It was a rough weekend. My cat Myrtle, resting comfortably at the top of the food chain, was visibly miffed at me not nominating her (again) for the vaulted “40 under 40” award. I reminded her that she is way over that in cat years, but my explanation fell on her one deaf ear and her one good ear despite me telling her how much line-caught salmon we could buy with the nomination fee. (Hey, don’t get me wrong. I know some of those folks who were nominated or selected, and the industry is better off because of them!) If lenders would like a little good news, they should know that, despite the low interest rates we saw a few years ago, people are still moving, and that’s a source of business. Around 8.6 percent of Americans moved last year, slightly more than the previous year, but still below pre-pandemic levels. Accordingly, WalletHub released its report on 2023’s Best States to Live in. Chalk it up to complete East Coast bias, but Massachusetts, New J
Whether it is independent mortgage banks or companies with the largest market caps in the world, new products are being developed and rolled out to help drive growth. Apple unveiled new iPhone models, versions of the AirPods Pro, and several smartwatches yesterday. Closer to home, lenders are also exploring new products to drive volume. Newrez announced a 40-Year IO option, designed to increase purchasing power for homebuyers by offering a 40-year loan term with interest-only payments for the first 10 years. The longer loan term does lower monthly payments, though I received a couple reader comments saying the CFPB will certainly be keeping its eye out for any predatory lending practices. Government is omnipresent in the financial industry, and often for the better. New guidance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) regarding multiple re-presentment nonsufficient funds fees suggests that banks eliminate the fees altogether. (Today’s podcast is available here and
Now that we have passed the unofficial end of summer, am I allowed or not allowed to wear white on Zoom calls before 2023’s Memorial Day? Maybe darker-hued clothing better suits the current mortgage landscape. Labor Day became an official holiday in 1894 and was quickly followed by the subjective rule that if you didn't have the money to take fall and winter vacations you should refrain from wearing white, but no one in 2022 should feel the need to follow it. Culture is always changing and understanding that will help mortgage companies with retention. It is a different time than when many of us entered the industry. Heck, the 96-year old queen of England stars in TikToks now. Investors are “socially conscious” in allocating capital, even down to how they support affordable housing and provide access to credit for underserved individuals. Mortgage companies are hoping that changes from Washington D.C., including the plan to forgive loan debt, could help con