The Principal

The housing market remained volatile to start 2023, but things seem to have calmed down. So what can we expect during what are typically some of the busiest months of the year for homebuying? Veros Chief Economist Eric Fox gives us a look.

We're all trying to catch up with technology. But developers aren't waiting for us. ServiceLink Vice President of Product Sandeepa Sasimohan tells us where tech is going and where it will take the mortgage industry.

Not all recessions are created equal. Other originators may be dreading an economic downturn, but MBS Highway Founder and CEO Barry Habib tells us how you can use a recession to close more loans.

When Kind Lending laid off 150 employees in 2022, founder and CEO Glenn Stearns promised he'd bring them back. Now he's making good on that promise.

Want to build up a base of wealthier borrowers? Stratmor Group Principal Jennifer Smith shares tips on how to build referrals from wealth advisors.

Many in the mortgage industry are facing rejection, whether it's from customers or potential employers. Creative Mindset Founder and CEO Nir Bashan tells us how we can make that rejection part of our routine and grow from it.

Congressional Republicans say the CFPB is "ripe for reform." Polunsky, Bietel Green Principal Jay Bietel talks about their proposed reforms and what those changes would mean for the mortgage industry

Women are leveling the playing field when it comes to origination jobs, but the top positions are still largely held by men. Arrive Home Co-Founder and Chief Diversity Officer Tai Christensen talks about how we change that.

Most borrowers want their mortgage application to be strong. Help them put together the best application they can. Enact Director of Customer Education Mary Kay Scully says this will also deter borrowers who will take advantage of a mistake that can lead to fraud.

Lenders are finding creative products that they claim can help your clients. Mortgage Cadence VP of Sales and Strategy Joe Camelieri helps us figure out which ones we need to offer.

Howard Hanna Mortgage Services is one of NMP Magazine's 2023 Diversity Leaders. A top executive talks about how the company has grown its staff, including looking to other organizations for help.

Technology can help make our jobs easier. But if you really want to unlock tech's power, you need your products to work together. AppraisalVision Director of Product Management Sidney Bocik tells us how to remove the silos in our tech stacks.

Companies developing technology are trying to recruit more women. So how do we make sure some of them are drawn to mortgage technology and, more generally, Fintech. Huringa founder and CEO Melody Wright talks about her journey and offers some ideas.

Immigrants come to the U.S. for a better life, and many are finding it thanks to careers in the mortgage industry. And their success stories show us all how to find more business in a down market.

Feeling overwhelmed at work? Don't check out and let your performance suffer. Resume Genius Lead Researcher Rebecca Tay tells us how to make work easier and avoid burnout without quiet quitting.

Dan Catinella, chief lending officer for Total Expert, says originators are optimistic about the market but need marketing to give them an edge.

We're already seeing signs mortgage fraud is on the rise. Is your business doing everything it can to protect itself? Texas attorney Kip Mendrygal tells us how to be spot fraud as it's happening. You can read about his tips in NMP's newest magazine, Lone Star LO, which launches today.

The industry has made strides in diversity, but that doesn't automatically make offices more inclusive. So how do you make sure all of your employees feel valued? RCN Capital Chief Marketing Officer and NMP Insider Erica LaCentra shares some tips.

Is the Fed ready to pump the breaks on rate hikes? Or will ease into things will lower rate hikes? Duke University economics professor Connel Fullenkamp tells us what he expects, and how the Fed's actions will impact mortgage rates and home buying.

Kristy Fercho graduated college with aspirations to work on Wall Street. But she's taken a different route, and using her life experiences to run diverse segments at Wells Fargo.

Companies in various sectors of the economy are adopting work-from-home models and offering unlimited time off. Can that work in the mortgage industry? ACES Quality Management CEO and NMP Magazine 2023 Industry Titan Trevor Gauthier talks about changes his company has made.

Adding product lines and partnering with new lenders takes time and research. So how do you know that the lender will stay in business? A&D Mortgage SVP of Business Development Michael Pearson talks about whether investors are coming around on non-QM loans.

Volume remains way down, even with originations rebounding to start 2023. Could Non-qualified mortgages be a creative alternative that helps some of your borrowers and boosts your bottom line? Angel Oak Solutions Regional Sales Manager Ben Scribner talks about how LOs can get started with Non-QM.

Inflation is cooling and prices and rates have settled. Originations have been up to start the year. Has the market rebounded, or will we have to wait? Mortgage Educators and Compliance President David Luna shares his thoughts.

Investors in any field like to know that they're going to turn a profit. So when the housing market became turbulent, many investors stepped to the sidelines. Haus Lending Directors of Sales Melissa Deal and RCN Capital CMO Erica LaCentra talk about how you can help them buy properties with confidence.

The market is moving in the right direction, but MLO's can always do more to be more efficient. We got a chance to speak with Leah Sommerville of DocMagic at the New England Mortgage Expo last week.

It's time to embrace Blockchain, according to Sun West Mortgage CEO Pavan Agarwal. His prediction? Blockchain will be as common as email in five years.

Rocket Pro TPO Divisional Vice President Chris Behrns discusses what the lender is doing to keep brokers thriving in what's expected to be a tough year for the mortgage industry.

Shashank Shekhar says 2023 may be challenging, but not impossible. He says you will need to invest heavily in those referral relationships, but it starts by investing in yourself and signing up for his webinar this Thursday at 2 p.m.

We're almost three weeks into the new year and originators are second guessing which strategies to take for dealing with the market. Chief Marketing Officer at Velocity Mortgage Capital, Michael Oddi, recommends going full speed ahead.

Next Level LO Founder Kenneth Travis says anyone with a heartbeat could turn loans during the refi boom. And even veterans got away from some of the basics. With the market coming to a screeching halt, it's time to return to doing the little things.

If you're too negative, you'll get tuned out. So how do you make sure your critiques get heard? Nir Bashan, founder and CEO of The Creator Mindset, talks about the power of positivity.

Most people think of cryptocurrency when they hear about blockchains, but the technology can help you improve your production process. Blue Water Financial Technologies SVP Due Diligence Product Manager Hailey Rice tells us how.

Monica Zhang was a banker when someone suggested her relationship skills could succeed in mortgage. Five years later, she's got her own company. The NMP Magazine 2023 Industry Titan talks about her journey.

The market may be shifting, but don't let that get you down. You certainly don't want your borrowers to think it's a bad time to be in the market. Trainer and consultant Steve Richman tells us how to turn business around.

Are you considering being a delegated or non-delegated correspondent? Making a change? NMP staff writer Katie Jensen tells you what you need to know.

In an exclusive interview, Rocket Companies CEO Jay Farner talks about the company's strategy when investing and expanding its business. As Rocket steps out into new ventures, what happens to its core mortgage business?

Rocket has promoted Austin Niemic and Mike Fawaz to bigger roles in the company. Fawaz talks about what this means for him and for one of the nation's biggest lenders.

Fraudsters are always looking to stay one step ahead of technology. Secure Insights CEO Andrew Input talks about how to avoid costly data breaches.

After taking over Sun West Mortgage Company during the 2008 crisis, Pavan Agarwal is using artificial intelligence to revamp the industry. We sat down with Agarwal to find out what motivates his business practices.

Hiring diverse candidates isn't enough. You need an inclusive workplace so you can retain your talent. The chief HR officer from Fairway Independent Mortgage talks about what makes a top workplace for women.

Gen Z borrowers are so scared of the market, they're breaking their purchase contracts and backing out of the market. Matt Newman, branch manager at UMortgage, says that what young buyers need is confidence and education.

A lot of economists are predicting the housing market will slow down in 2023. Veros Chief Economist Eric Fox agrees, but he says it's all about perspective. Things were bound to cool off, and he thinks some people are too pessimistic.

There's a lot to do this time of year. All that stress can make burnout more likely. NMP Insider and career coach Tina Asher talks about how to reset and re-energize.

Feel like you're stuck in a rut? NMP Insider Erica LaCentra gives some tips to help your job search and request for a promotion.

Add TransUnion to the list of experts predicting a downturn in the housing market next year. But the jump in prices could provide a bright spot: equity for owners to borrow against. TransUnion SVP and Mortgage Business Leader Joe Mellman gives us a look into 2023.

The National Association of Real Estate Brokers issued a new report showing the Black homeownership rate has dipped, and the racial homeownership is growing. So how do we finally reverse that trend? NAREB President Lydia Pope talks about the report.

The Federal Reserve meets again this week. Do we have enough economic data for the Fed to look at smaller rate hikes? Or maybe none at all? Duke University professor Connell Fullenkamp breaks things down.

The mortgage industry is looking at new ways to evaluate a borrower's credit profile. Ashley Bell says his new Ready Life is the answer.

The FHFA raised conventional loan limits, including a cap of more than $1 million in certain high cost areas. Some critics, including the Wall Street Journal, say this means the government is subsidizing so-called McMansions. Peter Idziak, a senior associate attorney with Polunsky Beitel Green talks about whether this is a fair criticism.

Gen Z homebuyers are getting cold feet about buying a home, and they're backing out of their purchase contracts. How can you coach them to buy with confidence? Newman Mortgage President Matt Newman shares some tips.