Feb. 18: AE, LO jobs; LO-centric marketing, credit score products; company-sponsored events; Faith Schwartz interview; the changing role of the LO
Here in New Orleans, the average rainfall is about 5 feet a year, much of it in the summer. Out west, most snow and rain occur in the winter. I mention this because, although being hit by a storm now including a deadly avalanche, until recently the Western U.S. was in a dire snow drought. What comes next is even scarier. Does the climate, and its impact on weather, impact lenders and servicers? Of course it does. But then again, in my 40+ years in capital markets, I’ve seen many things impact our biz, And on today’s Mortgage Matters live interview (at 1PM ET; feel free to ask questions) Faith Schwartz, who has an incredible pedigree, draws upon her decades of housing finance and policy experience to discuss crisis leadership lessons, regulatory evolution, and what today’s lenders should be watching as the market recalibrates. One topic could very well be the FHFA rolling back Fair Housing Rules: The Federal agency finalized repeal of 2024 oversight requirements for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, effective March 9. Yes, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has finalized a rule repealing the Equitable Housing Finance Plans that governed fair-lending oversight for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks. (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s ‘casts are sponsored by Optimal Blue. The only end-to-end capital markets platform built to power performance, precision, and profitability. Modern. Proven. Optimal Blue. Hear an interview with Beyond Zero-Dedicated Development Consultants’ Kevin Kennon on how sustainable design, resilience, and AI are reshaping residential real estate economics, influencing credit risk, asset performance, and long-term mortgage viability.)
Employment
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Alt Income = New Year Opportunity. Tax season is here, and self-employed borrowers need options beyond tax returns. Logan Finance, a top five non-QM lender, offers three paths to qualification: Bank Statement loans, 1099 loans for contractors and gig-economy workers, and P&L loans with CPA-prepared statements. All programs feature a 660 minimum FICO and support primary, second home, and investment properties. Logan is also growing its correspondent channel and seeking a Correspondent Account Executive to lead that growth. The role focuses on scaling non-delegated production while selectively expanding delegated partnerships without sacrificing margin, quality, or execution. Candidates with 3-5 years in correspondent sales and deep non-QM experience are encouraged to apply. Interested? Email David Nieves with a resume to start a confidential conversation. NMLS ID #127722.
ACC Mortgage is expanding its national wholesale team and hiring experienced Non-QM Account Executives who want a platform that can truly support their production. This is a well-capitalized lender with strong leadership, operational depth, and a track record of helping AEs grow real volume in the non-QM space. As the oldest non-QM lender in the marketplace, the company brings unmatched experience and stability to brokers and partners nationwide. The role is fully remote and relationship focused, giving you the ability to build and manage broker partners through calls and email while leveraging a strong CRM and marketing engine that keeps deals moving. Compensation is performance-driven with uncapped earnings, plus transition support designed to help you ramp quickly and confidently. If you are ready to plug into a lender that matches your hustle, reach out today.
You’re invited to learn how Fairway Home Mortgage supports loan officers and branch managers in building successful, sustainable mortgage careers. Tuesday February 24th at 12est/11cst, join Fairway for an anonymous virtual meeting that takes you behind the curtain with Fairway’s executive team and other leaders. You’ll have an inside look at what makes Fairway a thriving independent mortgage bank, and how its platform, technology, culture, and leadership are designed to help professionals succeed on their mortgage journey. This is a unique opportunity to listen, learn, and ask questions in a confidential setting: Feb 24 Fairway Day.
The Chrisman Job Board is the go-to platform for employment opportunities across the mortgage industry. For employers, adding a job listing is easy. Simply create an account and drop in your existing application link, or forward the details to our team and we’ll take care of it for you. For job seekers, joining our Talent Community is completely free. Upload your resume to be visible to hiring companies across the industry and stay connected to new opportunities as they go live.
Products, services, and software for brokers and lenders
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Every lender knows a purchase loan isn’t a HELOC, a refi isn’t construction and calling everything “Other” is very dial-up internet (Hello ‘90s!). Fast forward to Dynamic Apps 2.0 from Floify, which lets lenders create custom loan purposes beyond purchase and refinance (HELOCs, construction, ag, cash-out and more) each with its own application flow. That means asking borrowers only the right questions, showing only the right sections and triggering the right disclosures automatically, based on loan type. No workarounds. No collecting missing info later. Just high-speed lending that boosts completion rates, reduces operational friction, and supports specialty products, all on one scalable platform. Dynamic Apps 2.0 will be featured at ICE Experience, March 15–18 in booth 713. See it in action, no buffering required.
Agile, a groundbreaking fintech bringing mortgage lenders and broker-dealers onto a single electronic platform, has been named a winner of HousingWire’s 2026 Tech100 Award, which recognizes the most innovative and impactful technology companies in housing finance. Agile was recognized for replacing historically manual, phone-based MBS bids with a secure, intelligent electronic platform that unifies mortgage lenders and broker-dealers through a single, end-to-end workflow. “Agile was built to eliminate inefficiency and improve transparency in MBS trading,” said Greg Vacura, President of Agile. “This recognition highlights the real, measurable value our platform delivers. The focus is on better pricing, faster execution, and a more scalable way for lenders and dealers to operate in today’s market.” Read the full press release or contact Agile today to learn more about how Agile is unifying mortgage lenders and broker-dealers through a single, end-to-end workflow.
Buying loans from multiple sources or on reliance letter? The complexity isn’t the deal, it’s the data. Investors often receive diligence and reliance data from multiple firms, in multiple formats, delivered through emails, spreadsheets, and disconnected portals. The result: slower reviews, operational drag, and a greater risk of inconsistencies that can delay execution. LauraMac DataHub cuts through the noise. DataHub receives diligence data directly from up to 16 diligence providers, regardless of who initiated the review, and consolidates it into a single, secure portal. Standardized, loan-level data can be pulled instantly into consistent, securitization-ready reports, eliminating manual aggregation and reformatting and reducing back-and-forth across parties. In a market where speed and certainty drive execution, LauraMac DataHub delivers clarity, control, and confidence in the data behind every deal. Contact Renee Magee to learn more.
“Oink! Oink! Piggy-Back Purchase and Refinance! Don’t forget that Symmetry can help with concurrent piggyback refinances as well as purchase options. Our second lien offering can be used to manage loan balances so they fit within new conforming high-balance limits, avoiding the need to subordinate existing second mortgages, and help borrowers steer clear of jumbo pricing and guidelines by pairing a conventional first with our second. Clients can also access more cash by closing concurrently, or after the first mortgage to tap additional available equity through our post-close option. Please reach out for more details! Symmetry Lending.”
“PlainsCapital Bank National Warehouse Lending, a subsidiary of Hilltop Holdings (NYSE: HTH), offers funding for multiple mortgage products and programs with little to no additional requirements. FNMA HomeStyle, FHA 203K Full, Limited, and USDA Rural Housing renovation loans. Mortgage Revenue Bond and DPA loans with extended dwell times, sublimit for lower FICO scores, manufactured homes and other unique mortgage products and programs. With over 20 years’ experience and a well-capitalized, publicly traded diversified financial holding company we provide our customers with confidence to meet their loan funding needs. If you are attending the TMBA Southern Secondary Conference in Houston and interested in learning more about PlainsCapital Bank National Warehouse Lending please contact Brent Amos,(559)553-5695.”
The industry’s locked in on modernizing credit scores, leaving lenders to navigate an evolving landscape of model choice, trended data, and operational evolution. With both FICO Score 10T and VantageScore 4.0 approved and implementation advancing in phases, staying informed is critical. In its 3-part blog series unpacking the key components of FHFA’s initiative, Informative Research offers a neutral, model-agnostic perspective to help lenders evaluate scoring options and prepare for what comes next. The series explores how each model fits into the evolving GSE framework, how trended data changes credit evaluation, and what lenders need to consider across policy, technology, and execution strategy. Read the blog to understand how credit score modernization impacts risk, readiness, and your borrower strategy.
If you ask most loan officers what they want more of, the answer is simple: referrals, repeat business, and fewer late nights building marketing from scratch. What they rarely ask for is another system that requires heavy lifting just to get started. Done-For-You Marketing flips that script. The moment a database is added, outreach begins, campaigns launch, and relationships start warming without extra work on the originator’s side. Consistent communication shows up where it should be, while loan officers stay focused on conversations that actually close loans. That combination of automation and authenticity is why platforms like Usherpa keep gaining attention across the industry. If your contacts have gone quiet, it might be time for marketing that works in the background. Take a closer look at Done-For-You outreach and see what steady, relationship-first communication can deliver. Results tend to follow consistency.
The Chrisman Marketplace is a centralized hub for vendors and service providers across the mortgage industry to be viewed by lenders in a very cost-effective manner. We’re adding new providers daily, so check back often to see what’s new. To reserve your place or learn more, contact us at info@chrismancommentary.com.
Company-focused events and training
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The regulatory environment is evolving, and execution is where risk is identified and mitigated. The 2026 Forum, an Asurity® event with premier sponsor RiskExec®, taking place April 20–22 at The Roosevelt New Orleans, convenes leaders in fair lending, CRA, compliance, financial crimes, and AI governance for focused, candid dialogue on supervisory expectations and operational alignment. Designed as a curated working forum, not a trade show, sessions emphasize practical insight, defensible execution, and peer exchange. Continue the learning April 22–24 with Asurity Academy, offering deeper sessions in a classroom setting for compliance and risk practitioners. CRCM and CERP credits available; CLE anticipated pending approvals. Learn more here.
“Meet the MeridianLink® Mortgage team at Desert Disruption + Optimal Blue Summit! Two premier events. One great reason to connect: what’s next in mortgage tech. Join us at TMC’s Desert Disruption (Feb. 22–24, 2026), where we’ll have one of the few on-site kiosks. Kickoff the week at the Desert Disruption Welcome Reception & Drone Show, then hear from Vince Furey, SVP of Mortgage, during Monday’s breakout panel: “The Impact of Borrower Satisfaction on Retention.” You can also catch us at the Optimal Blue Summit 2026 (Feb. 23–25), kiosk K7. Request an onsite meeting here.”
Orion Lending invites you to Ignite Your Brand: Local Market Domination, a broker-focused training happening March 11th at 9AM PT. This session shows you how to stop marketing everywhere and start winning in one targeted local market using STAR Marketing Studio, Orion’s complimentary, cloud-based design platform for approved partners, to build consistent visibility and position yourself as the go-to lender in your community. You’ll leave with a clear local marketing plan and simple, repeatable weekly actions you can implement immediately. Click here to save your seat!
The changing role of the originator
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Mosi Gatling has some thoughts on the changing role of the originator. “The competitive edge in mortgage is no longer speed alone. It is how borrowers feel in the process. Mosi Gatling argues that in a market where buyers can switch lenders with a click, scripted urgency and product first conversations are costing loyalty. Millennials in particular are evaluating guidance, not just pricing. The operational decision facing leaders is whether their sales process is built as a funnel or a partnership. Communication style, channel preference, and expectation setting now influence pull through as much as rate sheets. In a market defined by pressure and misinformation, human clarity becomes a measurable advantage. Mosi Gatling explains why empathy is now strategy.”
Winners don’t just think better, they move faster, argues Brian Vieaux in this week's #vieauxpoint on the Chrisman Commentary website. He writes that we can debate rates, inventory, consolidation, and AI all day, but none of it matters if you’re slow to act. Speed isn’t a tactic anymore; it’s a discipline. Consumer direct channels mastered “speed to lead” years ago because the data is clear: minutes matter. Consumers read speed as competence and silence as doubt. And this goes beyond lead response: it’s about testing tools faster, refining scripts faster, adjusting faster. The LOs who survived 2008 weren’t always the biggest; they were the most adaptive. In this market, your real competition isn’t just a national brand, it’s the LO down the street evolving quicker than you. Speed is a muscle: Use it or lose it.
Capital markets: mortgage rates near 1-year lows
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The trading week opened to thin overnight conditions due to Lunar New Year market closures across parts of Asia. We received just two domestic economic reports (the Empire State Manufacturing Index held at 7.1 in February, while the NAHB Housing Market Index slipped to 36 from 37) that did not invite a noteworthy reaction, but today's session will feature a full slate of data and a $16 billion 20-year bond auction. Technical indicators suggest momentum in 10-year yields is overbought near the 4.00 percent level, pointing to either a modest pullback or sideways consolidation.
Futures markets now price in 62-basis points of Fed cuts by December, up sharply from 42-basis points just weeks ago. This reflects a shift away from expectations of near-term easing toward larger cuts later in the year, largely driven by incoming economic data. The yield curve flattening in recent sessions suggests markets may be nearing a broader macro inflection point, with momentum signals in 2s/10s appearing stretched. Still, macro uncertainty remains elevated, including the timing of Warsh’s confirmation, scrutiny over the Fed’s renovation management, and an impending Supreme Court decision on Trump’s tariffs that could trigger new trade actions.
Today’s economic calendar kicked off with mortgage applications from MBA, which rose 2.8 percent for the week ending February 13, driven by a 7 percent jump in refinance activity as the 30-year fixed rate fell to 6.17 percent, marking the strongest refi week since mid-January. Purchase applications were mixed (down 3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis but up 8 percent from a year ago) while refinances grew week-over-week to 57 percent of total activity.
We’ve also received the previously delayed durable goods orders for December (-1.4 percent), as well as November and December housing starts/building permits (1.404 million starts, higher than expected, an increase from October with completions slightly higher). Later today brings Redbook same store sales for the week ending February 14, industrial production and capacity utilization for January, Treasury activity that will be headlined by the aforementioned auction of $16 billion 20-year bonds, and remarks from Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Bowman. Minutes from the January 27-28 meeting will be released in the afternoon and will likely show policymakers setting a higher bar for rate cuts in 2026 than in 2025. We begin Wednesday with Agency MBS prices little changed from Tuesday’s close, the 2-year yielding 3.45, and the 10-year yielding 4.06 after closing yesterday at 4.05 percent.
A lawyer boarded an airplane in New Orleans with a box of frozen crabs and asked the flight attendant to take care of them for him.
She took the box and promised to put it in the crew’s refrigerator. He advised her that he held her personally responsible for them staying frozen, mentioning in a very haughty manner that he was a lawyer, and proceeded to rant at her about what would happen if she let them thaw out. Needless to say, she was annoyed by his behavior.
Shortly before landing in New York, she used the intercom to announce to the entire cabin, “Would the lawyer who gave me crabs in New Orleans please raise your hand?”
Not one hand went up, so she took them home and ate them.
Visit www.ChrismanCommentary.com for more information on our industry partners, access archived commentaries, or subscribe to the Daily Mortgage News and Commentary. You can also explore the Chrisman Marketplace, a centralized hub connecting mortgage professionals with trusted vendors and solutions. If you’re interested, check out my periodic blog on the STRATMOR Group website. This month’s piece is titled, “Helping Borrowers in a Market Defined by Complexity and Change.” The Commentary’s podcast is available on all major platforms, including Apple and Spotify.
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(Market data provided in partnership with MBS Live. For free job postings and to view candidate resumes, visit the Chrisman Job Board. This newsletter is intended for sophisticated mortgage professionals only. There are no paid endorsements by me. For the latest mortgage news, visit Mortgage News Daily. For archived commentaries, or to subscribe, go to www.ChrismanCommentary.com. Copyright 2026 Chrisman LLC. All rights reserved. Paid job & product listings do appear. This report or any portion hereof may not be reprinted, sold, or redistributed without the written consent of Rob Chrisman. The views and opinions in this newsletter are mine alone unless otherwise specifically stated herein.)