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Welcome to Thought Leadership, your resource for insights and expertise in the mortgage industry. Explore articles, analyses, and interviews covering the latest trends, regulatory updates, and market dynamics. Whether you're a lender, broker, investor, or industry professional, Chrisman Commentary's Thought Leadership aims to provide the knowledge needed to navigate the evolving mortgage landscape.
Rate Cuts Spark Refi Boom but Housing Supply Keeps Affordability Out of Reach
Yes, the Federal Open Market Committee cut its overnight fed funds rate last week, prompting banks to reduce their prime rates, and the...
Rob Chrisman
6 days ago3 min read
Certainty and Confidence: Why Consumer-Permissioned Data is the Key to Winning First-Time Buyers
I’ve been in mortgage since 1991. Rates were north of 10%, “apply now” meant stacks of paper, and the concept of consumer-permissioned...
Brian Vieaux
Sep 226 min read
The Trigger Lead Bill Becomes Law: A New Era for Borrower Privacy and Mortgage Market Dynamics
After years of mounting pressure and advocacy, the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act (commonly referred to as the “trigger lead bill”)...
Peter Idziak
Sep 154 min read
The 2025 NextGen HomeBuyer Report: What Loan Originators Need to Do Now
I’ve been tracking Kristin Messerli's NextGen HomeBuyer research for five years, and this year’s Financial Literacy Edition is the...
Brian Vieaux
Sep 155 min read
Winning Starts With Your Database
After talking with and interviewing hundreds of mortgage professionals, I can say with certainty: the loan officers who win in this...
Brian Vieaux
Sep 23 min read
Keys to Survival and Army Leadership Rules
Ten Keys to Survival 1. Preserve capital. 2. Maintain maximum liquidity. 3. If not profitable, cut expenses down to where you break even....
Joe Garrett and Mike McAuley
Aug 271 min read
Seven Deadly Sins of Mortgage Banking for Banks
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...
Joe Garrett and Mike McAuley
Aug 273 min read
Ten Things You Must Do in 2025
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...
Joe Garrett and Mike McAuley
Aug 274 min read
AI in Lending: Why Consumer-Facing Should Be the Last Stop, Not the First
The mortgage industry has no shortage of hype around artificial intelligence. Every week, a new vendor promises borrower-facing chatbots,...
Matthew VanFossen
Aug 253 min read
Be the Positive Beacon Your Community Needs
Since originating my first loan in 1991, I’ve lived through plenty of cycles where the Fed gave us a dose of reality. Friday in Jackson...
Brian Vieaux
Aug 252 min read
Voice of the Industry: David Spector
David Spector is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pennymac, one of the largest and most respected lenders and servicers in the...
David Spector
Aug 1915 min read
Why the HELPER Act Deserves More Than Silence
If you’re unfamiliar, the HELPER Act (Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder) proposes a straightforward idea: allow...
Brian Vieaux
Aug 183 min read
Why Fannie and Freddie's IPO is a Conundrum
The announcement by the Trump Administration to potentially take Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public has reignited a complex and often...
Robbie Chrisman
Aug 183 min read
Do Fed Rate Cuts Lower Mortgage Rates? Understanding the Connection
The Federal Reserve, the “central bank” of the United States, does not set mortgage rates. That said, mortgage rates do indeed tend to...
Rob Chrisman
Aug 182 min read
The Financial Fitness Flywheel: How Educated Clients Drive Sustainable Growth for LoanOfficers
In a market where every lead feels harder to come by and conversions take longer; loan officers are looking for an edge that will not...
Brian Vieaux
Aug 113 min read
The New Reality of Portfolio Management: From Refi Boom to Boomlets
For decades, the mortgage industry's refi booms were predictable, secular events. A long-term downward trend in interest rates would...
Nathan Den Herder
Aug 83 min read
Why Vetting Attorneys is Critical for Mortgage Industry Risk Management
In the mortgage industry, risk is a constant variable. Something that can be managed, or mitigated, but never eliminated. Amid the...
Andrew Liput
Aug 43 min read
CLEAR VICTORY: How Abdel Built a Winning Playbook in a Losing Market
The summer slowdown is real.But someone forgot to tell Abdel Khawatmi . While many loan officers are sitting on the sidelines waiting for...
Brian Vieaux
Aug 43 min read
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