Top Headlines
Fannie Mae to Award $5MM to Companies Advancing Racial Equity in Housing
Optimal Blue, a division of Black Knight Weekly Market Update - 5/17
MeridianLink User Forum Recap
Fannie Mae: Increased Risk of Recession Sooner Than Later
Sales Boomerang Co-Founders Recognized as EY 2022 Entrepreneur of the Year Mid-Atlantic Finalists
iEmergent Feature: How One Company is Boosting Homeownership
Certified Credit Releases New Automated Prequalification Solution: Cascade Prequal
StoicLane Acquires Triserv Appraisal Management Solutions

Blogs
Snapdocs White Paper: State of Digital Mortgage Closings
Arch MI Capital Commentary: Making Homeownership Affordable
SalesBoomerang eBook: Get Loans Now
Planet Financial Group (Planet Home Lending) Pledges $100K to Reduce Hunger & Offset Carbon Emissions
iEmergent April/May 2022 New Release Functionality
Check Out the Inagural SimpleNexus Mini Mag for the Scoop on Digital Mortgage Innovation
Verity Global Solutions: Generational Home Buying is Trending Toward Doing Online Business

Media
(Video) CMBA Connect with Total Expert Director of Partnerships & Industry Technology, Josh Lehr
(Podcast) Arch MI PolicyCast: Unlocking the Mysteries of NextGen Homebuyers with Experience.com's Kristin Messerli
(Podcast) Lykken on Lending Hot Topic: TMC Co-Founder, David Kittle: How to Make Tough Decisions in a Contracting Market
(Podcast) The Walk with Eric Levin: Learning From the Past Means Managing Toward the Future, featuring AnnieMac Home Mortgage President, Ryan Kube

Events
ActiveComply Webinar 06/24 12 pm EST: Using Social Media to Increase Purchase Business While Staying Compliant 
5/25 2PM EST #TMCSuccessStories - How FinLocker Helps PRMG’s Loan Officers Save Time Preparing Their Not Quite Ready Borrowers to get Mortgage Ready​

Hat-tip to our partners at OptiFunder for sharing Mortgage Executive Magazine’s 2022 list top mortgage companies to work for. This ranking was based on the votes of mortgage originators across the country, which included OptiFunder clients & TMC members: #42 NOVA Home Loans, #48 NJ Lenders, #64 Atlantic Coast Mortgage, #72 VanDyk Mortgage and #96 Victorian Finance.

But even more TMC members were recognized! A grand total of 36 TMC members including:
#10 New American Funding
#13 Planet Home Lending
#14 American Pacific Mortgage
#16 PrimeLending
#20 Academy Mortgage
#21 Prosperity Home Mortgage
#35 Pulte Mortgage
#36 Celebrity Home Loans
#37 FBC Mortgage
#40 Atlantic Bay Mortgage
#53 AnnieMac Home Loans
#54 George Mason Mortgage
#55 V.I.P. Mortgage
#56 Nations Lending
#59 Waterstone Mortgage
#61 LeaderOne Financial
#62 AmeriFirst Financial
#69 FirstBank
#74 Family First Funding
#76 JMAC Lending
#78 Mountain West Financial
#79 Inlanta Mortgage
#80 Mason-McDuffie Mortgage
#81 Independent Bank
#82 Alterra Home Loans
#83 Wallick & Volk
#84 Certainty Home Loans
#85 Megastar Financial
#87 Apex Home Loans
#89 Castle & Cooke Mortgage
#98 LoanPeople
​
Join us in congratulating each TMC lender member recognized!

Earlier this week, the Biden administration released a "Housing Supply Action Plan" that strives to produce more housing supply (for buyers and renters), including affordable units, in the next five years.

There's a lot to it, and the full proposal can be found here. Some of it is pie in the sky (lots of asks of Congress), and some of it will be immediately implemented. The Mortgage Bankers Association and the National Association of Home Builders have offered their support.

Since the full plan was 19 pages long when I printed it, I put together a synopsis of it that cuts to most of the more relevant points for our 280 mortgage lending institution members nationally.

Here's the TLDR for mortgage lenders that find even my synopsis too long:

Get your Fannie and Freddie approval if you don't have them. Learn what an ADU is. Educate your leaders and staff on manufactured housing lending. And construction lending is going to be a much bigger piece of the mortgage loan pie these next couple of years. The word "construction" was used 44 times in the plan.

Big Brother is going to incent state and local governments to rezone land (allowing for more small homes) by Dangling DOT Dollars.

Department of Transportation (DOT) grant money applications from jurisdictions that allow greater housing density in zoning and land use policy will be rewarded with higher scores in the grant process, making it much more likely they'll get DOT dough.

Fannie and Freddie are going to start buying lots of manufactured homes and ADU's.

The majority of people buying new manufactured homes rely on personal property financing (chattel lending) rather than conventional mortgages. Freddie Mac is working on a "feasibility assessment" for the requirements and processes necessary to support loan purchases of personal property manufactured housing loans. If FHFA approval is obtained, Freddie Mac will purchase chattel loans to make buying those homes more affordable for Americans.

A new mortgage industry acronym! YES! ADU's – Accessory Dwelling Units. Think garage apartments, backyard homes, and in-law suites built on the land of an existing home. A number of state and local jurisdictions have changed zoning laws to allow them to help the affordable housing issue. Big Brother now wants to do its part by making it cheaper to buy them by having FHA and FHFA explore avenues to help lenders pilot and scale renovation and construction financing programs for ADU's.

FHA and HUD are going to limit institutional investors from buying homes they hold. (How was this not happening already!)

The Biden Administration's plan targets large-scale investors buying up single-family homes in low-income neighborhoods. FHA will make foreclosed REO properties available to owner-occupants and non-profits for 30 days before opening them to all bidders. And that they'll look to the direct supply of homes they own/manage to owner-occupied or non-profits that will rehab them. HUD will do the same for vacant properties it holds.

Homebuilders – we're from the government, and we're here to help with your supply and land issues.

The administration's plan says it will work with private sector companies to improve supply chain issues that hamper construction, with the goal of finishing construction on more new homes this year than in any year since 2006.

According to the plan, Fannie and Freddie Mac are working to offer forward commitment programs that would allow developers to secure financing to pay off a construction loan upon completion of construction and when the housing project has been approved for occupancy. This would help builders build homes quicker.

Fannie is also looking into the possibility of purchasing single close-Construction-to-Permanent multifamily loans, which would also foster more housing production and better supply in theory.

USDA has a construction to permanent program? 

Evidently! In the months ahead, USDA will educate lenders on the benefits of the program in order to improve program utilization, increase new construction in rural areas, and address obstacles that may be limiting the use of the program.

"Congress, we need your help on these issues." Translation – don't hold your breath on any of this stuff.

In the plan, the administration urged lawmakers to pass President Biden's Unlocking Possibilities Program, which was passed last year by the House and would establish a new $1.75 billion grant program through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Biden's $1.75 trillion Build Back Better spending plan proposed $150 billion for the construction and rehab of more than 1 million affordably priced rental units and single-family homes. The plan died in Congress in December, and now it pleads for passage.

The White House also urged lawmakers to pass Biden's 2023 budget request, which includes a proposal for $10 billion in HUD grants to increase accessibility to affordable housing and subsidies to strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.

The plan also asks Congress to pass a number of bills that would build the pipeline of home construction workers through comprehensive immigration reform and the creation of apprenticeship programs.

Rich Swerbinsky
President & Chief Operating Officer
The Mortgage Collaborative

Top Headlines
MeridianLink Honored in 2022 American Business Awards - Achievement in Growth
Black Knight | Optimal Blue: Rate Lock Activity Fell Across the Board in April 

Thought Leadership
Planet Home Lending VP, National Renovation Lending, Jim Bopp - Renovation: A Path to Fair Lending
Triserv Lender Resource Series: How to Prepare Your Borrower for the Appraisal Proces

Personnel Announcements
Mortgage Coach promotes Suzanne Duniphin to VP, Customer Experience and David Bowser to VP, Customer Engagement

Blogs
Verity Global Solutions Report: The Most Efficient Way to Produce Mortgage Loans
SimpleNexus: Get More Out of Your Digital Mortgage Platform
ICYMI: FinLocker's Roadmap for Homebuyers to Achieve Mortgage Readiness in a Challenging Purchase Market
MQMR Weekly FAQ: FHA Adjusted New Worth & Operating Losses

Media
(Video) Eustis Mortgage CEO, Kate deKay on How ActiveComply Helps Streamline Their Social Media Compliance Monitoring Process
(Podcast) The Chrisman Commentary featuring Curinos' John Sayre on How Lenders Are Dusting Off Their ARM Playbook
(Podcast) Lykken on Lending 5/9 Episode, Hote Topic: Loan Officer Recruitment Strategies with Total Expert's Josh Lehr
(Video) Built Technologies & Mann Mortgage: Proven Growth Through Smarter Construction Finance
(Video) CMBA Connect Episode 102 featuring Capacity CEO, David Karandish
(Podcast) MGIC Connects: Dean Dardinski with Ryan Hills of Movement Mortgage - Finding Opportunity in Adversity

Events
(Webinar) Tues., 5/17 @ 2PM ET: Supercharge Your Consumer Direct Team & Drive More Revenue from Your Purchase Leads, hosted by Sales Boomerang & Clever Real Estate 
(Webinar) Wed., 5/18 @ 1 pm ET: The Who, What, Why & When of Mortgage Rates, hosted by Rob Chrisman & CrossCountry Mortgage 
(Webinar) Wed., 5/18 @ 2 PM ET : ​Cyber Risk and Cyber Monitoring with Venture Lynk

Top Headlines
Panorama Mortgage Selects OptiFunder to Automate Warehouse Optimization
Black Knight: Affordability Nears All-Time Low
2021 HMDA Data Now Available in iEmergent's Mortgage MarketSmart
Optimal Blue, a division of Black Knight - Weekly Market Update
See Fannie Mae's 2022 - 2024 Duty to Serve Plan & FHFA Housing Report
Fannie Mae Serious Delinquencies Fall to Just Above 1%
Black Knight: Forbearance Plan Volumes End April Steady
PHOENIX - March 2022 Market Snapshot

Personnel Announcements
Xactus Welcomes Kevin Ryan as CFO
CBC Mortgage Agency's (Chenoa Fund) Tai Christensen Named Chair of American Mortgage Diversity Council
​
Blogs
Curinos Perspective: The Fed Cranks Up the Dial
Maxwell eBook: Mortgage Experts Take on 2022's Market
MQMR Weekly FAQ: Internal Audit for Mortgage Lenders
Loan Officer Hub, powered by MGIC: Creative Strategies to Use With Move-Up Buyers
Certified Credit: Prequalification vs. Preapproval: How Prequalification Improves Customer Retention & Lead Generation
Verity Global Solutions: Five Tips to Increase Profit with Labor Outsourcing and Automation
Sales Boomerang New eBook: Be Your Borrower's Best Financial Friend
Total Expert Team Members Give Back After Hurricane Ida

Media
Video) Black Knight's Andy Walden Talks Interest Rates, Affordability & Resurgence of ARMs on CNBC's The Exchange
(Video) CMBA Connect Episode 101 with Arch MI Chief Sales Officer, Carl Tyree
(Podcast) Lykken on Lending - Hot Topic: Experience.com VP of Strategy, Kristin Messerli
(Podcast) ICYMI: Certified Credit - Talk Data to Me: Prequalification as a Lender's Marketing Tool

Top Headlines
Black Knight Launches New Solution To Combat Minority Appraiser Bias
Planet Home Lending & Xactus Recognized in Progress in Lending's 2022 Innovation Award Winners
Sales Boomerang Releases Q1 2022 Mortgage Market Opportunities Report
Freddie Mac First Out of the Gate with Plans for Targeted Lending Programs
Black Knight: Forbearance Plan Volumes Edge Higher Mid-Month
Freddie Mac March 2022 Volume Summary & Q1 Financial Results

Thought Leadership
Black Knight Origination Technology President, Rich Gagliano: Automated Process Scalability Offers Antidote to Market Volatility 
OptiFunder CEO, Michael McFadden: Move From LIBOR Further Complicates Warehouse Funding Decisions
SimpleNexus EVP & General Manager, Lori Brewer: The Evolution of Business Intelligence in the Mortgage Industry
Verity Global Solution's Elizabeth Michael: Thinking Outside the Box - Outsourcing Mortgage Accounting & ICE Encompass Support
Black Knight's Ravi Desai: Taking Loan Pricing from Reactive to Proactive with Real-Time Data
​
Personnel Announcements
Vice Capital Markets Promotes Shawn Ansley to from Managing Director to CIO
​
Blogs
Fannie Mae Quality Insider Newsletter - April 2022
Maxwell: 10 Ways LO's Can Build Strong Referral Relationships with Real Estate Agents
Verity Global Solutions: 5 Key Tips to Increase Profit with Labor Outsourcing & Automation
​
Events
(Webinar): MGIC & CUNA: Financial & Mortgage Trends - Mon., 5/9 @ 3 pm ET
(Conference): MeridianLink User Forum LIVE from Huntington Beach, CA - May 2nd - 5th

Despite the continuing ascent in mortgage rates, March was a significantly better month on both the closed loan and new application fronts for The Mortgage Collaborative's national network of lender member companies.

Closed loan production (in units) was up 25% month-over-month for the network. While refinances fell off by 3%, purchase closings saw a 41% increase. Accordingly, the share of closed loans that were purchases ascended to its highest level in the 5+ year history of TMC Benchmark, coming in at 71% in March.

Here's the purchase share we've seen in TMC Benchmark over the last six months:

October 2021: 61%
November 2021: 62%
December 2021: 66%
January 2022: 61%
February 2022: 63%
March 2022: 71%

We also saw the % of conventional closings come in at a TMC Benchmark all-time low in March, falling from 73% to 70% month-over-month. Government loan closings ticked up from 20% to 21% and the "Other" category (all other products) rose from 7% to 9%.

New applications written were up 22% month-to-month. Of note inside that number was the same trend we saw in closings, with new conventional apps falling (by %) and "Other" increasing. Conventional apps dropped from 72% in February to 68% in March with "Other" rising from 6% to 10%. Government apps stayed steady by share at 22% from last month.

Operational efficiency improved in most areas in March after waning throughout the winter amidst the mortgage rate-fueled volume slowdown. The number of closed loan units closed per full-time processor increased by 28% in March to 9.2 and closed loan units per full-time closer increased by 26% to 31.0. In a strange anomaly, closed loan units per full-time underwriter dropped to 19.8 from 21.6 the month prior. The average loan originator closed 4.7 units in March, up from 3.9 in February. LO comp came in at an average of 94.1 bps, down 1.3 bps from last month's 95.4 total.

Average annual compensation paid to operational staff was very flat month-over-month, with average annual comp paid to FTE processors coming in at $51,900 this month. Underwriter annual comp ticked up slightly to $84,800. Average annual comp paid to closers rose slightly to $53,400.

The average "app date to clear to close date" stayed identical month-over-month at 39.6 days. Let's take a look at how this number trended throughout the course of 2021 and now into 2022:

January '21 - 47.9
February '21 - 43.1
March '21 - 42.8
April '21 - 45.7
May '21 - 43.8
June '21 - 41.8
July '21 - 43.2
August '21 - 42.5
September '21 - 42.3
October '21 - 42.6
November '21 - 41.0
December '21 - 34.0
January '22 - 40.1
February '22 - 39.6
March '22 - 39.6

The average cost per closed loan unit our members paid for their loan origination system (LOS) fell slightly to $129 in March after seeing a big rise ($116 to $131) the month prior. The average cost per closed loan unit for our members point-of-sale (POS) system was up $6 to $60 in March and came in flat month-over-month at $89 for their CRM.

Average non-third party lender fees continues to trend slightly upward on conventional loans, coming in at $1,153. Government lender fees fell from $1,109 to $1,062 for this most recent month.

51% of this month's participants in TMC Benchmark were depositories and 49% were IMB's. 38% originate under $500M a year in annual volume, 25% originate between $500M-$1B, and 37% originate over $1 billion per year in annual production.

Rich Swerbinsky
President & Chief Operating Officer
The Mortgage Collaborative

Top Headlines
Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac Exceed Most Affordable 2019 Housing Goals
Black Knight: Forbearance Plan Volumes Nudge Lower
Introducing MISMO e-Eligibility Exchange, powered by Snapdocs
Fannie Mae Predicts 'Modest' Recession in 2023
Planet Home Lending Servicing Recognized as 2021 Fannie Mae STAR Performer
Optimal Blue, a division of Black Knight: Weekly Market Update

Thought Leadership
SimpleNexus Founder, Matt Hansen: Rally for RON with MBA
MPA Leadership Profile: Robert Senko, President - ACC Mortgage
Optimal Blue Sales Solutions Specialist, Justin Roddel: Trusting Your Hedge System in Today's Volatile Marketplace
​
Personnel Announcements
Xactus Appoints Kevin Ryan as Chief Financial Officer

Blogs
Create More Value for Your Real Estate Agent Referral Partners with MGIC's 'More Options. More Sales Opportunities' Program
Optimal Blue, a division of Black Knight FREE Whitepaper: 5 Key Components of a Successful PPE
Triserv Lender Resources: What Do Triserv's Various Order Statuses Mean?

Media
(Video) NMN Demo - Arch MI: Buy Down Your Borrower's Monthly MI Premium with the Only Buydown Tool Available
(Video) NMN Demo - Docutech: Close Loans Faster: Make Each Transaction as "e" as it Can Be with Solex Orders & Solex eClosing

Events
May 2 - 5: MeridianLink User Forum Live From Huntington Beach
TMCSuccessStories: Wed., 4/27 @ 2 pm ET –– How University Bank Utilizes Venture Lynk’s Risk Solutions to Create Streamlined Efficiencies
TMConnect: Thurs., 4/28 @ 3 pm ET – Get More First-Time Homebuyers Approved, featuring Fannie Mae & Thrive Mortgage

Forbes released its annual America's Best Banks and World's Best Banks list and we are proud to highlight our lender members who placed!

America's Best Banks were chosen and ranked according to balance sheets and profit and loss statements. World's Best Banks were determined by a survey conducted by Statista of more than 45,000 customers in 14 languages around the globe for their opinions on their current and former banking relationships. Banks were rated on general satisfaction as well as key metrics such as trust, fees, digital services and financial advice.

Congratulations to each of our lender members in the TMC Family that placed in Forbes 2022 Best Banks! For the full list of rankings, click the list title below.

America's Best Banks
6) Prosperity Bancshares
7) Capital Bank
8) Glacier Bancorp
10) WesBanco
18) United Community Bank
65) First Interstate Bank
89) F.N.B
92) Fulton Bank
100) Associated Banc-Corp

World's Best Banks
2) Gate City Bank
3) United Community Bank
7) Bangor Savings Bank
15) Glacier Bancorp
20) Arvest Bank
27) First National Bank of Omaha
30) WesBanco
32) Centennial Bank
34) Prosperity Bancshares
36) Fulton Bank
44) Capital Bank
50) First Commonwealth Bank
55) First Horizon
63) F.N.B