Verification, MERS Review, AI, LOS, Compliance Tools; KBW's Bose George Interview

When in doubt, hold a conference. It is an aging group of attendees… exhibitors’ displays and giveaways tell the tale. Frisbees have been replaced with reading glasses. Golf balls by nail files and hangover remedy pouches. MBA cut its 2027 forecast to $2.101 trillion; $634 billion is what the Mortgage Bankers Association now expects Americans to refinance in all of 2027. What’s new out there? At the ACUMA event, I had a chance to spend some time with Kent Staudmyer with NFP Property & Casualty Services, Inc.. Home equity is a big growth area, and NFP provides a credit enhancement for Home Equity Loans and HELOC’s through its Equity Protection Program. (Kent said the Program creates more loan opportunities and measurable growth for your home equity portfolio by expanding your CLTV and guideline parameters.) Robbie Chrisman reported that in Schnectady, at the NYMBA, the conversation in the hallways includes Ginnie Mae’s focus on liquidity, continuing to have young people enter the business, bottlenecks for Fannie Mae (like affordability pressures due to the lock in effect, laws and regulations, zoning & permitting, land, lumber, and labor), the MBA seeing origination activity continuing to be constrained, and companies finding ways to provide more borrower eligibility in a responsible manner. (Today’s podcast can be found here. This week’s ‘casts are presented by Spring EQ, the clear choice in home equity and non-QM solutions. Since 2016, Spring EQ has helped more than 160,000 homeowners access over $16 billion in equity. Today’s has an interview with KBW’s Bose George on his market research and view for the industry moving forward.)