“What is it called when an alligator has brain damage? A reptile disfunction.” On a more serious note, “ Cognitive Surrender ” is a new and useful term for how AI melts brains , although it can be a useful tool. Meanwhile, Microsoft tells us, “Copilot is for entertainment purposes only . It can make mistakes, and it may not work as intended. Don’t rely on Copilot for important advice. Use Copilot at your own risk.” Does it mean anything that software job postings are up 30 pe

This year, “Bring a Kid to Work Day” is April 23. The name seems to have shifted: I remember “Bring Your Child to Work Day.” The population of the United States also shifts, something that lenders and originators are very aware of in the primary markets, and should be aware of in the secondary markets. Companies and job creators move, for various reasons. Population migration since 2019, accelerated by the pandemic, has shifted growth toward Sun Belt states like Texas and Flo

What are “bone ash apartments”? Trust me: you wouldn’t want one next to you here in the States; it’s an example of when the government interferes with housing. China has two space problems, and one has become a solution to the other. The first issue is a property glut. Widespread government construction and a saving strategy centered on buying up more apartments than one might need means a lot of buildings are empty. And property prices in the country can be incredibly low, a

Unlike the sunny outlook that a Golden Retriever’s or goldfish’s brain has, the human brain has a built-in negative bias that causes us to focus on bad things. This negativity bias can have an impact on our behavior and decisions. There are certainly a lot of bad things to focus on these days, but it is important for lenders and third-party providers to look past rates having gone up by .5 percent and remember the good things. For example, the U.S. home ownership percentage i

“Rob, what do you hear about Fannie & Freddie being released from conservatorship?” Not much. Although it may change with one random tweet, the idea & process of jettisoning them is not even “on the back burner”… It may be back in the refrigerator. Maybe 2031? Both are certainly building up their net worth, but they don’t have enough capital to be released based on the amount of capital required under an Administrative Rule . The U.S. Government doesn’t want to lose control,

(Yes, this is the non-April Fool’s edition.) Research suggests that by the time your child turns 18, you will have spent approximately 95 percent of the time you will ever spend with them in your lifetime. (Don’t worry, I am not going to break into Harry Chapin’s “Cat’s in the Cradle.”) Time flies, Apple turns 50 today, the first quarter is in the books, and here in Northern Nevada, like everywhere, lenders are watching trends and technology. There are all kinds of lists ou

Critics outside of our industry say that the mortgage biz is dull, mature, and has become unstable. Those inside of it, however, know differently, and see it as an ever-changing kaleidoscope of exciting changes, incredible innovation, and complexities rivaling the Apollo Program. Originators are always focused on borrower trends, and pollster Larsen, Golden, & Miller released the results of its latest survey done by its blue ribbon commission, somehow reaching people on their