You may not believe in climate change, but your insurance company and mortgage servicer certainly do. It is a fact that warmer air can hold more moisture, and a new peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Catastrophe Risk and Resilience found that insured losses from hurricanes could rise 50 percent if global atmospheric warming hits the 2 degrees Celsius threshold. A lot of those losses come from the areas affected by hurricanes expanding well northward along the Eastern Seaboard, with places that had been considered relatively safe from the monster storms suddenly now well in range of tropical storms. Lenders are well aware that Florida still sees the largest absolute increase (its already high losses are projected to rise another 44 percent if the 2-degree threshold is broken) but areas that had relatively low risks are poised to see a higher percentage increase. New York’s insured hurricane losses are projected to rise 64 percent, and Massachusetts’ poised to rise 70 percent annually. (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s podcasts are sponsored by Wholesale Mortgage Direct (WMD), whose mission is to deliver high demand, innovative products unique to the wholesale industry, including MyEQNow, which is one-of-a-kind TraDigital HELOC platform. WMD is your trusted partner for innovative HELOC, NonQM and/or Reverse options. Today’s has an interview with EPM’s Phil Mancuso on his journey in mortgage, winning business in this environment, and lessons in leadership.)

Products, Services, and Software for Lenders and Brokers

Your AI Command Center for HELOCs! NFTYDoor just launched its most powerful platform yet: an AI-powered HELOC experience built to help you move faster, communicate smarter, and scale with ease. 1-Minute Application: Whether it’s you or your borrower, get instant PreQual results… Some “Fast Pass” loans close in as little as same day. Built-In Chat + SMS: No more email chains. Instantly message our team or your borrower… everything in one place. Designed to Scale: Add your assistant, customize your notifications, and streamline how you manage your pipeline. This isn’t just a LOS. It’s your all-in-one task manager, communication hub, and real-time visibility engine. Built with transparency. Designed for maximum conversion. Now live on NFTYDoor—digital HELOCs made fast, simple, and profitable. Want to see it in action? Register for our live demo this Wednesday at 1pm ET.

PlainsCapital Bank National Warehouse Lending, a subsidiary of Hilltop Holdings (NYSE: HTH), offers funding for multiple mortgage products and programs with little to no additional requirements. FNMA HomeStyle, FHA 203K Full, Limited, and USDA Rural Housing renovation loans. Mortgage Revenue Bond and DPA loans with extended dwell times. Sub Limits for lower FICO scores, manufactured homes, renovation, construction and other unique mortgage products and programs. With over 30 years’ experience and a well-capitalized diversified financial holding company we provide our customers with confidence to meet their loan funding needs. If you are interested in learning more about PlainsCapital Bank National Warehouse Lending please contact Deric Barnett, (469)955-6786.

Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with TMS Correspondent and Servbank Subservicing at the CMBA Western Secondary Market Conference in Palos Verdes, CA, on 8/11 and 8/12. Learn about TMS Correspondent’s unique advantages, including their agency-style direct credit box, builder forward, DSCR product, and a suite of DPA programs to help you close more loans. Meet with Servbank Subservicing to explore their exceptional borrower experience scores, first-call resolution, and compliance ratings. Make sure to visit TMS and Servbank’s meeting space at the Terranea Resort. Mark your calendar for Monday, August 11, and Tuesday, August 12, and schedule a meeting today with: TMS Correspondent: correspondent@themoneysource.com; Servbank Subservicing: partner@servbank.com

Imagine walking into a library, but when you search for a specific book, you realize there is no organizational system at all. Books have been placed on shelves without reference to author name or genre. Or where there are some classifications, it’s not consistent with other libraries you’ve visited. This scenario plays out in servicing organizations every day, but instead of a pleasure read, it’s critical documents that are nearly impossible to find. ICE is solving this filing challenge with ICE Servicing Vault. The cloud storage application provides a single source for naming, storing, and managing servicing documents and related media assets with confidence. And a standardized naming convention makes it easier for back-office teams to move faster when accessing what they need. Watch Dana Federspiel, senior director of servicing product strategy, talk about how ICE is transforming digital document storage.

As you walk through a forest, a vast mycorrhizal network (sometimes called the ‘wood wide web’) stretches beneath your feet. Made of roots, fungi, and bacteria, it connects trees and plants, distributing nutrients, sharing resources, even relaying distress signals. There are actually global maps of these hidden connections. Tropos brings that same quiet intelligence to lending. In most environments, siloed systems create disjointed borrower experiences. Tropos changes that. It adapts to your tech stack and loan products, weaving a unified flow that connects every step of the journey. The result? Fewer gaps, more guidance, and a process borrowers can actually follow. Help borrowers thrive with Tropos. Help borrowers thrive with Tropos.

New trigger lead rules are changing how lenders can reach borrowers, but the right partner makes all the difference. With Total Expert, lenders can respond faster and remain compliant while delivering personalized communications that generate opportunities. Our platform helps you connect when the time is right and keep contacts engaged without being annoying. It’s a smarter, more respectful way to build relationships. Check out our latest blog to learn more about the proposed HPPA’s trigger lead rules and how Total Expert helps you stay compliant. Grab some time with to see how we can set you up for success!

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.

STRATMOR, the Customer Experience, and Revenue Growth

Ever try to cut your own hair to save a few bucks? STRATMOR Customer Experience Director Mike Seminari did once—and let’s just say the results were…memorable. In his latest CX Tip, Mike compares that DIY haircut to what happens when lenders try to cut corners on customer experience. Spoiler: it usually costs more in the long run. Mike outlines seven ways smart lenders are leveraging their CX to drive real revenue growth—without adding headcount or blowing up the budget. Better pull-through, more referrals, higher LO retention. Turns out, doing CX right actually pays off. Check out 7 Ways Smart Lenders Are Leveraging CX to Grow Mortgage Revenue.

Why Loan Officers Can't Afford to Stay Off Camera

Over the weekend I received an “MLO VieauxPoint” from Brian Vieaux, CMB, President & COO of FinLocker & Founding ‘Expert’ of MLO Live, suggesting that LOs need to be visible, and a very viable way is on video. “Spend enough time in one industry and you’ll likely see just about every shiny object come and go. But I can tell you with confidence: video is not one of them. This isn’t a trend. It’s a transformation. Loan officers who win in this market, and the next, are the ones who show up on camera. Not to go viral. But to stay visible. And most importantly, to build trust.

“In a recent Loan Officer Life podcast episode, I sat down with Kyle Draper and Mike Faraci to talk about their new Blue Book, Rethink Everything: The Power of Video for Business and Sales. Our conversation boiled down to this: Video isn’t content. It’s communication. You don’t need a script, studio, or editing software. You need a habit. Send three one-to-one videos per day. A quick check-in. A thank-you. A status update. These short, simple videos create real connection, and keep you top of mind long after the transaction.

“New J.D. Power data shows that borrowers who engage with a lender early in the journey report: 71 points higher satisfaction, 80 points higher trust, and 133 percent greater likelihood of doing business again. Video is how you earn early engagement. It’s also how you stop being a stranger in your own database.

“As Mike said on the podcast, ‘If you can send a text, you can record a video.’ If you only take one thing from this article, let it be this: The next time you think, ‘I should follow up with that client or partner…’ Don’t send a text. Don’t write another email. Hit record. Say their name. Be human. You don’t need viral. You need to be visible. Questions about getting started with one-to-one video? Happy to share what I’ve learned. Thank you, Brian! #VieauxPoint”

Natural Disaster Updates

A disaster declaration from FEMA triggers procedures and polices from lenders and servicers. I haven’t heard anyone argue that storm damage dollar amounts are decreasing. Who’s doing what?

Flooding in Texas (DR-4879-TX), have a mortgage closing date before the Incident Period start date of July 2, 2025, and become EPDs between August 1, 2025, and January 31, 2026.

FHA issued a limited waiver of its policy regarding Early Payment Default (EPD) review requirements found in the Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 (Handbook 4000.1), Sections V.A.3.a.i.(C) and V.A.3.a.iv.(B)(2). This waiver applies to FHA-insured mortgages located in the Presidentially-Declared Major Disaster Area (PDMDA) for the recent Texas severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding. The current policy is being waived for FHA-insured mortgages that are in the PDMDA for Texas Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds and

On 7/6/2025, with DR-4879, FEMA declared federal disaster aid with individual assistance to Kerr county Texas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding from 7/2/2025, and continuing. For inspection requirements, view AmeriHome Mortgage Disaster Announcement 20250702-CL.

On 7/10/2025, with Amendment No. 1 to DR-4879, FEMA declared federal disaster aid with individual assistance has been made available to 5 additional Texas counties affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding from 7/2/2025, and continuing. View AmeriHome Mortgage Disaster Announcement 20250703-CL for details.

PHH Mortgage posted Disaster Alert Announcements regarding DR-4879 Texas flooding. View the PHH company library to view.

Capital Markets

Recent economic data paints a mixed picture of momentum. Imports are slowing sharply, with inbound container volumes at major U.S. ports falling for the second consecutive month, highlighting the growing impact of Trump’s trade war. New home sales rebounded in June, but the broader market remains sluggish due to high mortgage rates, poor affordability, and rising insurance costs. While listings are up in booming Sunbelt metros, putting mild downward pressure on prices, they remain constrained in much of the rest of the country.

Without much in the way of news to open the week, we can look ahead to later this week, which is expected to show early July business sentiment surveys (PMIs) ticked higher on optimism around the 2026 tax cut, though they also suggest that input cost inflation continues to run hotter than in recent years. Durable goods orders likely fell back in June after a temporary boost from aircraft demand in May.

Today’s economic calendar kicked off with Philadelphia Fed non-manufacturing surveys for July, and will be followed by Redbook same store sales, Richmond Fed manufacturing and services for July, some short-duration Treasury auctions, and remarks from Fed Chair Powell and Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Bowman. Today is 48-hour notification for Class D MBS. We begin the day with Agency MBS prices unchanged from Monday’s close, the 2-year yielding 3.85, and the 10-year yielding 4.37 after closing yesterday at 4.37 percent.