Lender and Broker Services, Products, and Software

Warehouse lending got a major upgrade in 2025. OptiFunder has transformed the industry with the first fully connected warehouse ecosystem that brings originators and warehouse lenders together. Its WMS and Greyhound platforms automate everything, from funding requests to paydowns, so no more delays or endless spreadsheets. Originators get smart AI-driven warehouse allocation and automated workflows, while lenders enjoy a modern, secure system that makes collaboration effortless. When combined, WMS and Greyhound deliver the industry’s first end-to-end warehouse lifecycle, replacing outdated processes with automation, collaboration, and security. With deep integrations to LOS systems, custodians, investors, and tools like fraud prevention and eVaults, data moves instantly and documents flow without friction, resulting in lower risk, faster strategies, and a process that finally feels seamless. Schedule a demo to see why so many originators and warehouse lenders are trusting OptiFunder with their warehouse strategy.

As lenders look ahead to 2026, many are taking a hard look at their tech stacks, starting with the CRM. Not just whether it works, but whether it’s actually working for their teams. Outdated systems and oversized platforms often come with long wait times, generic support, and limited flexibility. That’s why more lenders are reevaluating what they really need from a CRM partner. Automation that supports daily workflows. Open integrations. And support teams who know your business and pick up the phone. Usherpa is leaning into that expectation as a Relationship Engagement Platform, built to help loan officers and marketing teams stay connected and productive. Real people. Real guidance. Real partnership. If your 2026 plans include smarter engagement and stronger relationships, it may be time to take a closer look. Reach out to see what a true CRM partner looks like.

Laminr Technologies’ Automated Bank Statement Income Analysis Now Accepted by Verus Mortgage Capital! Laminr Technologies, the leading automated decisioning platform serving the non-QM market, is excited to announce that its fully automated bank statement income analysis is now accepted by Verus Mortgage Capital. This expands upon the existing acceptance by Long Run Partners, Onlsow Bay Financial and SG Capital Partners. All investors consider Laminr bank statement results valid and approved when specific guideline conditions are met. The workflow is simple: originators upload 12-24 months of bank statements, Laminr automatically analyzes income and generates a summary report to include in the credit package to the Investor. Users report over 50% gains in bank statement underwriting efficiency and improved secondary market execution. This milestone reinforces Laminr’s commitment to accelerating and simplifying non-QM underwriting, origination, and secondary marketing. For more information, and to request a demo, visit www.laminr.ai.

“Have you heard of the “Roomba Problem”? It’s when processing and underwriting teams still do excessive document “prep work” just to make their automated underwriting platform function. If you’re gathering, organizing, and pre-sorting documents before decisioning, that’s not underwriting automation… it’s housekeeping. Too often, lenders waste valuable time manually tidying up before their system can even start, like cleaning the house before letting the Roomba run. At Indecomm, we combine IDXGenius | ai and DecisionGenius to deliver true end-to-end underwriting that works from start to finish. No manual workarounds. No hidden steps. Just smarter, AI-powered document and underwriting automation that saves time and improves credit decisioning. Ready to ditch the “partial solution” and experience the real deal? Join our upcoming webinar, “Solving the Roomba Problem in Underwriting,” and discover how Genius AI by Indecomm delivers a holistic, end-to-end automated underwriting experience that eliminates prep work and enhances decisioning.”

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.

Lowering Appraisal Costs: What LOs Should Know

Recently I received a note “LO VieauxPoint” from Brian Vieaux, President, MISMO, addressing the topic of appraisal waivers, faster turn times, and less risk.

“UAD 3.6 should already be on your agenda. Do you want more appraisal waivers? Do you want appraisals completed faster, with better accuracy and quality? Do you want less liability and risk tied to appraisal data flowing through your organization? It’s hard to imagine anyone in mortgage answering “no” to any of those questions.

“On November 14, 2025, the first UAD 3.6 appraisal was successfully submitted through the Uniform Collateral Data Portal. The appraisal was completed using SFREP’s Appraise-It Pro software, delivered through AIMSdashboard, and accepted by the lender, North State Bank. No issues. No disruption. Just a real appraisal moving through modernized rails.

“UAD 3.6 is no longer theoretical. It’s operational and is part of the broader Uniform Mortgage Data Program (UMDP), overseen by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and jointly implemented by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. UMDP has been the foundation for standardizing mortgage data across the industry, enabling automation, consistency, and scalable risk analysis. UAD 3.6 is the next evolution of that work. It replaces legacy appraisal forms with a single, dynamic Uniform Residential Appraisal Report (URAR). Instead of choosing a form number, the appraisal is driven by property characteristics and inspection type. The data is structured, standardized, and aligned with the MISMO reference model, enabling cleaner integration with lender systems and far more reliable downstream analysis.

“Ordering, procurement, quality control, underwriting, risk, and compliance are all implicated.

For mortgage originators, the implications are tangible. Cleaner appraisal data supports faster reviews, fewer conditions, and greater confidence in collateral risk assessment. That confidence directly supports expanded use of appraisal waivers, which translate into lower costs, shorter cycle times, and a smoother borrower experience.

“There is also risk in delay. Lenders who wait until UAD 3.6 is mandatory are likely to carry hidden costs long after the deadline: manual reviews, exception handling, vendor misalignment, and internal confusion. By contrast, lenders using today’s Limited Production Period as a learning window are positioning themselves for efficiency and scale.

“The only question left is leadership. Ask your leadership team: Are we prepared to adopt UAD 3.6? What systems, partners, and timelines are in place? For a deeper look at why UAD 3.6 matters, how it ties to UMDP, and what early adoption unlocks for lenders and originators, read the full VieauxPoint blog: Do You Want Appraisal Waivers, Faster Turn Times, and Less Risk? Waiting will not make this easier. Preparation will.” Thank you, Brian!

Capital Markets

The latest BLS payrolls data confirms that the U.S. labor market has largely stalled since the spring, with modest payroll gains offset by losses and recent job growth concentrated almost entirely in health care and construction. November payrolls rose just 64k following a sharp October decline tied to reduced federal employment, pulling the three-month average down to only 22k jobs created. More concerning is the growing slack beneath the surface: the unemployment rate climbed to 4.6 percent (the highest since the post-pandemic period), underemployment jumped, and nearly a million more workers are involuntarily working part time.

Despite the headline deterioration, markets reacted calmly, likely reflecting skepticism about data quality, the backward-looking nature of the report, and the knowledge that the Fed will receive additional labor and inflation data before its January meeting. Taken together with retail sales (more on that in a second), these trends support the Fed’s recent rate cut and reinforce a base case of two additional 25-basis point cuts in March and June of 2026, with risks increasingly skewed toward more easing in 2026, though near-term policy and mortgage rates are unlikely to shift meaningfully until clearer inflation signals emerge. 10-year yields have effectively been in a 4.00 percent to 4.20 percent range since early September, but that will eventually break; the bias is for 4.00 percent resistance to be breached before 4.20-4.25 percent, but incoming data will have the ultimate vote.

Outside the labor market, the broader economic picture remains mixed but softening. October retail sales were flat, with weakness in general merchandise offset by autos, a result that aligns with expectations for modest holiday spending and slightly firmer fourth-quarter PCE growth than previously forecast. However, higher-frequency indicators suggest consumer momentum may be slipping into year-end, while slowing business activity and rising input costs continue to weigh on sentiment.

Today’s economic calendar kicked off with mortgage applications falling 3.8 percent for the week ending December 12, driven by declines in both purchase and refinance activity, according to the MBA. Despite the weekly drop, refinancing activity remained strong year over year, up 86 percent, while purchase applications were still 13 percent higher than the same week last year.

That’s the only meaningful data point on the calendar, though Treasury will auction $13 billion reopened 20-year bonds and conduct a buyback (liquidity support) in 20- to 30-year coupons for up to $2 billion. Three Fed speakers are currently scheduled: Governor Waller, New York’s Williams, and Atlanta’s Bostic. We begin the day with Agency MBS prices little changed from Tuesday’s close, the 2-year yielding 3.50, and the 10-year yielding 4.16 after closing yesterday at 4.15 percent.