Lykken on Lending

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 w...

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...

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...

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 conversat...

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...

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 mo...

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 convers...

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...

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 la...

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 mentorsh...

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...

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 c...

In this eye-opening episode of Lykken on Lending , we’re sitting down with Rob Chrane , founder and CEO of Down Payment Resource (DPR) , to reveal one of the mortgage industry's most powerful — and underutilized — tools: Down Payment Assistance (DPA) programs . With over 2,500 active programs and a staggering 240,000+ updates annually , DPR is transforming the way lenders, realtors, and borrowers...

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...

This segment explores how rising interest costs, unreliable economic data, and congressional inaction are driving fiscal instability, while mortgage professionals are urged to lead in the present instead of betting on future rate drops.

This podcast segment unpacks the Rocket–Mr. Cooper merger and highlights how HMDA data provides critical insights not just for regulators, but for lenders, originators, and even job-seeking MLOs to evaluate partnerships and market impact. ----------------------------------------- David G. Kittle, CMB is a highly respected leader in the mortgage industry, with over 45 years of experience. He i...

This podcast segment explores how AI is reshaping the mortgage experience—from pre-approvals to borrower retention—while emphasizing the urgent need for smarter tech alignment through growth maturity models and personalized engagement strategies. ----------------------------------------------------- Allen Pollack , Tech Consultant Allen Pollack, a Mortgage & Financial Services Technology Advis...

In this inspiring episode of Lykken on Lending , David Lykken sits down with Brian Covey, Divisional Senior Vice President at CrossCountry Mortgage, former D1 athlete, and executive coach, to explore what really defines leadership in today’s fast-paced world. Brian pulls back the curtain on his journey—from the soccer field to the boardroom—and shares why being present, not being in power, is the...

This podcast segment covers critical regulatory updates from the CFPB and NMLS, previews the CSBS & state regulator summit, and ends with a humorous but insightful look at how seating choices at lunch can reveal a lot about performance dynamics in mortgage ops and sales teams. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Alice Alvey , Master CMB Vice President Partner Edu...

This podcast segment covers how asymmetric risks, shifting inflation policy, and a surprise U.S. credit downgrade contributed to a turbulent week for the bond market. ----------------------------------------------------- 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 b...

05-19-2025 "Don't Speak" About Togetherness ---------------------- Treasuries. We used to be together. Mortgages together, always The trends for 30-year MBSs, the 10-year & 5-year futures are bullish. Meanwhile, the 30-year and 10-year Treasuries are bearish. To see 3.60 in the 10-year yield by June 30 has less than a 5% chance. Nevertheless, Don’t Speak about the budget drama. It will end wit...

In this episode of Lykken on Lending , David interviews Randell Gillespie, newly appointed President of LeaderOne, about the evolving landscape of the mortgage industry. From his own recent job change to his powerful, people-centered leadership style, Randell shares insights on what today’s professionals should be thinking about: alignment, adaptability, and authenticity. They explore why job tran...

This podcast segment covers how Congress is moving closer to protecting borrower privacy by limiting mortgage trigger leads, with strong advocacy support from the Mortgage Bankers Association. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis , VP of Communication at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public affairs and communications executive with nearly two d...

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...

Marc Helm sounds off with a hopeful “Last Word,” highlighting Google’s use of AI to fight spam—and the massive productivity boost this could mean for professionals overwhelmed by digital clutter.