Lykken on Lending

The 2027 Mortgage Reality: 7% Rates, Credit Score Changes, and the Fight for Profitability As the mortgage industry prepares for another challenging year, lenders are facing a new reality of persistent interest rates, evolving credit scoring requirements, and increasing pressure on profitability. In this week's Lykken on Lending segment, David Kittle is joined by Bill Corbett and Marc Helm for an...

10-13-2026 Is the Fed on The Road to "Shambala?" ------------------------- Wash away Bonds’ troubles. Wash away price pain, with the reign of Grow-a-lot. The economy is rolling along a bumpy road of inflation. So, the Fed tightens and placate the Bond vigilantes. However, nervous nellies on the short end see a fundamental shift: the Fed will raise rates much more. Will rates stay higher for longer...

Adam DeSanctis discusses FHA's adoption of VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T beginning January 1, 2027, highlighting expanded mortgage credit access, new lender implementation requirements, and MBA's ongoing efforts to support a smooth transition. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis , VP of Communications at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public af...

What if the mortgage industry's biggest missed opportunity isn't a lack of qualified borrowers, but the way loan applications are evaluated? In this week's Weekly AI Update , David Lykken welcomes Pavan Agarwal, founder and CEO of Angel AI, to explore new research suggesting that artificial intelligence could significantly reduce mortgage loan denial rates while creating substantial economic oppor...

In today's competitive mortgage market, being an experienced loan officer isn't enough if potential borrowers can't find you online. In this episode of Lykken on Lending's Hot Topics , host David Lykken welcomes Bobby Kerr, founder of LOC8 My Business, to explore why your Google Business Profile may be one of the most powerful—and overlooked—tools for growing your mortgage business in 2026. As art...

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 music...

Mortgage rates continue to defy expectations, leaving lenders and borrowers wondering when relief might finally arrive. In this week's Lykken on Lending market commentary, Bill Corbett joins Alice Alvey to explain why traditional economic indicators are no longer producing predictable results in the bond market. With bond vigilantes driving Treasury yields higher, mounting federal debt, persistent...

Allen Pollack challenges mortgage lenders to look beyond impressive AI demonstrations and evaluate real-world integration, exception handling, human oversight, and vendor accountability while exploring emerging technologies that improve borrower communication and retention. ----------------------------------------------------- Allen Pollack , Tech Consultant Allen Pollack, a Mortgage & Financi...

lice Alvey, Marc Helm, and Bill Corbett examine the UAD 3.6 appraisal deadline extension, consumer protection concerns surrounding home equity investments, and how evolving credit scoring requirements could increase mortgage applications without generating additional closings. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Alice Alvey , Master CMB Vice President Partner Educati...

10-06-2026 "Take Me Out to The Ball Game" But Don't Strike Out! ----------------------------- Take stats out of the Jobs game. Take them out of the Bonds. Friday delivered the miss Bond bulls had been waiting for: 29K jobs, unemployment of 4.2%, and struggling wages. Sadly, loan officers caught no relief after Thursday's positive positioning. Meanwhile, Europe’s weakness and Crude oil exports thro...

The mortgage industry is navigating one of its most challenging periods in recent memory, with stubbornly high mortgage rates, affordability pressures, continued consolidation, regulatory uncertainty, and an increasingly fierce battle for production talent reshaping the competitive landscape. In this Hot Topic, David Lykken sits down with longtime mortgage executive and industry advisor Rich Swerb...

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 music...

Higher interest rates are putting renewed pressure on borrowers and mortgage companies, but they are also creating opportunities for lenders willing to rethink their playbook. In this week’s discussion, David Lykken and the team examine the forces keeping rates elevated and what mortgage professionals can do instead of simply waiting for the market to improve. From developing relationships with co...

From AI-assisted pricing configuration and automated underwriting to voice-powered broker tools and insurance-backed AI protection, mortgage technology is advancing rapidly—but lenders still need to prove that innovation translates into meaningful ROI and a better borrower experience. ----------------------------------------------------- Allen Pollack , Tech Consultant Allen Pollack, a Mortgage &a...

Despite a Fed rate hike and signals that additional tightening may be ahead, mortgage rates and longer-term Treasury yields showed surprising resilience as markets weighed inflation, oil prices, and the Fed’s commitment to price stability. ----------------------------------------------------- Matt began as an originator in 2002. He fell in love with the idea of following MBS in real-time but felt...

09-29-2026 Even Modelers Will Make “A Mistake” ——————— They’re gonna make a mistake They’re gonna do it on purpose Does it waste our time? We all make mistakes. Modelers intentionally make mistakes to test scenarios and reveal truths not shown in official government statistics. Alternative data and models highlight the value of learning through trial and error and transparency. The absence of the...

FHA is moving forward with its first comprehensive minimum property requirements update in 20 years, while MBA supports reforms aimed at modernizing standards and simplifying the partial claim process for mortgage servicers. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis , VP of Communications at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public affairs and communica...

Artificial intelligence may no longer be the most provocative frontier in computing. In this episode of the Weekly AI Update , David Lykken and Pavan Agarwal explore the emerging field of biocomputing , where researchers are integrating living human neurons with electronic systems to perform computational tasks. From the remarkable energy efficiency and potential capabilities of biological computi...

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 music...

What will it actually take to bring mortgage rates meaningfully lower? In this week’s discussion, we look beyond the latest Fed decision to examine the broader forces influencing the market, from government spending and geopolitical uncertainty to oil and diesel supply pressures, inflation, and the bond market’s response. The conversation also turns to an increasingly important issue for the secon...

A push for greater GSE credit-data transparency raises questions about whether investors could eventually evaluate mortgage risk beyond traditional FICO and VantageScore models, potentially affecting pricing, securitization, and the secondary market. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Alice Alvey , Master CMB Vice President Partner Education and Training at Union Ho...

09-22-2026 Is the Fed on The Road to "Shambala?" ------------------------- Wash away Bonds’ troubles. Wash away price pain, with the reign of Grow-a-lot. The economy is rolling along a bumpy road of inflation. So, the Fed tightens and placate the Bond vigilantes. However, nervous nellies on the short end see a fundamental shift: the Fed will raise rates much more. Will rates stay higher...

A busy week in Washington brings a Fed rate hike, key FHA and CFPB nominations, and a new AI supervisory framework aligned with MISMO’s approach to responsible AI governance. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis , VP of Communications at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public affairs and communications executive with nearly two decades of experie...

Everyone has a story—but too many leaders assume theirs isn’t worth telling. In this Hot Topic, David Lykken sits down with Matt Harms, founder of Pen for Hire NYC, to explore why writing a book can be one of the most powerful ways to share your experience, establish yourself as a thought leader, and leave a lasting legacy. Matt breaks down how to uncover the stories you may not realize you have,...

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 music...