Lykken on Lending

In this week’s discussion, our expert panel digs into the hot question dominating the mortgage market: will the Fed cut rates by 25 or 50 basis points in September—and what will that really mean for borrowers? With unemployment data, CPI expectations, and global economic weakness all in play, the team weighs the Fed’s credibility, the risks of waiting, and the very real possibility of a surge in l...

This podcast segment explores how AI is transforming mortgage technology and operations, the end of trigger leads shifting lenders toward borrower experience, and growing regulatory caution around using crypto in mortgage underwriting. ----------------------------------------------------- Allen Pollack , Tech Consultant Allen Pollack, a Mortgage & Financial Services Technology Advisor, is a su...

This podcast segment unpacks the new trigger lead rules, the importance of firm offers of credit, and the growing scrutiny around occupancy misrepresentation and mortgage fraud. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Alice Alvey , Master CMB Vice President Partner Education and Training at  Union Home Mortgage She handles development of their World Class Training p...

This podcast segment highlights how recent CPI and PPI data, retail sales strength, and tariff impacts are shaping mortgage rate volatility, with markets now focused on Jackson Hole and the upcoming jobs report to gauge the Fed’s next moves. ----------------------------------------------------- Matt  began as an originator in 2002. He fell in love with the idea of following MBS in real-time b...

09.08.25 "Right Place, Wrong Time" In The Fed World ------------------- Rates in the Right Place. But they fall back at the Wrong Time. Pipelines are in a bad place. But it could be a good time. The 10-year yield reached our minimum target of 4.11 and came within 6 bps of 4.01, the major resistance level. Taking it out sets the stage to reach our bull target of 3.80. What support is needed to reac...

This podcast segment highlights President Trump’s signing of the trigger leads ban into law, a long-awaited MBA-backed victory that will protect borrowers from unwanted solicitations and create a fairer mortgage process starting March 5, 2026. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis , VP of Communications at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public af...

In mortgage lending, “close enough” isn’t good enough. While general-purpose AI models like Gemini can generate impressive answers, they often provide probabilistic responses that introduce risk, confusion, and even costly repurchase scenarios. In this episode of the Weekly AI Update, David Lykken sits down with Jennifer, CTO of Angel AI, to unpack the difference between probabilistic and determin...

Success in mortgage lending has always hinged on relationships — but in today’s market, mastering those relationships requires both human authenticity and smart use of technology. In this episode of Lykken on Lending , Ron Vaimberg joins me to explore his new book The Purchase Shift Playbook and share proven strategies for winning agent partnerships in a purchase-first world. From asking better qu...

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 covers how the MBA is urging FHFA to refine its condo “critical repairs” policy to protect safety standards without blocking financing for thousands of buyers. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis , VP of Communications at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public affairs and communications executive with nearly two decades of e...

In this week’s AI Update, we unpack the buzz around Agentic AI —intelligent agents designed to handle tasks autonomously, from booking travel to processing a mortgage loan. While the promise is compelling, the pitfalls are real: without careful design, agent-based systems can quickly devolve into “spaghetti code,” creating inefficiencies instead of eliminating them. Join David Lykken and Pavan Aga...

In this conversation, Kelly Resendez (GoodLeap strategic advisor, Co-Founder of GoBundance Women, and author of Big Voices ) lays out a practical playbook for high-performing mortgage pros to grow without burnout. We unpack her three pillars—clarifying how you want to feel, installing daily disciplines (morning rituals, language audits, “abundance audits”), and engineering your environment (people...

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...

The AI boom is starting to look a lot like the dot-com bubble of the 1990s — with thousands of startups rushing to market, only for most to collapse under weak business models. In this week’s episode of Lykken on Lending , David Lykken and Pavan Agarwal break down MIT’s recent report predicting that 95% of AI startups will fail, the disappointing reality of ChatGPT-5, and what this means for mortg...

In today’s mortgage market, success depends on strong, intentional partnerships between loan officers and real estate agents. In this episode of Lykken on Lending , David Lykken sits down with Steven Wynands, Co-Founder and CEO of RETR, to discuss how his platform is reshaping the way mortgage professionals and realtors connect. From his unique personal journey to the 15-year “overnight success” o...

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...

In this Conversations with Pavan episode of Lykken on Lending , David Lykken sits down with Pavan Agarwal, founder of Sun West and creator of Angel AI, to uncover how artificial intelligence, blockchain, and stablecoin are reshaping the mortgage industry. With Angel AI already empowering hundreds of thousands of loan officers and realtors, and with billions of dollars in new global capital enterin...

This podcast segment explores how AI is transforming mortgage technology and operations, the end of trigger leads shifting lenders toward borrower experience, and growing regulatory caution around using crypto in mortgage underwriting. ----------------------------------------------------- Allen Pollack , Tech Consultant Allen Pollack, a Mortgage & Financial Services Technology Advisor, is a su...

This podcast segment highlights that loan officer compensation is back in the headlines, with an imminent CFPB rulemaking focused on discretionary bonus provisions—giving lenders a critical opportunity to weigh in early. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Alice Alvey , Master CMB Vice President Partner Education and Training at  Union Home Mortgage She handles...

This podcast segment highlights how recent CPI and PPI data, retail sales strength, and tariff impacts are shaping mortgage rate volatility, with markets now focused on Jackson Hole and the upcoming jobs report to gauge the Fed’s next moves. ----------------------------------------------------- Matt  began as an originator in 2002. He fell in love with the idea of following MBS in real-time b...

08-18-2025 "We're An American Band" Market Sets Rates, Not the Fed. -------------------- Need an American Bang. Need an American Bang. It needs jobs back in town. And beat inflation back down. Need an American Bang. The world needs an American surge of job-creating growth with high productivity from AI driving down inflation. Aggressive easing will likely raise mortgage rates. The market sets the...

In today’s competitive mortgage and real estate landscape, success isn’t about working harder — it’s about mastering the right skills with purpose and consistency. In this episode of Lykken on Lending , David Lykken is joined by Todd Duncan, the founder of Sales Mastery, to discuss the proven principles behind transforming your sales career. From the importance of practice and preparation, to alig...

The AI revolution waits for no one. That's why mortgage industry veterans David Lickin and Pavan Agarwal are launching weekly AI updates to keep you ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving technological landscape. OpenAI's Sam Altman recently made headlines with a stunning admission that his company "totally screwed up" the ChatGPT launch, acknowledging the loss of personalization and warmth t...

The mortgage industry is undergoing one of the biggest technological shifts in history, and AI is at the center of it. In this week’s episode of Lykken on Lending , David Lykken sits down with Joe Welu, Founder & CEO of Total Expert, to discuss how their new AI Sales Assistant is transforming the way lenders engage with customers. From lead incubation and database mining to post-close relation...

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...