“I'm at a place in my life where errands are starting to count as going out.” No one’s getting any younger, and like time marching on, technology does as well. For history buffs, here is a recording of the voice of someone born in 1800, at the 13:30 mark in the video. Fast forward, and something that enthralled countless kids has run its course: The last Chuck E. Cheese animatronic band in the world will exist in Northridge, California. Remember when that chain was popular for kids’ birthday parties? Assumable mortgages were, at one point, popular as well, but not any longer. “Assumable mortgages are hard to find, take long to process, and are only good for certain buyers.” But that doesn’t stop them from grabbing the public’s attention when they’re in the headlines. (Today’s podcast can be found here, and this week’s is sponsored by Richey May, a recognized leader in providing specialized advisory, audit, tax, technology and other services to the mortgage industry for almost four decades. Today’s has an interview with Argyle’s Brian Geary on mortgage vertical growth, customer benefits of technology integrations, and how vendors can differentiate themselves from competitors.) Lender and Broker Products, Programs, and Services Hot off the press! Did you know Optimal Blue offers a free monthly report with metrics on origination activity? That’s right: The Originations Market Monitor provides a comprehensive and timely look into origination data for the U.S. and the top 20 metropolitan statistical areas by share of total volume. The latest report, which looks at data through November’s month-end, is now available. Highlights from November include an uptick in rate/term refinance production and a significant decline in average purchase price, possibly signaling a trend in falling prices. Access the latest Originations Market Monitor and subscribe to receive the report each month.