For many, business is slow out there, and the industry waits for the House vote on the abusive trigger lead bill. Depository banks continue to focus on residential lending in their own footprint while scaling back distant originations, and IMBs continue to look at staffing with a critical eye. A safe prediction is that this will continue, although people have grown more skeptical of others making predictions to grab headlines. A recession has yet to materialize, nor has a tidal wave of delinquencies and foreclosures. In fact, quite the opposite: The OCC Mortgage Metrics Report, First Quarter 2025 showed that 97.6 percent of mortgages included in the report were current and performing at the end of the quarter, an increase from 97.4 percent one year earlier. And The percentage of seriously delinquent mortgages decreased from the first quarter of 2024. MLOs motor forward and on today's episode of Now Next Later at 10am PT, Sasha and Jeremy welcome Jake Vermillion, CMO at Mortgage Champions, to discuss the evolving role of mortgage loan officers and its impact on training and performance. (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week is sponsored by Optimal Blue. OB bridges the primary and secondary mortgage markets to deliver the industry’s only end-to-end capital markets platform, helping lenders maximize profitability and operate efficiently so they can help American borrowers achieve the dream of homeownership. Today’s has an interview with Argyle’s John Hardesty on what’s driving lender migration in the LOS and POS space, how tech stacks are being evaluated more strategically, why “conversion” matters more than ever in verification workflows, and what true interoperability means for mortgage fintech.)
Products, Software, and Services for Brokers and Lenders
The mortgage industry is transforming, bringing both challenges and opportunities. Despite high origination costs, there’s a clear path to profitability. ICE Mortgage Technology® partnered with MarketWise Advisors, a third-party mortgage advisory firm, to uncover the factors driving origination costs and how adopting the right technology can make a lasting financial impact. “The Modern Lender’s Guide to Succeeding in a Volatile Market” delivers actionable insights and proven strategies from top-performing lenders to help you streamline operations, reduce expenses, and drive growth. This essential guide is tailored for professionals like you who are ready to seize opportunities and thrive in any market. Click here to download your copy of the eBook now.
Huge June Specials from LoanStream a DBA of OCMBC Inc. on Non-QM & FHA/VA for all loans locked through June, check it out! Ranked #1 lender in Non-QM, LoanStream alongside OCMBC and its DBAs, by 2025 Scotsman Guide rankings and #4 Top Wholesale Lender! Ready to work with a top-notch lender that puts its Broker Partners first and provides endless possibilities?! Get approved today.
With 70,000 thoughts a day, it’s only natural for the human mind to drift. But in post-close QC, that drift can mean missed data, costly inconsistencies, and slowdowns you can’t afford. Dark Matter’s AIVA® Assist QC keeps your process focused. It automates document classification, data extraction and checklist logic, eliminating manual bottlenecks while boosting speed, accuracy, and consistency. Your team gets a smarter workflow and centralized access to documents, conditions, and calculations. In 2024, AIVA Docs extracted 36 million data labels across the enterprise with 99% SLA accuracy, doubling its usage without adding headcount. Whether volume spikes or complexity climbs, AIVA stays locked in, reducing risk and helping your team move faster with confidence. So, while the human brain wanders (as it does), AIVA won’t. Want to learn more?
Looking to simplify pricing scenarios for your borrowers? Maxwell QuickPricer empowers loan officers to shop, compare, and share pricing scenarios all within Maxwell Point of Sale. An industry first, QuickPricer gives borrowers quick answers while LOs gain a competitive edge with faster, smarter pricing. QuickPricer integrates with all major PP&E’s and insurance providers, empowering your team to move from quote to application in seconds. Want to learn more? Let us know and we’ll show you what Maxwell can do for you and your borrowers.
“Looking to better compete with Big Mortgage? MAXEX helps you grow your non-agency business without inflating your cost structure. Our platform offers broad liquidity, a wide range of product types, and flexible execution options, including bulk or flow, delegated or non-delegated. And there’s more to come. This summer, a major asset manager and insurance company will join our growing network of premier investors. Plus, we’re expanding our non-delegated program to include all products and flow buyers across the platform—giving you even more ways to win. Learn more at MAXEX.com.”
Still wasting time chasing docs and duplicate requests? US Mortgage Corporation isn’t. In this on-demand webinar, its Mortgage Technology Manager walks through the exact workflows they use to cut the clicks, reduce tech sprawl, and save time on every single loan file, all by combining LenderLogix LiteSpeed with Encompass® automation. See what automation-first lending looks like.
The Chrisman Marketplace, a centralized hub for vendors and service providers across the mortgage industry, is up and going. The site features third-party providers offering powerful partnerships and solutions driving innovation in the space. We’ll be adding new vendors daily, so check back often to see what’s new. To reserve your place or learn more, contact us at info@chrismancommentary.com.
HELOC and 2nd Mortgage Products
“Hate manually underwritten HELOCs? So does your borrower. Do them, and yourself, a favor: offer a NFTYDoor digital HELOC. In many cases, DTI is approved right at prequal. We call that ‘click and close.’ The borrower accepts, signs, and closes, often the same day. Yes, zero-day closings are real. Of course, not every deal is that simple. Some borrowers are self-employed, use a trust, need title cleanup, or just a little handholding. That's okay. That’s life… And we close those too. Bottom line: We close more loans, which means you get paid more. We even close on weekends and holidays, and fund 6 days a week using RTP (Real-Time Payments). Your clients get the cash they need. You earn top-tier commissions. With the highest conversion rate in digital HELOCs, NFTYDoor makes it fast, simple, and profitable. Get started today: connect with your Homebridge Wholesale or REMN Wholesale AE, or email us.”
DocMagic just completed the first-ever MERS® eRegistration of an eHELOC. And the timing couldn’t be better. Borrowers are tapping into trillions in home equity, and lenders need a faster and more efficient way to process HELOCS. DocMagic’s eHELOC solution delivers a fully digital, compliant, and secure way to originate and close home equity lines of credit. DocMagic’s digital HELOC documents have been tested and validated across the entire eHELOC lifecycle, from document generation, eSigning, all the way through MERS® eRegistration. Built for today’s digital borrowers, eHELOCs reduce errors, shorten cycle times, and enhance customer satisfaction. Visit DocMagic or contact Leah Sommerville, Director of Sales, to get started.
Like that auto-renewing subscription you forgot to cancel, some adult children are draining their parents’ wallets. Half of all parents provide monetary support to their adult children, with 60% of parents putting their own financial stability at risk. HomeSafe Second from Finance of America is a second-lien reverse mortgage that lets borrowers access home equity without disrupting their favorable first mortgage rate. Email ss@financeofamerica.com to tap into the opportunity this innovative reverse product offers. The borrower must meet all loan obligations, including meeting all loan obligations under the first lien mortgage, living in the property as the principal residence and paying property charges, including property taxes, fees, hazard insurance. The borrower must maintain the home. If the homeowner does not meet these loan obligations, then the loan will need to be repaid. Finance of America | NMLS #2285.
“Symmetry Lending offers a great tool for Customer Retention to deflect your local and national competitors from poaching your HELOC customers: Symmetry’s Stand-Alone HELOC Program! Available up to 89.99% CLTV on primary residence up to $500k. We can also lend on 2-4 Units, Manufactured Homes and Condo with no Condo Questionnaire or Condo Approval. Owner Occupied, 2nd Homes and Investment Properties Available. We allow you to order the Appraisal (must be in your company’s name). No Pre-payment Penalties, EPOs, or Access Hold Period. Easy Processing: Just need 1003, our 2 Forms, Income Docs, and Mortgage Statement for Initial Approval Decision.
Webinars and Training This Week
In the complex world of construction lending, effective lien waiver management is paramount for safeguarding your financial interests and ensuring project success. Land Gorilla's new two-part webinar series, "Mastering Lien Waivers: A Strategic Guide for Construction Lenders and Draw Administration Teams," is designed to equip you with the in-depth knowledge and practical tools to confidently navigate these crucial legal instruments. You'll gain foundational understanding in Part 1 on June 24th, then dive into strategic administration, risk mitigation, and leveraging technology in Part 2 on June 26th. One simple registration grants you access to both essential sessions, helping you transform your approach and build a reputation as a preferred financial partner in the construction community.
Every conference has an LTV ratio: the percent of “Lenders to Vendors.” Cutting edge mortgage stats aside, a good place for longer term conference planning is to start is here for in-person events in the future; and organizers can post their event!
Technology and innovation in residential lending are the focus of Now Next Later Monday at 1pm ET. Hear from Jeremy Potter!
Tuesday’s episode of MortgagePros411, at 2PM ET, Audrey and Kevin speak originator’s language.
On tomorrow's episode of MortgagePros411 at 11am PT, Audrey Boissonou and Kevin Casey will be speaking directly to the MLO’s areas of interest, providing information that can help originations.
Looking for more in-depth commentary on weekly mortgage news? Register here for Wednesday the 18th at 11AM PT "Mortgage Matters: The Weekly Roundup” presented by Lenders One.
Thursday will be another episode of The Big Picture at 3PM ET. Rich Swerbinsky hosts a variety of guests. You can click here to register for Thursday’s show which features James Dwiggins, CEO of NextHome, Inc.
Get an intro to MH financing on June 26th, learn about Fannie Mae’s conventional MH mortgage options that can support your business from single-width to MH Advantage®.
Join Cotality on Thursday, June 26, 1:00pm -2:00pm (CST) for an insightful webinar on "Flood Insurance & Natural Hazard Compliance Strategies for Syndication and Participation Loans." This session is designed to equip financial professionals with the knowledge and best practices needed to navigate the complexities of flood insurance and natural hazard compliance in syndicated and participation loan arrangements.
On Friday’s episode of Last Word at 10am PT, hosts Brian Vieaux, Christy Soukhamneut, Courtney Thompson, and Kevin Peranio explore recent shifts in the mortgage market, focusing on the spate of economic news that has hit the market and the latest out of the Agencies.
There’s the National MI, ARCH MI, MGIC, Essent, Radian, and Enact training calendars.
The Chrisman Commentary is pleased to bring you a variety of video shows hosted on Zoom throughout the week. Take your pick: We have a show focused on technology and innovation (Now Next Later Mondays at 1pm ET), origination (Mortgage Pros Tuesdays at 2pm ET), big-name interviews (Mortgage Matters Wednesdays at 2pm ET, presented by Lenders One), headline news (The Big Picture Thursday’s at 3pm ET), opinion (Last Word Fridays at 1pm ET), advisory services (Advisory Angle first Tuesday of the month at 2pm ET, presented by STRATMOR Group), capital markets (Capital Markets Wrap second Tuesday of the month at 3pm ET, presented by Polly), regulation and compliance (Regulation Central third Tuesday of the month at 3pm ET), and reaching the next generation of homeowners (Mortgages with Millennials last Tuesday of the month at 1pm ET, presented by The Mortgage Collaborative). (If you don’t see a presenting sponsor, please reach out to Chrisman LLC’s Anjelica Nixt to inquire about opportunities.)
Capital Markets
With the backdrop of an escalating conflict in the world, U.S. economic data of late has shown further signs of cooling: May retail sales dropped 0.9 percent, industrial production declined for the third time in five months, and housing starts fell nearly 10 percent to their slowest pace since 2020. Overall, the tone is one of growing caution amid a landscape shaped by consumer pullback, softening activity, and tariff-driven uncertainty.
The key economic story this past week was the Federal Reserve’s June policy announcement. While there was no surprise in the Fed holding its target interest rate steady, the updated Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) and dot plot revealed deeper divisions within the committee. The Fed remains in wait-and-see mode, particularly focused on how recent tariffs will affect inflation and employment. Back in March, the median projection suggested a 3.9 percent rate by year-end, implying 50 basis points of cuts. That projection held steady, but the underlying consensus has weakened. Only 12 of 19 members now expect at least one cut in 2025, down from 15 previously, and expectations for rates in 2026 and 2027 have ticked slightly higher.
This shift reflects slightly worse forecasts for inflation and unemployment, but no clear momentum toward easing. Powell acknowledged the recent improvement in survey-based uncertainty (driven by partial tariff rollbacks), but those surveys predate the latest escalation in Middle East tensions, possibly rendering the Fed’s optimism stale. At this point, markets are split between expecting one cut or none, and in all likelihood, that’s where we’ll land unless economic data convincingly breaks one way or the other. And now that the U.S. is involved in the conflict with Iran, will we see a flight to quality?
This week’s key events include $183 billion in month-end coupon supply, which will be auctioned over Tuesday to Thursday, with key data including S&P Global PMIs, several housing-related data, durable goods orders, the final look at Q1 GDP, with PCE and Michigan sentiment on Friday. Fed Chair Powell will also testify on the Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to Congress, and we have Fed speakers throughout the week. Regarding MBS, Class D 48-hours is tomorrow.
The focus of the press is on the ramifications of the U.S. attack on Iran, the lack of the role of Congress, and the lack of U.S. bond market rally. Today’s calendar gets under way later this morning with preliminary S&P Global manufacturing and services PMIs and will be followed by existing home sales and remarks from San Francisco Fed President Daly, Governor Waller, Vice Chair for Supervision Bowman, Chicago’s Goolsbee, and Governor Kugler. We begin the week with Agency MBS prices roughly unchanged from Friday, the 2-year yielding 3.90, and the 10-year yielding 4.36 after closing Friday at 4.38 percent.
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