Change is constant: How ‘bout U.S. Steel, the Pittsburgh steel producer that played a key role in the nation’s industrialization, being acquired by Nippon Steel in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $14.1 billion? (Let’s not forget that GM and Ford have been dwarfed by Tesla, Mercedes, Toyota, and even Volvo.) I had my share of “hard hat” jobs growing up, so I noticed OSHA announcing a switch from traditional hard hats to safety helmets. Is that the politically correct term now? Speaking of terms, “smishing” is a term that combines “SMS” and “phishing” where hackers try to get your personal and banking information through unsolicited text messages on mobile devices by pretending to be government agencies, companies that you might have done business with, or a package delivery service. They’ll say something to get your urgent attention like a text about a free gift that you have to pay a small
Yesterday, a clown held the door open for me. It was such a nice jester. On the flip side, it’s not nice being taken advantage of and lenders are feeling Thunderstruck about, as this Commentary has mentioned several times, credit costs being jacked (more below). On the inflation theme and a little more mainstream, for me and plenty of people who read this Commentary every day, is the egg price fixing that has been occurring. (Remember when prices were way up around Easter?) Although inflation has been slowing, we don’t need this stuff. And the price of the twelve gifts described in the classic song “The 12 Days of Christmas” is at a record high of $46,730, according to PNC’s 2023 Christmas Price Index. At the other end of the cost spectrum, how’d you like to live like Martha Stewart (for a night) for $11.23? Rent her place! (Today’s podcast can be found here, and this week’s is sponsored by MCT. MCT’s technology and know-ho
When you own your own home, you don’t have to deal with unreasonable landlords. (Warning: uncensored.) And then there are those who own their own homes that have no mortgage: almost 40 percent of Americans own their places outright, an all-time high. Do you think that you could live in 200 square feet? There are tiny homes, and then there is this place that kind of folds up! (Thank you to Arch’s Sharon K. for sending this along.) Meanwhile, among lenders there are many reports of, what is in effect, pick-a-pay, when the “referral” source is moved within the company. LO comp is still an issue, as brokers can have different comp plans but LOs can’t. Pre-approvals and pre-quals off the chart, but there is no inventory. Multiple bids are occurring in many areas and price points. In the wholesale channel, smaller companies can’t out-price the “big guys,” so instead are focusing on service and products. And here come the holidays! (Toda
Whether it is an obscure band or an eatery in San Diego, a well-known palindrome is “tacocat.” Huh? Yes, it’s the same spelled backward or forward. You hadn’t heard that one? How about this one: “Rob, have you heard that when Lender XYZ funds a loan, it is sold to an investor, and usually the servicing is sold to someone else, but then Lender XYZ and its LO quickly offer to refinance the loan when rates drop. At that point Lender XYZ makes its origination fee again, and the investor and servicer lose out.” Yes, it’s everywhere as originators and lenders scramble for business. Current and previous clients are good sources, as other sources are tough to find: With the NAR verdict in Missouri being a sign of the times, where are LOs supposed to go for referral sources if not the buyer’s agent in the future? (Today’s podcast can be found here, sponsored by LoanCare, the mortgage subservicer known for delivering superior custome
Yes, WeWork has filed for bankruptcy, but if you look at GDP and employment, our economy is doing pretty well. Did you know that the Dallas metro area is home to the headquarters of companies responsible for originating 78 percent of residential volume? You probably didn’t, as I just made that up out of thin air. Texas’ growth and not having state income tax both help. Here in Dallas at the TMBA Education Symposium, there is plenty of discussion about the industry incorporating non-traditional products into their lineups, such as reverse mortgages, bond programs, buydowns, renovation loans, construction to perm financing, and jumbo loans, all have value to lenders. Meanwhile, loan originators are looking at a “full stack” loan origination & processing platform like Realfinity.io to go “independent” allowing them to get the most competitive pricing directly from wholesale lenders with no overlays due to corporate expenses. (No, this