As the mortgage industry grapples with rising delinquencies, affordability challenges, and conflicting economic signals, this week’s Lykken on Lending roundtable digs deep into the crosscurrents shaping the market. From the fallout of a $5 trillion tax bill to the Fed’s increasingly scrutinized stance on rate cuts, our experts explore how political pressure, global deflation from China, and shifting investor sentiment are impacting rates, housing demand, and credit risk. With FHA delinquencies n...
Jul 12, 2025•25 min
This podcast segment explains how the recent federal tax bill halves CFPB’s funding and explores how loosening FHA guidelines on manufactured housing could be a strategic solution to today’s affordability crisis. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Alice Alvey , Master CMB Vice President Partner Education and Training at Union Home Mortgage She handles development of their World Class Training program designed to support UHM partners and organizational effectivenes...
Jul 11, 2025•4 min
This podcast segment breaks down how a stronger-than-expected jobs report, combined with conflicting labor market signals, disrupted a bond rally and reshaped expectations for Fed rate cuts heading into July CPI data. ----------------------------------------------------- Matt began as an originator in 2002. He fell in love with the idea of following MBS in real-time but felt that existing products were only scratching the surface. Thus was born MBS Live in 2007, the first-of-its-kind platform wi...
Jul 11, 2025•5 min
7-07-2025 "China Grove" Woes Support Yields -------------------- Talkin’ ‘bout China Woe China woes support US mortgage rates falling to the low 6s. Its consumption remains historically low at 39% of GDP. Yet, it wants its economic model driven by domestic demand, supported by fiscal stimulus. The transition produces deflation, which gets exported to the US. So, despite the One Big Beautiful Bill, content Oil and deteriorating fundamental news feed lower yields. The people of DC are strange, and...
Jul 10, 2025•1 min
This podcast segment covers how the MBA secured major wins for the mortgage industry in the newly passed 2025 tax bill, including permanent deductions for mortgage interest, MI premiums, and small business income. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis , VP of Communication at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public affairs and communications executive with nearly two decades of experience, Adam has deep expertise in strategy, management, and medi...
Jul 10, 2025•2 min
The Lykken on Lending Weekly Mortgage Update delivers expert commentary and timely insights from across the mortgage industry. Each episode features a curated lineup of respected thought leaders and analysts: Adam DeSanctis with the MBA Mortgage Minute , providing key updates from the Mortgage Bankers Association. Les Parker’s TMSpotlight offers a macroeconomic perspective with his signature musical parodies. Matt Graham of MBS Live, breaking down market activity and interest rate movements. Dav...
Jul 08, 2025•51 min
In this week’s Lykken on Lending , the team unpacks the paradox of falling mortgage rates that have failed to jumpstart housing activity. Despite the 10-year Treasury dipping toward 3.60% and signs of rate cuts ahead, economic uncertainty and locked-in ultra-low mortgages continue to keep both sellers and buyers on the sidelines. The conversation highlights inventory shortages, affordability challenges for first-time buyers, and broader macroeconomic forces shaping sentiment. The group also dive...
Jul 06, 2025•17 min
This podcast segment surveys the latest wave of mortgage tech—from cloud-native LOS platforms and AI assistants to capital markets bots and BI dashboards—while highlighting how the industry is rapidly evolving beyond traditional tools. ----------------------------------------------------- Allen Pollack , Tech Consultant Allen Pollack, a Mortgage & Financial Services Technology Advisor, is a subject matter expert in the mortgage origination process along with software product management and s...
Jul 05, 2025•9 min
This podcast segment explains how shifting Fed rhetoric, a weakening labor signal, and upcoming inflation data are fueling bond market optimism for rate cuts as early as July. ----------------------------------------------------- Matt began as an originator in 2002. He fell in love with the idea of following MBS in real-time but felt that existing products were only scratching the surface. Thus was born MBS Live in 2007, the first-of-its-kind platform with real-time market data/analysis, and liv...
Jul 05, 2025•4 min
This podcast segment unpacks growing calls for reforming loan officer compensation, highlighting industry frustration with outdated regulations, runaway costs, and the race to retain talent amid rising volatility. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Alice Alvey , Master CMB Vice President Partner Education and Training at Union Home Mortgage She handles development of their World Class Training program designed to support UHM partners and organizational effectivene...
Jul 04, 2025•11 min
06-30-2025 “In the End” What Dropped? ————– It starts with TRUMP, one thing, I don’t know why. It doesn’t even matter how hard you try. Despite NATO’s continued self-defeating economic sanctions, the markets see the slow-burning Ukrainian war dragging European GDP down and keeping Oil contained. As a result, Bonds have little to fret over. Peace, limited prosperity, and China’s deflation give the bulls a chance to reach 3.60 in the 10-year yield in three months. Yet, the geopolitical environment...
Jul 04, 2025•1 min
This podcast segment highlights the House passage of key legislation aimed at ending the abusive use of mortgage credit trigger leads, signaling major progress in protecting borrower privacy. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis , VP of Communication at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public affairs and communications executive with nearly two decades of experience, Adam has deep expertise in strategy, management, and media relations. He is wid...
Jul 03, 2025•2 min
The Lykken on Lending Weekly Mortgage Update delivers expert commentary and timely insights from across the mortgage industry. Each episode features a curated lineup of respected thought leaders and analysts: Adam DeSanctis with the MBA Mortgage Minute , providing key updates from the Mortgage Bankers Association. Les Parker’s TMSpotlight , offering a macroeconomic perspective with his signature musical parodies. Matt Graham of MBS Live, breaking down market activity and interest rate movements....
Jul 01, 2025•56 min
In this thought-provoking segment of the Weekly Mortgage Update, industry veterans unpack the growing disconnect between market narratives and actual Fed messaging. With headlines misrepresenting measured commentary from Fed officials like Christopher Waller, and markets showing surprising restraint despite escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the conversation turns toward media responsibility, central bank transparency, and the implications for mortgage professionals. The discus...
Jun 29, 2025•25 min
This podcast segment explores the double-edged sword of automation in mortgage tech, warning against careless AI implementation while highlighting modular innovations from Tavant, Maxwell, Fannie Mae, and others. ----------------------------------------------------- Allen Pollack , Tech Consultant Allen Pollack, a Mortgage & Financial Services Technology Advisor, is a subject matter expert in the mortgage origination process along with software product management and software development. In...
Jun 28, 2025•13 min
This podcast segment explains how the market’s muted reaction to the Fed’s dot plot and geopolitical unrest reflects ongoing uncertainty around inflation and mixed signals from central bankers. ----------------------------------------------------- Matt began as an originator in 2002. He fell in love with the idea of following MBS in real-time but felt that existing products were only scratching the surface. Thus was born MBS Live in 2007, the first-of-its-kind platform with real-time market data...
Jun 28, 2025•5 min
This podcast segment covers that the trigger lead bill is advancing swiftly through Congress, while the mortgage industry faces growing pressure to modernize outdated workflows and embrace AI-driven change. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Alice Alvey , Master CMB Vice President Partner Education and Training at Union Home Mortgage She handles development of their World Class Training program designed to support UHM partners and organizational effectiveness. Pri...
Jun 27, 2025•5 min
06-23-2025 "Rawhide" The Middle East Is The Wild West ------------------ Build ‘em up. Move ‘em Out. Keep those loans a’ rollin' Though the rates are swollen. Keep them loans a’ rollin' Go High. The Middle East conflict is complex and carries a high potential for unpredictable consequences. A regime change in Iran needs the army to change its allegiance, and it will take time for the oppressed people to rise up and establish a new government. Regardless, will it be pro-Western? Despite Oil stayi...
Jun 26, 2025•58 sec
The Mortgage Bankers Association reports that the U.S. House is set to vote on its version of the trigger lead reform bill, marking the final step before the legislation can be reconciled and signed into law. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis , VP of Communication at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public affairs and communications executive with nearly two decades of experience, Adam has deep expertise in strategy, management, and media rel...
Jun 25, 2025•2 min
The future of finance is here—and it's being written in code. In this episode of Lykken on Lending , I sit down with Lee Bratcher , President of the Texas Blockchain Council, to explore how stablecoins, tokenization, and policy reform are reshaping the way we think about banking, payments, and real estate. From Texas’ groundbreaking Bitcoin Reserve legislation to the rising influence of stablecoin technology in everyday transactions, this conversation dives into the disruptive forces transformin...
Jun 25, 2025•26 min
The Lykken on Lending program will feature our Weekly Mortgage Updates with Adam DeSanctis and his MBA Mortgage Minute , and then Les Parker’s TMSpotlight , a macroeconomic perspective on the economy with a music parody. That leads to Matt Graham of MBS Live providing you with a rate & market update , followed by David Kittle , Chief Executive Officer @ The Mortgage Collaborative, to discuss mortgage originations. Then we have Alice Alvey of Union Home providing a regulatory & legislativ...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 1 min
In this insightful episode of Lykken on Lending , David Lykken is joined by Pete Mills and Justin Wiseman of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) to unpack some of the most pressing issues facing the housing finance industry. From the long-debated release of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from conservatorship to the push for single-file credit scores and the evolving fate of the CFPB, this conversation delivers a comprehensive look at how policy, advocacy, and regulatory reform intersect. Whether ...
Jun 18, 2025•39 min
The Lykken on Lending program will feature our Weekly Mortgage Updates with Adam DeSanctis and his MBA Mortgage Minute , and then Les Parker’s TMSpotlight , a macroeconomic perspective on the economy with a music parody. That leads to Matt Graham of MBS Live providing you with a rate & market update , followed by David Kittle , Chief Executive Officer @ The Mortgage Collaborative, to discuss mortgage originations. Then we have Alice Alvey of Union Home providing a regulatory & legislativ...
Jun 17, 2025•1 hr 5 min
In this episode of Lykken on Lending , I sit down with Adam Carmel , Founder and CEO of Polly , to explore how his team is transforming one of the most overlooked yet critical areas of mortgage banking—capital markets technology. We dive into why legacy pricing engines have held lenders back, how Poly is using AI and agile infrastructure to cut origination costs, and what the future holds for a more transparent, configurable, and profitable mortgage ecosystem. If you’ve ever wondered how technol...
Jun 13, 2025•28 min
In this episode of Lykken on Lending , David Lykken sits down with real estate industry veteran and visionary leader Chris Heller . From his early days selling timeshares to leading Keller Williams’ global expansion and now driving innovation at Movoto (powered by Lower), Chris shares lessons on leadership, growth, timing, and the critical intersection of people and technology. This candid conversation explores what it really takes to scale businesses, build powerful agent–lender relationships, ...
Jun 11, 2025•29 min
The Lykken on Lending program will feature our Weekly Mortgage Updates with Adam DeSanctis and his MBA Mortgage Minute , and then Les Parker’s TMSpotlight , a macroeconomic perspective on the economy with a music parody. That leads to Matt Graham of MBS Live providing you with a rate & market update , followed by David Kittle , Chief Executive Officer @ The Mortgage Collaborative, to discuss mortgage originations. Then we have Alice Alvey of Union Home providing a regulatory & legislativ...
Jun 10, 2025•45 min
In this episode of Lykken on Lending , we’re joined by Mark Todd, EVP of Sales & Client Services at Byte Software, for a compelling look at how one of the industry's longest-standing LOS providers continues to lead through innovation. With a mortgage career that started “in Pampers” and a decade of helping lenders modernize with Byte, Mark shares the company’s customer-first philosophy, the launch of their next-generation browser-based LOS, and an exclusive first look at their upcoming nativ...
Jun 06, 2025•32 min
In this inspiring episode of Lykken on Lending , I sit down with Victor Nino—co-founder of Realty of America and a standout in the real estate world—for a powerful conversation on how to scale your business with intention, integrity, and innovation. From his humble beginnings in Eagle Pass, Texas, to leading one of the fastest-growing real estate companies in the nation, Victor shares how mentorship, mindset, and showing up with excellence have shaped his journey. We also dive into how AI, inclu...
Jun 04, 2025•34 min
The Lykken on Lending program will feature our Weekly Mortgage Updates with Adam DeSanctis and his MBA Mortgage Minute , and then Les Parker’s TMSpotlight , a macroeconomic perspective on the economy with a music parody. That leads to Matt Graham of MBS Live providing you with a rate & market update , followed by David Kittle , Chief Executive Officer @ The Mortgage Collaborative, to discuss mortgage originations. Then we have Alice Alvey of Union Home providing a regulatory & legislativ...
Jun 03, 2025•54 min
In this episode of Lykken on Lending , I sit down with Jerry Rader of Alcova Mortgage to explore the deeper side of recruiting—where culture, calling, and character matter more than compensation. Jerry shares how his faith, leadership journey, and long-game approach to relationships have shaped a recruitment philosophy that prioritizes alignment over urgency. From identifying your company’s true culture to helping candidates uncover their “why,” this conversation is packed with timeless insights...
May 30, 2025•30 min
