of 760 and above and an LTV of over 95% will continue to be better off or basically breakeven between an FHA and GSE loan with a 35% private mortgage insurance (PMI), according to the Urban Institute’s analysis. 

“If you’re at 740 FICO and a 95% LTV, it’s a $5 difference,” Ratcliffe noted. 

The changes are marginal enough to be absorbed in a lender’s pricing strategy or other variables could make up for the difference, she explained. 

LLPAs are waived for Fannie Mae‘s HomeReady and Freddie Mac‘s HomePossible loan borrowers; and loans to first-time homebuyers with qualifying income that is or below 100% area median income (AMI) or 120% AMI in high-cost areas.

Excluding the first-time buyers who are waived from LLPA fees, no new groups of borrowers will get a clearly better execution with FHA after the changes.

Some will move to more of an “either way” place, so that lender decisions around pricing can more make the difference for these. “People should shop, right?” Ratcliffe added.

In 2022, only 7.6% of purchase loans that Fannie Mae closed were above 95% LTV, according to the Urban Institute. This category of borrowers has historically been the sweet spot for the FHA.

Brian Parkinson, loan originator at Alerus Mortgage pointed to the possibility of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac trying to bridge the gap between FHA mortgages serving minority clients and conventional loans for lower credit score borrowers.

“We also find that FHA mortgages serve minority clients in a higher percentage than conventional mortgages for lower credit scores. I don’t know if Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are trying to bridge that gap,” Parkinson said. 

There are various other reasons, besides pricing, why high LTV borrowers with high credit scores don’t take FHA loans, but many of them are better off after May 1, according to Ratcliffe.

“It’s all about (home) equity, that’s a big buzzword in Washington these days,” Bob Yopko, mortgage broker at First Equity Residential Mortgage, said.

But whether low credit score borrowers with a low down payment would be approved for a conventional loan by the GSEs is another question, Yopko noted. 

“They haven’t forgotten what they did in 2008, where basically, everybody could get a loan and they’re not doing that again. They’re trying to protect their portfolios and make good loans. At the same time, trying to be fair to first-time homebuyers. So it’s kind of a mixed message,” he explained. 

While FHA loans have favorable rates for borrowers, they are often shunned by listing agents in competitive markets — which in turn makes conventional loans more appealing to borrowers.

With the limited inventory, real estate agents are going to lean towards a $200,000 conventional loan rather than a $200,000 FHA loan “because of some of the ticky tacky things and FHA appraisers may call out,” Don Bleuenstein, president at Gem Home Loans, said.

With the changes hardly benefiting a new group of first-time borrowers, Parkinson noted this is when the loan officers’ skills and knowledge come in to figure out the best option for the borrower.

“All of this stuff has to be sifted through with the mortgage professional to figure out what’s the best program, and what program do we need to use to have a successful accepted purchase offer. That’s what gets tricky.” Parkinson said. 

Source: housingwire.com

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Webinars and Training, Construction Tracking, MERS Certification, 100% Financing, HELOC Products; Jumbo, DSCR Program News

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By:
Rob Chrisman

2 Hours, 59 Min ago

The United States has about 336 million people. Did you know that 1/3 of them live within a 500-mile radius of Nashville? This is a cool site for anyone putting together a sales presentation for a real estate agent or a borrower. Speaking of geography, Wyoming has 23 counties, not 58 as the Commentary mentioned yesterday, further proof that this is, and always will be, produced by human hands! (Thank you to everyone who corrected me on that.) While we’re on selling, from a sales perspective, some LOs advocate adding value by subtracting complexity for clients. They are asking themselves, “How do I add value? How am I any different?” They are looking at their sales pitch, comparing bringing up pain (minimizing pain through minimizing paperwork) versus bringing up pleasure (“You’ll save time by working with me.”) And most are doing what they say they’re going to do: If you tell a potential client you’re going to call in two days, call in two days. Simple. Now go get ‘em! (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s is sponsored by Lenders One, one of the largest mortgage co-ops in the country with a diverse mix of 250+ member companies and providers of an end-to-end solution independent mortgage professionals trust to drive profitability and growth. Listen to an interview with Lenders One’s Justin Demola on the member benefits of joining a national alliance of independent mortgage banks, banks, and credit unions.)

Lender and Broker Products, Software, and Services

Ever feel like you can’t keep up with the latest tech trends? Having trouble separating hype from reality? Black Knight’s Dana Federspiel, SVP of servicing technologies and product innovation, knows these struggles and is helping lenders, servicers and mortgage industry professionals navigate the future. Dana is participating in a panel discussion during the USFNdustry Forum in Charlotte, North Carolina on the emerging trends in technology to help make more sound business decisions to support your business. Special focus will be given to artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotic process automation and more. Panelists will also evaluate options within the cloud computing universe that are becoming increasingly prevalent and affordable. If you need help cutting through buzz words to identify what really matters so you can remain successful both today and in the future, contact Black Knight.

As lenders adapt to volatile mortgage rates, many are stopping to reconsider their servicing strategy. Do inconsistent mortgage origination volumes have you questioning what makes more sense: retaining servicing or selling servicing released? Seth Sprague, CMB, Richey May’s Director of Mortgage Banking Consulting Services (aka, resident servicing expert), outlines the 13 key trends and strategies in servicing including recommendations on how to make the right decisions for your business. Want more help defining the optimal strategy? You know where to find us.

Thinking about boosting volume with construction loans? Think outsourcing. Homebuilder confidence is slowly improving, with sales of newly built single-family homes rising 4.1 percent in April, according to the NAHB’s latest numbers. If that’s piquing your interest in launching a construction loan program or scaling your existing offerings, CFSI Loan Management can provide the foundation you need to excel. “We’ve seen it time and time again,” says CFSI CEO Brian Mingham. “Outsourcing the trickiest aspects of construction lending, like budgeting, inspections, funding draws and disbursements, can reduce costs and unleash new business opportunities.” Imagine having all the complexities seamlessly handled by a team of seasoned experts, so you close more deals. CFSI has helped hundreds of lenders do exactly that for the past 10 years. To find out how they can help you, contact Brian Mingham (855-344-3052).

We know the current market can be stressful. But fortunately, there’s a bright side: home equity. These products have been around for decades but in recent years have taken a back seat to cash-out refinances. Now this is changing as borrowers with historically low first mortgage rates and generationally high levels of tappable equity rediscover HELOCs and home equity loans. Leverage this historic opportunity with FirstClose Equity, the rapid end-to-end digital technology that processes HELOCs and home equity loans in days instead of weeks. FirstClose Equity is designed to enable lenders to dramatically elevate the experience they deliver to existing or potential customers while providing a streamlined workflow for processors. Learn more.

“Looking for 100 percent financing with competitive pricing? All roads lead to ESSEX CORRESPONDENT and our Down Payment Assistance (DPA) product. Become a fully delegated and underwrite/fund your own 100 percent LTV purchase product. FHA 1st 96.5 percent LTV with two 3.5 percent 2nd mortgage options; 0 percent Forgivable or a 10 year Fully Amortized. No DTI limit, AUS approval required. FICOS as low as 600. One set of guidelines is available in 47 states. No first-time home buyer requirement. No 3rd party underwrite allows you to close as quickly as your team can originate. Email Kim Schenck or contact your Account Executive today and get signed up!”

While the mortgage industry is flooded with rules, there is no rule prohibiting you from celebrating National Donut Day a day earlier! Plus, we Donut want you to miss an opportunity for a free Krispy Cream. Among other things we don’t want you to miss, MERS season is officially here, and early-bird pricing is available now! If your organization had more than 1,000 MINs [on the MERS® System] on March 31st, you must have the annual review completed by an “authorized MERS third-party reviewer. Donut fret, MQMR aced the MERS certification with flying colors! Donut miss this opportunity to save, pricing will increase through the end of the year. Donut wait until the last minute, as your annual audit report may be submitted anytime between now and December 31, 2023. Schedule a call to discuss your MERS Annual Audit requirement and lock-in the sweetest deal of the season!

Sponsored Webinars and Training

Join MCT today, June 1st at 10am PT, for its webinar discussing Strategies to Improve Profitability in the Current Market. In this webinar, MCT’s Phil Rasori and Paul Yarbrough will provide a current market overview and include actionable insights to improve profitability for lenders. Attendees will receive key hedging, trading, best execution, and MSR recommendations, as well as how to leverage technology to improve profitability and efficiency. MCT also recently released a new whitepaper on Mortgage Pipeline Hedging 101. The whitepaper reviews information on moving to mandatory, the strategy of hedging, the benefits of hedging, and how to determine if you are ready. Read the whitepaper to learn how you can use hedging as a tactic to mitigate risk and optimize profitability when selling mortgage loans.

Lenders that support down payment assistance (DPA) are in high demand as a multitude of market conditions put a strain on affordability. To help more lenders win business by supporting consumers with DPA, the Mortgage Bankers Association is hosting the webinar Profit & Succeed with DPA on June 8 at 2 pm EDT. Best practice approaches to DPA lending will be shared by panelists Mark Hasson of Lennar Mortgage, Kate McDougall of Lake Michigan Credit Union and Down Payment Resource’s Veronica Khandelwal and Sean Moss. Registration is FREE for MBA members! Register now to turn up the heat with DPA programs this summer

Investors and Lenders: Jumbo, Non-QM, and DSCR News

Newfi Wholesale’s newly expanded Non-QM product suite offers 90 percent LTV up to $1.5M, loan amounts up to $4M, 2-1 buydowns, DSCR (no minimum ratio) 1-8 units, and alt-doc solutions that make sense for your borrowers. (For more information contact SVP, Non-QM Development & Strategy Dan Bayer or 925-584-0579.)

Effective 5/15/2023, updates to Kind Lending’s Choice Jumbo Program are now live. See UW guide for full program requirements located in Kwikie. Additionally, based on FHFA’s announcement that it would rescind controversial loan-level pricing adjustments (LLPAs) for conventional borrowers with debt-to-income (DTI) levels at or above 40 percent, as of May 14th,

Kind Lending will no longer be charging for a DTI >=40 percent on any FNMA or FHLMC loans. If you have an affected loan that is in process now, Kind Lending will automatically remove this price adjustment and will send out a new lock confirmation.

United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) is rolling out a suite of six fixed-rate jumbo products. “Brokers now have access to more competitive jumbo pricing, along with transparent investor guidelines and loan qualifications, giving them a leg up on big banks and retail lenders. This will give loan officers the flexibility to tailor a fixed jumbo loan to each borrower’s situation, helping them get into their homes faster, cheaper, and easier.”

As a leader in Non-QM lending, Carrington Correspondent is working hard to deliver top-notch products to trusted partners. Nearly 2 dozen changes took effect on March 23, 2023, which hopefully will have a positive impact on your business and borrowers. Highlights include reduced FICO at which cash-out may be considered for reserves from 700 to 620 for all Non-QM loans. Investor Advantage (DSCR) changes include Resales within 6 months ok, Cash-out FICO requirement down from 640 to 620 and updated “1st-time investor” definition to no investment ownership within 36 months (was 12) – LTV benefit. Prime Advantage (FICO 660+) Now permits primary residences of 3-4 units (was 1-2).

Carrington Prime Advantage for borrowers who just miss qualifying for traditional or jumbo financing. Carrington Flexible Advantage Plus for borrowers who have recently re-established credit scores above 620. Carrington Flexible Advantage for borrowers with recent credit events and FICO down to 550. Carrington Investor Advantage for seasoned property investors with no income documentation.

Did you know there is no State Licensing Required in 20 States & DC? These states consider DSCR loans as commercial loans, so they are generally not subject to licensing requirements.

Carrington Mortgage Services Investor Advantage (DSCR) loan may be the answer for your borrowers.

Champions Funding recently announced an expanded business loan product to increase your offerings to real estate investors. Champs Accelerator Expanded (DSCR < .75) / No Ratio, part of its robust suite of DSCR loan options to fit your borrowers’ needs. Champs accepts transferred appraisals on DSCR and can get your loans closed quickly.

Looking for more options for your borrowers? American Heritage Lending offers CondoTels & Non-Warrantable Condos programs.

Angel Oak Mortgage Solution’s Investor Cash Flow mortgage (DSCR Loan) program now allows you to offer your clients financing for condotels. In addition to this new program enhancement, Angel Oak has implemented rate reductions across all loan programs. If you haven’t ran a loan scenario recently, today is the day to Get Started!

Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions shared great news regarding lending services, now offering its DSCR loans to non-permanent residents. Angel Oak believes in the importance of helping everyone achieve their dreams of homeownership, regardless of residency status. If you have clients who are non-permanent residents seeking financing options, Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions would be honored to assist.

Capital Markets

What will we talk about without the periodic debt ceiling negotiations to consume the press? There’s always the Fed. The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book for May described overall economic activity as little changed in April and early May with four Districts reporting small increases and two reporting slight-to-moderate declines. Consumer expenditures remained resilient while manufacturing activity was flat or up in most Districts. Residential real estate activity improved, and employment increased in most Districts, while prices rose at a slowing pace.

For LOs watching prequals stack up on desks across the country, we had a second consecutive bond price rally (rates down) yesterday due to both a sense that the House of Representatives would pass the debt limit bill and dovish Fed speak. Expectations for a June rate hike flipped from over 70 percent to below 30 percent after Fed Governor Jefferson said that a potential decision to hold the fed funds rate range steady at the June meeting should not be viewed as a signal that the hiking cycle is over. Philadelphia Fed President Harker said that he supports holding steady in June, but also acknowledged that more tightening could be done at subsequent meetings.

Today’s economic calendar includes a series of labor market indicators ahead of tomorrow’s payrolls report. First up were job cuts from Challenger, Gray & Christmas for May: U.S.-based employers announced 80,089 cuts in May, a 20 percent increase from the 66,995 cuts announced one month prior, 287 percent higher than the 20,712 cuts announced in the same month in 2022. Next was ADP employment for May (278k, a huge jump). Weekly jobless claims were 232k with the back month revised higher, while Q1 productivity and unit labor costs were -2.1 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively. Later today brings S&P Global manufacturing PMI and ISM manufacturing PMI for May, April construction spending, Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Markets Survey, and remarks from Philadelphia Fed President Harker. We begin the day with Agency MBS prices roughly unchanged from Wednesday’s close, the 10-year yielding 3.62 after closing yesterday at 3.64 percent, and the 2-year stubbornly high at 4.40 after the spate of jobs news.

Employment

“Button Finance, an industry-leading Home Equity mortgage lender, is seeking a dynamic and experienced Marketing Specialist to build out our correspondent lending program. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in creating innovative marketing strategies and a deep understanding of the mortgage industry. You’ll lead campaigns, drive customer acquisition, and enhance our brand visibility. Join a growing company that is constantly delivering top-quality customer service with HELOCs/HELOANs closing in under 12 days and 24-hour review times. Strong skills in digital marketing, data analysis, and exceptional communication are required. Join our team and contribute to shaping the future of mortgage lending. Please send resumes to Rose King.”

Hey, did you hear that Planet is acquiring right-sized, financially solid distributed retail companies to expand its geographic footprint? This month’s acquisition of Platinum Home Mortgage Corporation brought 20+ branches and 100+ Professionals to Planet. After three decades together, Platinum’s producers were confident in their choice to join Planet because of its financial stability, competitive pricing, and strong leadership. Planet has solidified its position as a leading mortgage industry player by gaining the #9 spot on Inside Mortgage Finance’s overall lender leaderboard and the #4 spot among government loan producers. With the additional volume from Platinum’s power players, Planet expects to continue gaining market share (especially for government, where it’s at 5.2 percent now). To find out how you can profit from working with people who think bigger, work smarter, and perform better, contact Planet’s VP, Talent Acquisition Peter Briggs (435-709-6278).

 Download our mobile app to get alerts for Rob Chrisman’s Commentary.

Source: mortgagenewsdaily.com

Apache is functioning normally

California-based lender loanDepot has promoted Alec Hanson, the company’s senior vice president of production for the West division, to the role of chief marketing officer. 

In this role, Hanson will lead a consolidated marketing team and oversee the development of the brand, digital marketing, and the organic and digital lead generation campaigns, the company said.

Hanson will also be responsible for the company’s originator-led field-level marketing capabilities.

“I’m thrilled to be able to bring my sales-centric mindset and background into this role to further transform our marketing ecosystem both digitally and locally in the communities we serve,” Hanson said in a statement. 

Hanson’s promotion comes at a time when the lender is focused on propelling forward its Vision 2025 strategic plan, which includes rightsizing its operations as the company is in the red.

The Vision 2025 plan, announced in July 2022, also includes components such as increasing focus on purchase transactions; rightsizing cost structure; and launching an all-digital home equity line of credit (HELOC), which the lender rolled out in Q4 2022.

The lender closed its wholesale channel in Q3 2022 after its origination volume plummeted in the face of increased broker competition. In its latest Q1 2023 earnings call, loanDepot posted a loss of $60.2 million in non-GAAP adjusted net income, an improvement in margins and revenue from the previous quarter.

The company expects higher production and a further reduction in controllable expenses that will help the lender narrow losses in Q2.

“With his social media savvy and industry expertise, Hanson understands the evolution of today’s homebuyers and is poised to disrupt the traditional mortgage marketing mindset as he works to further differentiate loanDepot in the minds of its many stakeholders,” the company said in a statement. 

Source: housingwire.com

Apache is functioning normally

Warehouse, Appraisal, Non-QM, RON Products; Reverse Mortgages: Catch the Wave; Mortgage Apps Continue Decline

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Warehouse, Appraisal, Non-QM, RON Products; Reverse Mortgages: Catch the Wave; Mortgage Apps Continue Decline

By:
Rob Chrisman

3 Hours, 24 Min ago

A biologist, a chemist, and a statistician are out hunting. The biologist shoots at a deer and misses five feet to the left. The chemist takes a shot and misses five feet to the right. The statistician yells, “We got ’em!” Are you selling your house? Me neither. Few people are: there are only about 564,000 active listings. That’s about 11,000 per state. In California, where there are 58 counties, that is an average of less than 200 per county. In Wyoming, the least populated state, there are 58 counties so that’s 190 listings per county. Of course, averages don’t apply like that, but it is important to keep things in perspective, and the overarching issue is a continued lack of supply and a strong demand impacting prices, affordability, and sales numbers. Can lighthouses help? Since 2000 about 150 lighthouses have been transferred to new owners, about 80 given away at no cost to agencies, nonprofits or educational organizations willing to maintain them, and about 70 auctioned off for a total $10 million so far. This year, six lighthouses are up for offer. (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s is sponsored by Lenders One, one of the largest mortgage co-ops in the country with a diverse mix of 250+ member companies and providers of an end-to-end solution independent mortgage professionals trust to drive profitability and growth. Listen to an interview with Verisk’s Kingsley Greenland on climate risk, stress testing, catastrophe modeling, and macroeconomic policy.)

Lender and Broker Products, Software, and Services

“Have you found yourself digging through loan files to find price concession records while an auditor awaits? Have you ever wondered if your margin is better or worse than your peers? Have you been looking for a way to track how competitive your pricing is, in real time? Optimal Blue, a division of Black Knight, offers data and analytics tools that provide this actionable business intelligence, and more! Our granular rate lock data provides key insights into your business, as well as benchmarking against 42% of all rate lock activity. Reach out to Optimal Blue now to learn how our data and analytics platform can help you develop smarter, more profitable pricing strategies!”

Beer – it’s not just for drinking anymore. In fact, beer is just one of many everyday items with multiple uses that would surprise you. Want another? Remote online notarization (RON) isn’t just for originations anymore. Recently, servicers have discovered the benefits of using RON for loan modifications, partial claims and even assumptions. On average, servicers reduced the average cycle time from 21 days down to 7 days. While we all know that time is money, the reduction in cycle time and carry costs resulted in a savings of about $500 per loan. In today’s environment where we all need to find savings to help improve our margins this is an easy way to get there. Email Suzanne Singer or stop by NotaryCam’s booth 22 at NS3 in St. Louis next week to learn more about the many uses of RON.

“No one does Non-QM like Newfi Wholesale! Our newly expanded Non-QM product suite offers 90% LTV up to $1.5M, loan amounts up to $4M, 2-1 buydowns, DSCR (no minimum ratio) 1-8 units, and alt-doc solutions that make sense for your borrowers. Most of all, we have a passion to close deals and about 1/3 of all of our funded Non-QM deals have common-sense exceptions! In the words of one of the brokers who work with us: “Looking for an amazing Non-QM lender? Newfi is your go-to lender.” We offer industry-leading Non-QM pricing, technology, and product innovation. For more information contact SVP, Non-QM Development & Strategy Dan Bayer or 925-584-0579.”

Tired of slow, low-quality appraisals? Try The Appraisal Marketplace. The Marketplace allows you to fulfill appraisal orders directly from your LOS, without relying on an AMC or managing a panel. Even better, by leveraging real-time appraiser performance data, its “Uber-style” algorithm matches every order with the appraiser that’s truly right for the job. This gives you the fastest turn times, lowest revision rates & lowest fee escalation rates in the industry. Seriously. Learn more.

“CWDL is committed to empowering our clients and friends with mortgage industry-specific education and insights, even when it’s outside of our core focus on audit, accounting, and tax. So, when our clients mentioned they’d like to better understand the perspectives of warehouse bankers and how they evaluate lenders, we organized a panel of industry veterans to share their insights. Join us for our webinar on June 15 to “Meet the Warehouse Bankers,” as we discuss such topics as when and how to best communicate with your warehouse partners; how warehouse banks evaluate counterparty risk in their clients; what lenders should consider or plan for regarding M&A, a winddown or facility consolidation; and much more. This webinar is free and open to all lenders who are looking for more insight into their warehouse relationships. To register, contact Kasey English.”

Agencies, Investors, Lenders, and Reverse Mortgage Biz

The last time I saw a stat, 10,000 people a day were turning 62. And a lot of them have equity in their houses. The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association points out that, “Homeowners 62 and older saw their housing wealth grow by 1.95 percent or $226 billion in the third quarter to a record $11.81 trillion from Q2 2022, according to the latest quarterly release of the NRMLA/RiskSpan Reverse Mortgage Market Index… The increase in older homeowners’ wealth was mainly driven by an estimated 1.95 percent or $268 billion increase in home values, offset by a 1.93 percent or $42 billion increase in senior-held mortgage debt.” So, if you’re looking for a growth business…

Need a Pre-Qual? Plaza’s Reverse Mortgage staff will run a complete analysis of your submitted information and send the findings back to you via e-mail, typically within a few hours. The analysis details available funds, interest rates, fees, and other loan information.

Plaza Home Mortgage posted Video Marketing to Seniors. And brokers can use Plaza’s Reverse Calculator to run scenarios and you’ll quickly and easily see how much borrowers could receive, no personal information required.

Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation has had a reverse division for many years and has seen continued growth.

CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM) announced that it is expanding its reverse mortgage division by making additional investments, resulting in what it calls “enhancements.” “Borrowers heading into retirement are seeking solutions that will benefit their future. CCM’s newly established Reverse One Team offers a specialized network of advisors and tools for loan officers to become certified specialists in originating reverse mortgage loans.”

Reverse training and certification programs among “forward” lenders are increasing. Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. and Guaranteed Rate, for example, offer pathways within their organizations for forward professionals to become certified in reverse mortgages. Broker shops including C2 Financial also maintain a reverse training and certification program.

PHH Mortgage delivers for the entire mortgage lifecycle: non-delegated, best efforts, mandatory, bulk MSR, and reverse.

While bringing more forward specialists up-to-speed with reverse origination practices can certainly help to expand an LOs or lender’s business, it is well known that anyone interested in the business must be aware of some of the specific differences inherent in originating the product when compared with more traditional, forward mortgage options. And a solid month, volume-wise, might only be one or two loans.

Anyone interested should check out Reverse Mortgage Daily, and think about the use of video in their marketing and consulting with client’s families. “Homeowners aged 55 and over increasingly embrace online video as one of their preferred ways to research and discover information…68% of Baby Boomers use YouTube to watch videos. Half of them watch videos more than once per week, and they’re watching news, educational content, and DIY tutorials.”

Capital Markets: Housing Prices Ramping Up

The bad news is that mortgage applications continue to falter. The good news is that we finally had a little rally yesterday as bond markets responded to weekend news that President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy reached an agreement to raise the debt ceiling. Rates had risen of late as fears of a U.S. default gained momentum. A default would force the Treasury Department to pay higher interest on its bonds to convince investors to stick around, with mortgage rates and other borrowing costs tending to follow Treasury rates.

In Federal Reserve news, New York Fed President Williams discussed inflation, the labor market, and the importance of price stability yesterday by saying, “Inflation remains too high, and high inflation is hardest on those who can least afford to pay higher prices for food, shelter, and transportation.” He explained that the U.S. is seeing signs of a gradual cooling in the labor market, along with a rebound in labor force participation. Still, unemployment nationally remains historically low, at 3.4 percent.

The first trading day of a shortened week was headlined by house price indexes. The FHFA Housing Price Index was up 0.6 percent in March after increasing a revised 0.7 percent in February. The index was up 4.3 percent year-over-year, with prices in many western states starting to decline for the first time in over ten years. The fastest growing states were South Carolina, North Carolina, Maine, Vermont, and Arkansas. The declining states included Utah, Nevada, California, Washington, and D.C. Separately, the Case-Shiller home price index rose 0.7 percent in March, suggesting that the decline in home prices that began in June 2022 may have come to an end. The S&P Case-Shiller 20-city Home Price Index was down 1.1 percent in March with big declines out West, and the Southeast remaining the country’s strongest region.

Today’s calendar kicked off with the usual mortgage applications from the MBA for the week ending May 26. Mortgage applications decreased 3.7 percent from one week earlier, with activity expected to decline again following last week’s increase in yields amid increasing odds of a 25 basis points hike at the June FOMC meeting. During the reporting period, 30-year mortgage rates hit new highs for the year and their highest since last November.

Later this morning brings Chicago PMI for May, Job openings from JOLTS for April, and Dallas Fed Texas services for May. Four Fed speakers are scheduled: Boston President Collins, Governor Bowman, Governor Jefferson, and Philadelphia President Harker. The latest Beige Book will be released in the afternoon ahead of the June 13/14 FOMC meeting. The rest of the week will be dominated by the jobs report on Friday, the last jobs report before the mid-June FOMC meeting. Fed funds futures currently see a 60 percent chance for another 25-basis point hike. We begin the day with Agency MBS prices better by .125-.250 and the 10-year yielding 3.65 after closing yesterday at 3.70 percent; 4.40 percent on the 2-year.

Employment and Transitions

“Are you an account executive looking to change it up!? Why not Kind Lending!? At Kind, our family of diverse and talented Kind Ambassadors are the driving force behind our new approach to the mortgage experience. We are focused on serving the broker community and their borrowers by providing an array of products, top-notch service by experienced and friendly professionals and superior resources to support their business model. Founded by Glenn Stearns in 2020, Kind Lending is one of the fastest growing mortgage lenders in the country, building partnerships with our customers, who ultimately become family and our reason why. At the heart of it all, our people believe kindness matters and a client’s positive experience is everything. Come grow with us! Contact Delfino Aguilar, SVP TPO Production (619.726.0377).”

Earlier this month Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) announced the winners of its Home Possible RISE Awards®. The annual program, RISE (Recognizing Individuals for Sustained Excellence), salutes Freddie Mac’s top clients across multiple categories for excellence with the Home Possible® mortgage, Freddie Mac’s affordable lending solution for very low- to low-income homebuyers. Hallmark Home Mortgage earned the Home Possible RISE Award for Greatest Volume. “I’m thrilled and honored that Hallmark Home Mortgage has been recognized with the Freddie Mac Home Possible Rise Award for the Greatest Volume in the Corporate Segment. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, and we are incredibly proud of this achievement,” noted Deborah Sturges, CEO & Founder Hallmark Home Mortgage.

Evergreen Home Loans™ adds to its awards line up. This year, the company placed on the Puget Sound Business Journal Corporate Philanthropy List for the third year in a row. It honors the region’s corporate philanthropists and companies who have made significant contributions to the community through philanthropic work. “We are committed to making a meaningful impact in our local communities,” said Don Burton, Founder and CEO of Evergreen Home Loans. “And we are humbled by the recognition for this award.” As loan officers, you already positively impact lives and communities… Continue to do so with a company that helps associates give back, provides paid hours for volunteer work, celebrates individual growth, and truly lives its unique and award-winning culture. Visit the Evergreen careers page to explore current opportunities.

Are you a loan officer or mortgage banker frustrated with the constraints of retail lending? Tired of competing against lower rates, fees and closing costs? Then now’s the time to take control of your pipeline and career by making the switch to wholesale lending as an independent mortgage broker. Whether you’re looking to open your own brokerage or join a team as a loan officer, you can get up and running without missing a beat with support from the team at BeAMortgageBroker.com. You have nothing to lose and only clients, greater flexibility and compensation to gain.

loanDepot, Inc. has promoted Alec Hanson to serve as its chief marketing officer (CMO). Hanson will “lead a consolidated marketing team, overseeing the development of brand, digital marketing, and organic and digital lead generation campaigns that drive awareness and revenue growth while differentiating loanDepot’s marketing engine as a competitive advantage for loan originators. Hanson will also be responsible for the company’s originator-led field-level marketing capabilities.”

 Download our mobile app to get alerts for Rob Chrisman’s Commentary.

Source: mortgagenewsdaily.com

Apache is functioning normally

Another crucial part of building the tech is having “a lot of people” using the system, which is an advantage for Blend, according to Ghamsari. Blend’s mortgage banking software processed 23.2% of the total market originations in the second half of 2022, up from 14.5% in the second half of 2021.

Read on to learn more about the opportunities and challenges that AI poses to the industry, what the company has to say about the risk of getting delisted from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and insight into Blend’s roadmap for profitability. 

This interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

Kim: Blend has played a critical role in powering about a quarter of the mortgages that originated during the refi boom. It seems like the next big wave is artificial intelligence. How is Blend preparing for the era of AI in the industry? 

Ghamsari: I think on the AI piece, it’s about combining an understanding of what the client is trying to accomplish. 

Now that a system can understand the essence of the question the consumer is trying to understand, it (AI) can actually do that work for the LO in the background, and then when the LO shows up, that work is already done. 

Some of these borrowers have hundreds of products that they can choose from. How is an LO supposed to keep that in their head? It’s too much context, and this will be a supercharger for them. 

In order for that to happen, you have to have a lot of people using it, which Blend does. You have to be connected to all these data sources and internal systems to both the customers and etcetera — and we are. You also have to be something that the LO uses on a regular basis. 

So we’re in this position where I think we can really help the industry, and particularly LOs, who are trying to make things work for consumers.

Kim: Then I assume AI could also take that extra step in correcting some information for LOs that they provide for borrowers?

Ghamsari: I think there’s a separate piece, which is for efficiency. There’s a lot more opportunity to understand what’s required to be done on the loan file after it’s already gotten through the space.

Understanding those requirements and documentation, and actually understanding the data and saying, ‘we need this additional piece of information,’ or ‘we extracted this information, and now that loan looks like we need to change something about it to correct it for whatever reason.’

So I think that’s a separate opportunity that I think is also potentially pretty compelling. Almost think about it as like a co-pilot for an underwriter. That same exact capability could exist.

Kim: Are there any features that Blend is trying to build as the industry gets more involved with AI?

Ghamsari: Nothing I’m prepared to share today, but we are definitely looking very closely at the space. Blend has some unique things — like how many people use our system is very important, and all the systems we’re connected to are very important. All the history of data we have is very important.

So Blend is that interface between LO and the consumer today for a lot of our customers.

Kim: I’m curious how in what ways AI  can help with homeownership and tapping into a potential customer base.

Ghamsari: I think that’s the area of the market that will benefit the most from AI. Most people who are first time homebuyers, or in underserved markets, don’t understand all the products and all the things that a bank could help them do or a lender could help them do.

Imagine you’re a lender or an LO or a bank who is trying to serve the mass market. In order to serve them really well, you have to be able to do that work on every file, and it’s just not scalable to build something that requires LOs to spend 20 hours on every file bill to answer that question.

So that’s why I think the co-pilot model is especially important here, because you still want that borrower to have that LO. But you want that LO to be able to do a lot less work to serve that customer. 

Kim: The big issue when it comes to AI is getting rid of that bias in machine learning. How can we tackle that? 

Ghamsari: I think this is where having a human in the loop is important. There are programs – whether it’s the government, or banks – in place to allow for these higher LTV or lower-income borrowers to get access to credit. 

I think what this (AI) does is — in theory — this unlocks the ability to make every specific situation as personalized as possible, which is what an LO would do if they could spend 20 hours in every file.

Kim: Are there any other challenges you foresee other than the bias factor in AI?

Ghamsari: I think the technology is extremely difficult to build. It’s not just taking some large language model or adding open AI to your platform. Building something that can understand the complexity of a consumer’s financial situation and understand all the products and programs that are out there — and understand the intent of the consumer. All three of those things are actually extremely complicated.

Kim: I want to shift focus to the notice Blend received from the NYSE about not being in compliance with the bylaws. Blend’s stock price has been up since its first quarter earnings call, trending closer to $1 level led by revenue above target and shrinking operating loss. How confident are you that Blend can meet NYSE’s bylaws?

Ghamsari: We have a plan to meet it. I feel good about that plan.

Obviously, I think there’s just general challenges. We are growing market share a lot right now and helping our customers a lot. What I’ve always said is – first and foremost during times like this – it’s not about selling customers new things. It’s about being there for our existing customers.

I want everyone to use it (Blend) so they can benefit. Let’s get a prescriptive roadmap for our customers to help them, and all those other things will take care of itself.

Kim: I’m curious what the board’s response was when Blend received that notice.

Ghamsari: We knew it was coming. It wasn’t a surprise to us and we had a plan. We wrote a letter back to the Stock Exchange saying here’s our plan.

So we were prepared, we knew it was coming, and we had a plan to deal with it.

Kim: We are in a downturn of a cyclical business. I remember you saying that in Q4 of next year, Blend will have positive operating profit numbers. What are some of the crucial external and internal factors for Blend to recover its share price, which once traded above $20?

Ghamsari: We said net operating loss will be less than $20 million in Q4 of this year, and then we’ll be profitable next year. We’re going to hit that plan.

We have different levers in our business. We have a lot of discretionary investment that we’re doing for the sake of our customers. Blend has the balance sheet to do it. We have the customer base that needs it, and will stick with us. So we have to keep investing; that is our job.

If the macro gets materially worse, we’ll pull back on some investment. But we have now scoped it out to where we feel really good about that. 

In terms of getting the stock price back to a certain number, all I think about is, how do I keep making our customers get more value from us even for things they don’t pay for? How do I use that to get customers to want to do more with us? Because if we make them more successful, they’re going to want to do more with us. 

Source: housingwire.com