Products, Services, and Software for Brokers and Lenders

The team at Model Match has launched the first phase of a complete platform overhaul, reimagining how lenders access and act on real estate, mortgage, and borrower data. The release centers on a simplified search experience across loan officers, agents, offices, and companies, alongside a major data expansion pushing coverage beyond 6 billion records. Model Match also introduced Market Signals, a new dataset providing visibility into mortgage activity from application through funding across roughly one in every two U.S. mortgages, along with Borrower Retention, showing loan officers where their borrowers are refinancing. The overhaul features a mobile-first design and expanded insights into real estate offices and builder activity. Model Match is committed to bringing a fresh, transparent approach to connecting real estate, mortgage, and borrower data within a single platform. Existing accounts have access today. To see what the future of mortgage intelligence looks like, start a 14-day trial.

AI has quickly become one of the most talked-about topics in mortgage, but that has not made it any easier to figure out what is actually useful. Join the Ohio Mortgage Bankers Association and LenderLogix CEO Patrick O’Brien on April 14 from 2:00 to 2:30 PM EST for The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AI in Mortgage Lending, a practical webinar focused on where AI is already creating value, how it is showing up in mortgage technology today, and how lenders can think more clearly about what matters versus what is just hype. Don’t panic. Register now.

Less than a year after launching, Brody | Gapp LLP is approaching its tenth attorney, and the firm's AI governance and fair lending practice has produced something the industry can actually use. After leading the panel on "AI, Automation, and Fair Lending" at a recent conference, Brody Gapp LLC, the firm released four free practitioner-level tools: MB Governance Guide, an AI Governance Survival Guide built around Freddie Mac Bulletin 2025-16 and Guide § 1302.8, a Fair Lending AI Risk Map addressing proxy discrimination and ECOA/Reg B adverse action exposure, and an AI Vendor Due Diligence Toolkit anchored in SR 11-7 and GSE examination expectations, for depositories, IMBs, credit unions, and brokers, the kind of document most institutions know they need and haven't built yet.

Don’t forget that Brody | Gapp LLP has both the "AI in the Workplace: Acceptable Use Policies, Data Risk, and the Discovery Trap", and the Repurchase Defense Article.

Last Word: today Friday, April 3, at 10AM PT. The weekly roundtable breaks down market signals, agency developments, and where the industry got it right and wrong. The discussion focuses on separating real insight from reaction as conditions continue to shift.

The Chrisman Marketplace is a centralized hub for vendors and service providers across the mortgage industry to be viewed by lenders in a very cost-effective manner. We’re adding new providers daily, so check back often to see what’s new. To reserve your place or learn more, contact us at info@chrismancommentary.com.

Lender-Builder Partnerships are Alive and Well

Silverton Mortgage announced a new partnership with Oakwood Homes. “As Oakwood Homes’ partner lender, Silverton opened three new offices to support Oakwood’s homebuyers, expanding Silverton’s brick-and-mortar footprint into the Colorado and Utah markets. “Oakwood Homes is known for building homes that balance quality, design, and attainable homeownership across the markets it serves. With a focus on creating strong neighborhoods and long-term value for homeowners, Oakwood emphasizes thoughtful planning, energy efficiency, and customer experience throughout the construction process… Silverton’s main operations to support Oakwood are based in Lafayette, Colo. Additional offices are located in Colorado Springs and St. Murray, Utah.

Investor Changes Focused on Agency Products Continue

AmeriHome Mortgage is accepting Selling Guide policy changes per Fannie Mae SEL-2026-02 and Freddie Mac 2026-3. See AmeriHome Product Announcement 20260306-CL.

AmeriHome Mortgage 20260304-CL Operations Announcement provides a summary of AmeriHome pre-purchase and quality-control loan review findings for Q’4-2025. The review results identify emerging trends and the most common findings.

Newrez Correspondent updated Underwriting Guidelines on Conforming loans, Government loans, and Smart Series including Product Summary.

Pennymac updated Conventional LLPAs effective for all Best-Efforts Commitments taken on or after Tuesday, February 24. See Announcement 26-22 for details

Pennymac updated Conventional LLPAs effective for all Best-Efforts Commitments taken on or after Thursday, February 26. View Announcement 26-23 for more details.

AmeriHome Mortgage announcement 20260203-CL outlines overlays attributed to Fannie Mae SEL-2026-01 announcement.

Pennymac updated Conventional LLPAs effective for all Best-Efforts Commitments taken on or after Thursday, March 12, 2026. View Announcement 26-26 for more details. Freddie Mac announced updated eligibility requirements for the Home Possible mortgage program. These changes are effective with new loan applications dated on and after April 12, 2026; Pennymac is aligning with these changes as described in Announcement 26-27.

Capital Markets

President Trump’s address Wednesday night was “rates negative,” dampening hopes for near term de-escalation of the war in Iran and signaling continued military action over the next 2–3 weeks. The result was higher oil prices, a sell off in Treasuries, and a partial reversal of the recent bond rally, driven more by inflation risk than growth optimism. Forget about the Federal Reserve cutting rates, although if it does, it will be because our economy needs stimulus.

The U.S. economy is facing several potential risks which could impact home financing demand, including surging oil prices due to the Strait of Hormuz closure, which could drive Brent crude to $200 per barrel. Economists seem pretty calm, citing the US's reduced oil dependence and futures markets predicting a price drop. Another risk is the stress in the private credit market, which could spread to banks and the broader economy if companies struggle to secure financing. Additionally, the AI boom, which has driven economic growth, may face challenges due to capital constraints and energy issues. But hey, people still need a roof over their heads!

Markets are increasingly torn between inflation and growth narratives as geopolitical tensions drive volatile swings in oil prices and Treasury yields. The most recent shift acknowledges that persistently high energy costs could weigh more heavily on economic growth than previously assumed. While sharp oil spikes continue to trigger short-term inflation fears and push yields higher, this dynamic has repeatedly given way to equity weakness and renewed growth concerns that support Treasuries, suggesting a more compressed cycle between these competing forces. Although the medium-term outlook still favors lower rates amid slowing growth, near-term risks have tilted more uncertain, leaving markets highly reactive to both geopolitical developments and upcoming data like today's payrolls report, but ultimately anchored to unfolding events in the Middle East.

Mortgage bonds and U.S. Treasuries ended slightly higher Thursday, recovering from early losses even after global markets were shaken by rising oil prices and renewed concerns about conflict with Iran. Despite the initial anxiety, investors stabilized throughout the day, and markets bounced back ahead of the shortened Good Friday trading schedule. Mortgage rates rose again in Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey, with the 30-year rate rising for the fifth straight week (now 48-basis points higher than the local 5.98 percent low in February). For the week ending April 2, the 30-year and 15-year rates rose 8-basis points and 2-basis points to 6.46 percent and 5.77 percent, respectively, though they are still 18-basis points and 5-basis points lower from a year ago, with the 15-year rate highest since last July.

Agency mortgage issuance rebounded sharply in March, surpassing $116 billion, the strongest March since 2022. This continues a nearly two-year streak of annual growth, driven largely by a surge in refinancing activity, particularly on the conventional side. Refi-driven supply expanded dramatically year-over-year, while purchase activity remained relatively flat. Loan production also showed meaningful gains, signaling a broader recovery in origination volumes, with issuance concentrated in mid-coupon pools like 5.0 percent and 5.5 percent as rates move higher. However, the recent rise in mortgage rates tied to geopolitical tensions is expected to dampen refinancing momentum in the near-term, potentially slowing this supply surge, while the recent dominance of conventional issuance has also begun to temper Ginnie Mae’s previously rising market share.

Today’s (Good Friday) economic calendar, with the stock market closed but the bond market open, brought the “all-important” March payrolls report. Headline payrolls were +178k versus 45k expectations and -92k previously, although there was a large back-month revision. The unemployment rate came in at 4.3 percent when it was expected to remain steady at 4.4 percent. Wages were +.2 percent, for the year +3.3 percent. Overall the numbers showed a solid labor market, allowing the Fed to concentrate on inflation which is bad.

Later today brings Final March services PMI from S&P Global, and SIFMA recommends an early close for bonds at noon. After the employment data, and with the overnight political and war news, we have Agency MBS prices worse about .125 from Thursday’s close, the 2-year yielding 3.85, and the 10-year yielding 4.35 after closing yesterday at 4.31 percent, down 9 basis points over the course of the week.