The Power in Numbers: Why Mortgage Advocacy Needs You Right Now
- Brian Vieaux
- May 4
- 3 min read
On May 11, our industry begins its annual Advocacy Week. It’s an important moment, but also a reality check. Today, the Mortgage Action Alliance (MAA) has about 50,000 members. That may sound like a lot, until you compare it to the total size of our industry. There are between 300,000 and 350,000 professionals working in real estate finance. That means less than 15% of us are actively engaged in advocacy. That number should be much higher. Lawmakers and regulators pay attention to scale. They notice when thousands of voices speak and when those voices represent real people, real businesses, and real communities.
What Is MAA and Why Does It Matter?
The Mortgage Action Alliance (MAA) is a free, non-partisan network for professionals in real estate finance. You do not need to be a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association to join. It takes less than five minutes to sign up. And once you’re in, you have a simple way to stay informed and take action on issues that affect your work and your clients. When something important happens, MAA sends a “Call to Action.” They provide a pre-written message. You review it. You personalize it if you choose. Then you send it. A few clicks, and your voice is delivered directly to your elected officials. It’s that simple.
Why This Matters to You
Every day, policy decisions are being made that affect:
Who can qualify for a mortgage
How much it costs to borrow
How loans are serviced
What rules lenders and loan officers must follow
These decisions shape the experience for every homebuyer you serve. If you are not part of that conversation, someone else is speaking for you. And they may not understand your business. They may not understand your customers. They may not understand the realities of helping someone achieve homeownership. That’s the gap MAA helps close.
Advocacy Is Part of the Job
This is not about politics. It’s about responsibility. If you work in this industry, you see firsthand how policies impact real people. You sit across from families trying to buy their first home. You help borrowers navigate challenges with credit, income, and affordability. You know the difference between a rule that works on paper and one that works in real life. That perspective matters and it needs to be heard. Loan officers who understand the issues are better equipped to guide their clients. Better informed professionals lead to better outcomes for consumers.
A Challenge to Industry Leaders
If you lead a company, a branch, or a team, this applies to you in a different way. You have influence and encouraging your team to join MAA should be part of how you lead. Not as a suggestion, but rather as an expectation. Give your loan officers five minutes to register. Talk about why it matters. Make advocacy part of your culture. If we want our industry to have a stronger voice, it starts inside our own organizations.
Advocacy Week: May 11–15
Advocacy Week is a great place to start. Beginning May 11, professionals across the country will engage with policymakers, share their stories, and take action on key issues. There is also a live kickoff event featuring industry leaders discussing why advocacy matters and how every voice can make an impact. Everyone has a story. What’s yours?
Take the First Step
Join MAA Today - It's Free. It’s simple and it gives you a seat at the table.
If you are interested in leading an MAA campaign within your company, reach out to Jamey Lynch.
The strength of our industry’s voice depends on participation.
Right now, we are at 15%. We can do better. It starts with showing up.