Lykken on Lending

This podcast segment breaks down the proposed 2027 federal budget, highlighting significant HUD funding cuts alongside targeted FHA support and what it could mean for the mortgage industry. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis , VP of Communications at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public affairs and communications executive with nearly two dec...

This Weekly AI Update explores dives into one of the most critical—and misunderstood—realities in today’s AI race: technology alone is not a competitive advantage. As companies rush to cut costs and automate workflows, many are unknowingly eroding the very thing that drives long-term success—human capital. Drawing from real-world examples, including a powerful Fast Company article and lessons from...

Lenders today are under constant pressure to increase margins without increasing volume—but what if the answer is already sitting inside your existing pipeline? This episode dives into one of the most overlooked opportunities in the mortgage industry: capturing title revenue from your current book of business. Industry experts break down how lenders, brokers, and real estate professionals are turn...

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 breaks down the industry’s most significant appraisal changes in years, highlighting what lenders must do now to prepare for the upcoming URAR and UAD 3.6 transition. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis , VP of Communications at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public affairs and communications executive with nearly two decad...

This Weekly AI Update explores a powerful and unconventional question— Does God play dice with your business? —as Pavan Agarwal breaks down the true nature of AI, risk, and decision-making in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. Stripping away the hype, he reveals that AI isn’t magic at all, but deeply rooted in over a century of mathematical principles like probability and Markov chains. For mortg...

The mortgage market may be constrained by rate lock-in, but a powerful shift is underway—home equity lending is emerging as one of the most significant growth opportunities in the industry today. As borrowers hold onto historically low first mortgage rates, they’re increasingly turning to HELOCs and home equity loans to access the wealth built in their homes. In this episode, we explore the data b...

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 mortgage market may be facing a far more complex risk than typical rate cycles, as global conflict and energy supply disruptions introduce the possibility of a new inflation shock. With tensions surrounding key oil shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz, the ripple effects extend well beyond fuel prices—impacting global supply chains, economic growth, and ultimately interest rates. What mak...

This podcast segment explains how AI is rapidly transforming mortgage lending by moving beyond simple automation to power end-to-end workflows and emerging as a full operating system for the industry. ----------------------------------------------------- Allen Pollack , Tech Consultant Allen Pollack, a Mortgage & Financial Services Technology Advisor, is a subject matter expert in the mortgage...

This podcast segment explains why the mortgage industry is advocating for HMDA reform to reduce compliance burdens, clarify regulatory expectations, and minimize costly reporting risks. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Alice Alvey , Master CMB Vice President Partner Education and Training at  Union Home Mortgage She handles development of their World Class Tr...

This podcast segment breaks down how volatile oil prices, a stronger-than-expected jobs report, and mixed economic signals are keeping bond markets range-bound while leaving mortgage rate direction uncertain. ----------------------------------------------------- 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 we...

04.07.26 Oil and Bombs "Gangnam Style"  --------------------------- Warning Gunmen style, uh, Gunmen style. Drop bombs; make a deal, Gunmen style. Without a lot of stirring, Oil and Bombs, oops, Bonds don’t mix for long. The US will not spend blood and treasure to guarantee the free flow of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The US military has defanged the terrorist regime's threat to th...

This podcast segment breaks down the proposed 2027 federal budget, highlighting significant HUD funding cuts alongside targeted FHA support and what it could mean for the mortgage industry. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis , VP of Communications at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public affairs and communications executive with nearly two dec...

This podcast episode explores a powerful yet underutilized strategy for mortgage lenders to unlock new revenue and long-term enterprise value by launching their own title operations. David Lykken sits down with Joe D’Urso to break down how lenders, branches, and high-performing teams can move beyond traditional joint ventures and instead build fully owned, RESPA-compliant title businesses that gen...

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 today’s unpredictable mortgage environment, it’s easy to get caught up in headlines about inflation, oil prices, and rate volatility—but this episode delivers a much-needed reality check. Industry veterans share why market swings are nothing new and reinforce that long-term success isn’t driven by trying to predict rates, but by consistent execution. The conversation highlights a critical shift...

This podcast segment discusses the growing surge in scam calls and fraudulent outreach, highlighting the impact on consumer trust and why mortgage professionals must be more intentional in how they communicate with borrowers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Marc Helm , CEO, and Author Marc Helm serves as a Principal Partner at...

This podcast segment explores how emerging AI tools and “vibe coding” are creating new data security and compliance risks for mortgage lenders, especially around borrower information and vendor access. ----------------------------------------------------- Allen Pollack , Tech Consultant Allen Pollack, a Mortgage & Financial Services Technology Advisor, is a subject matter expert in the mortgag...

This podcast segment explains why the mortgage industry is advocating for HMDA reform to reduce compliance burdens, clarify regulatory expectations, and minimize costly reporting risks. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Alice Alvey , Master CMB Vice President Partner Education and Training at  Union Home Mortgage She handles development of their World Class Tr...

This podcast segment breaks down how rising inflation signals, hawkish Fed messaging, and surging oil prices triggered a sharp bond market sell-off that pushed mortgage rates higher. ----------------------------------------------------- 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 sur...

3-31-2026 Stagflation Needs a "Wonderwall" -------------------------- And all the roads that Iran walks are winding. And all the lights that lead them there are blinding Price action in currencies, commodities, and energy anticipates long-term safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Bonds like a sidelined Fed. But no one likes the inflation consequences of sustained Oil prices, and their drag o...

This podcast segment highlights the MBA’s push for VA loan reforms aimed at lowering costs, improving flexibility, and strengthening support for veteran homeowners. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis , VP of Communications at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public affairs and communications executive with nearly two decades of experience, ...

This episode dives into one of the most important shifts happening in the mortgage industry today: the rise of the “citizen developer” and the acceleration of AI-driven innovation. As technology evolves at an unprecedented pace, forward-thinking lenders are no longer waiting on vendors to build solutions—they’re creating their own. In this conversation, we explore how AI is empowering mortgage pro...

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...