Leading the Charge: Advocating for Brokers and Consumers in the Mortgage Industry

As the leader of a Broker Action Coalition, my mission is clear: to serve as the bridge between the mortgage industry and consumers, ensuring that both sides are understood and represented effectively. In a landscape often dominated by industry executives and lobbyists, our coalition is uniquely positioned to elevate the voices of originators who work directly with consumers every day. By combining grassroots engagement with targeted advocacy, we’re creating a new model for representation in this space.

Elevating the Consumer Experience

At the heart of our work is the commitment to improving the homebuying journey. Every initiative we undertake is driven by the question, How can we make this process better for consumers? To that end, we’ve been building a vendor network with nearly 45 partners specializing in originator- and consumer-focused solutions. This network equips brokers and third-party originators (TPOs) with the tools they need to enhance efficiency and transparency, ensuring that the entire industry can elevate its standards.

By approaching the homebuying process holistically, we’re not just addressing isolated pain points. Instead, we’re creating a framework that ensures every step of the journey—whether it’s securing financing, navigating regulatory hurdles, or closing on a home—meets the expectations and needs of today’s consumers.

A Conduit Between Policy and Practice

What sets our coalition apart is our dual focus on advocacy and practicality. Most advocacy groups focus either on the industry’s needs or on consumers' concerns, often neglecting the critical link between the two. Our coalition stands at the intersection, translating the complexities of policy and industry dynamics into actionable strategies that benefit everyone involved.

In Washington, D.C., we work tirelessly to ensure that the real-world challenges brokers and originators face are reflected in policymaking. Conversely, we demystify the technical language of policy for consumers, helping them understand how changes will impact their ability to buy a home. By bridging this gap, we’re ensuring that policy decisions are both informed by ground-level realities and accessible to the public.

Challenges and Opportunities

Of course, being a new organization comes with its share of challenges. Unlike established groups with extensive funding, we rely on strategic, grassroots efforts to build awareness and credibility. Our primary platform for engagement has been social media, where we’ve found tremendous success in fostering organic conversations that resonate with our audience.

Another hurdle has been overcoming misconceptions about our independence. Early on, some critics questioned whether we were aligned with specific lenders or legacy organizations. We’ve tackled this by being fully transparent about our funding and operations. We don’t care where brokers send their business; our focus is on ensuring they have the freedom and resources to do so in a way that aligns with their values and goals.

A Vision for Growth

Looking ahead, our coalition’s goal is to scale our efforts significantly by the next presidential election. We’ve spent the past year observing how resources are best allocated in advocacy and are now crafting a long-term roadmap to maximize our impact during the next campaign cycle. Partnerships with other associations are also on the horizon, with several collaborations set to launch in the coming year.

We’re not trying to replace existing associations. Instead, our focus is on complementing their work, ensuring that the perspectives of originators and consumers aren’t lost in the noise of lobbying and capital markets.

Closing the Gap

Leading the Broker Action Coalition has been a deeply rewarding challenge. Every day, we work to ensure that brokers, originators, and consumers are heard and represented fairly. By focusing on collaboration, transparency, and innovation, we’re building a movement that empowers all stakeholders in the homebuying process. As we continue to grow, our commitment remains steadfast: to bridge the gap between policy and practice and create a mortgage industry that works for everyone.