It’s the 100 th edition of these Musings, so it seems I need to write something special: something that is accessible and insightful to all readers and will provide deep meaning and energize your life. [1] At a minimum, this “Musing for the masses” will avoid using acronyms that only my mortgage industry peeps understand and refrain from discussing ongoing litigation implications. [2] I’m even going to spend some time talking about summer camp. So, in this “ Very Special”

Vendor management is a cornerstone of risk management for mortgage lenders, ensuring operational stability and regulatory compliance in a...

“Breaking” mortgage litigation news I’m not a news reporter [1] (and these Musings are not legal advice), but here I am reporting on the...

After years of mounting pressure and advocacy, the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act (commonly referred to as the “trigger lead bill”)...

Suddenly, occupancy fraud is national news Recent allegations of mortgage loan occupancy fraud[1] on second homes and investor properties...

Ten Keys to Survival 1. Preserve capital. 2. Maintain maximum liquidity. 3. If not profitable, cut expenses down to where you break even....

We have seen too many banks and credit unions exit mortgage banking, usually at exactly the wrong time. But the good news is that many...

Now that we’re kicking off the new year, it’s a good time to set goals and establish priorities. Here are ten things we hope you’re...

Human nature is to be corrupt Like all humans, [1] I am self-interested and tribal by nature, [2] and that is corrupting. So, with a...

In the mortgage industry, risk is a constant variable. Something that can be managed, or mitigated, but never eliminated. Amid the...

And it still plagues industry and consumers alike Back in early 2020, in just my third Mortgage Musing, I joked that the...

Trigger leads, Twitter feeds, and the changing DC game The headline in the June 24, 2025 Mortgage Bankers Association’s Newslink read,...

At the heart of mortgage lending is a simple axiom: the value of any loan rests on the quality of its collateral. For centuries, that...

Deregulation may ease oversight, but it raises the stakes. Without the scaffolding of regulatory mandates, trust becomes the only real...

Understanding the Tradeoffs Liquidity and credit boxes My Uncle Jerry passed away 5 years ago , but he was a great storyteller. Among his...

The U.S. mortgage industry has long centered around the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, a product deeply entrenched in American financial...

An Open Letter to Policy Makers and Advocates Summary Should conservatorship of Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FHLMC) occur without...

President Donald Trump recently announced on social media that he is seriously considering taking Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public once...

DI (and DEI) get a reckoning in Trump 2.0 LIRC’ing for over 30 years After working almost 5 years at large law firm in Chicago, and right...

Why we need the CFPB? The above photo for fast-food financing was not AI generated. It is a real pop-up store that actually appeared in...