Lykken on Lending

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 perspe...

10-06-2025 It's "Natural" For Bulls To Make It --------------------- Will Bulls hold the line? When everyone of them have given up and given in? Tell me. Is it asinine? Who is sillier? Ursula von der Leyen, Friedrich Merz, or Emmanuel Macron? The coalition of the willing is heading Europe’s economic quest to slay the Russian windmills in Don Quixote fashion. As a result, Europeans pay ev...

This podcast segment highlights FICO’s new direct-to-lender licensing model could reshape the credit reporting landscape, cutting out the middleman and potentially lowering costs for lenders and consumers—if the implementation lives up to its promise. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis , VP of Communications at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic p...

The Texas Mortgage Bankers Association is making history once again. In this episode, David Lykken sits down with Scott Norman, President of the TMBA, to discuss how the organization is redefining what a state association can be—by becoming a destination for collaboration, innovation, and thought leadership. As the TMBA prepares to host the Texas Housing Summit at the LBJ Presidential Library in A...

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 perspe...

This podcast segment highlights PennyMac’s investment in Vesta’s LOS, survey findings that non-bank lenders are leading in tech adoption and API development, and new AI-powered tools like MORI, ACEs, and Friday Harbor that are reshaping underwriting, compliance, and loan origination. ----------------------------------------------------- Allen Pollack , Tech Consultant Allen Pollack, a Mortgage &am...

This podcast segment examines FHA compare ratios, the risks and rewards of outsourcing, and how smaller lenders can stay competitive by focusing on efficiency, niche products, and smart partnerships. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Alice Alvey , Master CMB Vice President Partner Education and Training at  Union Home Mortgage She handles development of their...

09-30-2025 The Yield Dancing "Gonna Make You Sweat" ------------------ Best Get moving music! After the Fed ease, the 10-year yield dipped to 3.99% followed by a test of the August lows of 4.20. Mortgage rates love the slow-to-ease Fed giving them moving music. Expect the 10-year yield to dance within a range of 4.30% to 4% without disturbing the bullish trend. Regardless, look for the bulls to fi...

This podcast segment unpacks the MBA’s GSE reform principles and conservatorship exit, highlighting priorities around competition, capital standards, and a federal backstop to protect the housing market. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis , VP of Communications at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public affairs and communications executive with...

In this episode of Lykken on Lending , we dive into the art and science of building brands with Andrew McLean, the creative force behind the award-winning Angel AI identity. From his early start in advertising at just 14 years old to shaping campaigns for Disney, Citibank, and Unilever, Andrew has spent decades refining the craft of connecting people to brands in ways that inspire trust, love, and...

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 perspe...

This podcast segment unpacks how the Fed’s latest rate cut, dot plot projections, and Powell’s press conference shaped bond market momentum and set the stage for upcoming jobs 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 surf...

09.23.2025 "Abraham, Martin and John" Political Divide Continues to Impact US Rates ------------------------ Anybody here seen God’s servant Charlie? Can you tell me what went wrong? He freed many students, but it seems that the good they die young. The martyrdom of Charlie Kirk for Jesus and free speech is a symptom of change. Massive protests over migration, the loss of economic security, and cr...

This podcast segment unpacks the MBA’s GSE reform principles and conservatorship exit, highlighting priorities around competition, capital standards, and a federal backstop to protect the housing market. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis , VP of Communications at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public affairs and communications executive with...

In this week’s AI Update, David Lykken sits down with Pavan Agarwal, founder of Angel AI, to unpack one of the most pressing issues in mortgage technology: accuracy. While generative AI models like Gemini often “guess” at answers, Angel AI’s deterministic approach ensures precision on critical topics like FHA vs. FHFA credit score requirements. Pavon also shares insights into predictive AI and Eri...

In today’s relationship-driven mortgage and business world, success hinges not just on what you know, but how you connect. In this episode of Lykken on Lending , David Lykken sits down with communication and networking expert Patti DeNucci, author of The Intentional Networker and More Than Just Talk . Patti shares her powerful insights on preparing for meaningful conversations, navigating networki...

In this week’s commentary, industry leaders weigh the tug-of-war between global risks, stubborn inflation, and the Fed’s next moves on rates. Bill points to Europe’s political and economic instability, China’s weakness, and potential U.S. recessionary pressures as the real catalysts for materially lower yields, while Kittle highlights how falling government loan rates are already lifting refi volu...

This podcast segment explores how AI is transforming mortgage technology, warning that legacy vendors risk becoming “plumbing” unless they modernize with open APIs and AI-native workflows. ----------------------------------------------------- Allen Pollack , Tech Consultant Allen Pollack, a Mortgage & Financial Services Technology Advisor, is a subject matter expert in the mortgage origination...

This podcast segment examines FHA compare ratios, the risks and rewards of outsourcing, and how smaller lenders can stay competitive by focusing on efficiency, niche products, and smart partnerships. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Alice Alvey , Master CMB Vice President Partner Education and Training at  Union Home Mortgage She handles development of their...

This podcast segment analyzes recent CPI and PPI data, the 10-year Treasury’s bounce at 4%, and why the Fed’s dot plot will be the key signal for future rate cuts. ----------------------------------------------------- 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...

09.16.25 Is The Fed An "Elevator Operator?" ----------------- Don't jump bullish bonds, don't jump off that roof. You've got lower yields ahead of you; you're still in your youth. Bears give anything to have gains like you. Is the mortgage market an elevator going up or down? With the 10-year yield breaching at 4%, what occurs next: 4.20 or 3.80? Economic news continues to provide a plethora of bu...

This podcast segment unpacks the MBA’s GSE reform principles and conservatorship exit, highlighting priorities around competition, capital standards, and a federal backstop to protect the housing market. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis , VP of Communications at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public affairs and communications executive with...

In this episode of the AI Update, David Lykken welcomes Kevin Popovic—better known as The Idea Guy —to discuss how AI can amplify, not replace, human intelligence. Drawing on his work with LoanWorks, his university teaching, and his upcoming book Amplified , Kevin explains why leaders must stop treating AI like Google and start treating it as a tool for reimagining business models. He shares pract...

In this episode of Lykken on Lending , David Lykken welcomes Donn Healy, music producer turned fintech innovator, to explore how AI and blockchain are reshaping financial access. From empowering artisans in developing economies to redefining mortgage lending with microfinance and decentralized systems, Donn shares his vision for a more inclusive future. Listeners will hear how technology can creat...

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 perspe...