Now that the government has re-opened and furloughed bison are streaming back into various national parks, let’s turn back to… LO comp?  “Rob, are you hearing that some companies are offering loan officers in a single branch multiple rate sheets, so that different LOs have different pricing?” Unfortunately, yes. Given that the goal is to offer the same rate to borrowers regardless of loan officer, it isn’t good. The risk you take by offering borrowers different rates is a Fair Lending risk that increases as HMDA gives us more access to more data.


Products for Lenders

“That was fast! Roughly two years ago, Resitrader introduced the first online trading platform and today those platforms are the new norm. Resitrader now has both GSEs, all the aggregators, banks, and investors with the number of sellers growing daily. The products traded have also expanded beyond normal agency to CRA and other non-agency products. Even a few hedging advisory firms have joined Resitrader to provide their services seamlessly right through the platform, ‘People have been saying the platforms are coming. It’s clear they are here,’ said John Ardy of Resitrader.”

“4506-Transcripts.com’s mission is to support our clients in closing loans fast! We do this by providing fast turnaround times, data security through our ISO 27001 Certification, and customer service with a human touch from 5 AM – 5 PM PST! We are proud to announce that 4506-T transcripts is now an approved report supplier for the Desktop Underwriter (DU) validation service. Fannie Mae’s Day 1 Certainty gives lenders freedom from representations and warranties, plus greater speed and simplicity, and enables an improved borrower experience. With this integration, 4506-Transcripts.com makes it possible for lenders to request tax transcripts and protects lenders from related buyback risk through Day 1 Certainty.  We are also excited to share that we are integrated with Ellie Mae’s Encompass, Black Knight Financial Services, and Ventures+. If you are using any of these platforms, please contact us today at (925) 927-3333 or email us at sales@4506-Transcripts.com to get started!”

Informative Research, a market leader in delivering a range of technology-driven solutions for the mortgage industry, appointed Tim Cox as its new SVP of Operations. Previously, Cox served in several key roles working in administration, strategy, and management of national programs. Utilizing his 19 years of experience, Cox will be responsible for conceptualizing and implementing new methodologies and systems set to improve Informative Research’s service across all products. “Informative Research is not afraid of change, and that’s what really drew me to this opportunity. And while their service is already renowned and excels the industry standard, they’re still determined to improve how they operate, build on their exceptional company culture, and deliver valuable solutions to every client – that’s the kind of company I want to be a part of,” explained Cox. Feel free to connect with Cox via LinkedIn.  

We often hear in our industry about how stressful many borrowers find the mortgage process. This can obviously have an impact on your borrower experience and ultimately your referral business. The solution that every lending team can own themselves: focusing on communications. I wanted to share an ebook on the topic: “The Mortgage Communication Playbook.” It summarizes why great communication is critical, what great communication looks like, and how to make it happen. By focusing on how you communicate with your borrowers you can relieve their anxiety, increase referrals, open up your time, and make your business grow. No email or registering required for this eBook! Download your free copy here.

LD Holdings Group, LLC, parent company of loanDepot, announced continued expansion through its newly formed venture, mello Home. It “will connect pre-approved homebuyers with verified real estate agents in their local market, and help consumers find and hire home improvement and other pros. mello Home is the first mello-branded business line following the company’s March 2017 launch of mello™, a proprietary financial technology ecosystem supported by 450+ tech team members.”

Congrats to Bill Neville who has been named LoanLogics’ (loan quality management and performance analytics) president and chief operating officer, responsible for overseeing all operational controls, technology and software development.


Capital markets

Congrats to our Congress for kicking the can down the road to February 8th. Things were extended, but not before everyone heard from Freddie Mac, FHA (operating with limited services - Contingency Plan for Possible Lapse in Appropriations), and Ginnie Mae.

There were no major economic headlines on Monday as the Treasury market meandered through the day leaving the 10-year note yielding 2.66% while the government & press was focused on temporarily resolving the shut down. So we’re set-up for the next round of negotiations over the next two weeks.

Today, there will be a FedTrade operation which will see the desk purchase $755 million 30-year conventional 3% and 3.5%, continuing to help the demand side of the supply/demand equation. Before the trading day got started stateside, the Bank of Japan announced its latest policy decision. (The BOJ left policy unchanged (as was widely expected) and expressed a slightly more upbeat view on the state of Japanese inflation.) The US calendar kicks off with the Philadelphia Fed Nonmanufacturing Business Outlook Survey, Redbook same-store sales, and the Richmond Fed’s manufacturing and services indices. Rates are lower versus Monday’s close with the 10-year at 2.63% and agency MBS prices better nearly .250.


Upcoming Events and Training

Valuation Management Group will be hosting a complimentary appraisal webinar – The Power of Income which will be presented Thursday, January 25, at 11AM EST by Crispin Bennett. The webinar is designed to assist real estate appraisers gain a better understanding of when the income approach is important from the lender and the appraisers’ point of view and cover many key points as it relates to developing the income approach in appraisal assignments. For both residential and commercial appraisers. If you have questions, feel free to contact Natalie Thompson.

Join BuckleySandler partners on January 30th as they help mortgagees navigate this year’s FHA annual recertification process. Find out details about this webcast and register today.

On January 31st, join the law offices of Peter Brewer for breakfast and a seminar on Easements in California. The presentation will cover important elements of easements, including the process for creating easements, the types of easements, and how to litigate easement disputes. This event is being presented as an in-person presentation and as a live stream — so you can watch the program either in-person or at your desk.

Join Dodd Frank Update for its Consumer Complaints: Meet Expectations webinar 2-3 p.m. Feb. 6th. Compliance attorneys Mike Flynn, Partner at Goodwin and Proctor, and Allyson Baker, Partner at Venable, LLP, will address meeting and staying current on expectations for competing government regulations, how to build and maintain compliant management systems, implementing an effective continuous training program, and more.

Ellie Mae’s AllRegs February courses have posted. Taking the steps to mortgage compliance regulations begins February 1st. This course is designed to provide a basic overview of federal mortgage regulations that apply over the life of a mortgage loan beginning at the point of origination and touching on each stage of the mortgage loan process through servicing. Advanced FHA Underwriting begins February 1st. This course is designed for the underwriter who has a very solid understanding the principles of underwriting FHA loans. Intermediate FHA Underwriting begins February 6th.This course is designed for those who have the fundamental skills of FHA underwriting and who can recognize FHA specific forms and documentation, calculate loan amounts, qualifying ratios and mortgage insurance premiums.

Underwriting VA Loans begins February 7th. This course provides clear instruction for those looking to add the VA program to their existing product mix. The course explains guidelines and provides strong advice from industry experts who have worked with the programs personally. Keeping Ahead of the Smoke: Preparing for a Fire-Related Natural Disaster on February 7th. Expert answers for how to prepare your business, stay compliant, and help your customers when they need it the most.

On February 19th, join OMBA to learn about the benefits of internal audit with Presenters: Brian Mischel, Partner at BKD Cincinnati, OH and Ryan Sailor, Director at BKD New York, NY.

Join the MMLA on March 8th for its 2018 Marketing and Sales Symposium in Howell Michigan. Cost is $79 for MMLA Members, $99 for non-MMLA Members. Groups of 5 are $350.

Ellie Mae has announced new speakers for its upcoming Ellie Mae Experience 2018, March 19-21 in Las Vegas, and will feature several keynotes and presentations from notable figures in the mortgage industry as well as famed athletes and government officials.

Join Valuation Expo March 18th to the 21st in Charleston, SC. Stay up to date on industry regulations, meet potential clients and grow your business all at Valuation Expo.

The National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America announced that the Mortgage Bankers Association, United Wholesale Mortgage, and XINNIX will be title sponsors of NAMMBA’s Connect conference in Atlanta this spring. All three groups will be on full display at NAMMBA’s CONNECT 2018 conference April 12-14 when real estate finance professionals gather to hear from leaders about the state of the industry. The conference will spotlight experts discussing a wide array of topics, from offering an economic outlook for 2018 to giving tips on conquering the builder market.


Employment and Promotions

“The results are in and Caliber Home Loans, Inc. has been recognized as a top employer in the mortgage industry again! For the third year in a row, Loan Officers recently voted Caliber #2 on Mortgage Executive magazine’s annual list of 50 Best Companies to Work For, 2017. Caliber is proud to also be included on National Mortgage Professional magazine’s list of Top Mortgage Employers for 2018. Readers of the magazine were polled on a range of criteria including compensation, innovation, technology, marketing support, culture and training resources. Loan Consultants looking to join the ranks of a nationally recognized top employer can email Jeremy DeRosa to learn of opportunities, or visit www.joincalibernow.com.”

“Of all the things we do at Stearns Wholesale Lending, our people is what we are most proud of – our Employee and Broker relationships mean the most! Our ability to carry out the individual and collective purposes of our Team is fueled by continuing to make investments in our people and our technology. Personalized attention, competitive products and a deep respect for our Stearns Wholesale Team, have all contributed to nearly 30 years of success. Over half of our Account Executives have tenure of 5+ years. Not only do we have a long history, we have a bright future. Reach out to our Stearns Wholesale Talent Acquisition Manager, Jesse Vazquez, and be part of our purpose!”

loanDepot is starting 2018 full speed, with CEO Anthony Hsieh being the first ever lending CEO to take the stage at Inman Connect in New York, the nation’s largest real estate industry conference. On Wednesday, Anthony will explain how technology is making not just lending but many other areas of home owner’s journey easier. These large technological shifts are commonly called “disruption” because they disrupt whole industries to better serve consumers. But unlike other industries, this financial and real estate technology trend doesn’t displace local pros giving local advice. It makes it easier and faster for local loan consultants to connect with the people in their communities who need their services most. If you’re attending Inman Connect, loanDepot will be available in its hub lounge experience, where you can connect for refreshments, and learn more about everything in the loanDepot universe. To learn more, check this out or contact Shane Stanton