Get the insights you need to maximize your profitability this week. Welcome to OPTIMAL INSIGHTS, brought to you by Optimal Blue. Join our experts as they explore the latest real-time rate data and provide essential commentary spanning from originations to capital markets – insights you need to hear as you start your week. Designed for mortgage professionals, from originators to investors and everyone in between, each episode offers valuable information to help you maximize profitability and ...
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The multi-trillion-dollar housing market is a centerpiece of the U.S. economy. Whether you’re a mortgage lender, real estate professional, or anyone simply interested in staying informed – understanding housing finance starts with data-driven insights and analysis. The Market Advantage is your source for timely mortgage origination data and trusted commentary. Produced by Optimal Blue – the industry’s only end-to-end capital markets technology provider – the Market Advantage podcast and comp ...
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Economic Landscape Unpacked: Q1 2025 Review (So Far) | Feb. 24, 2025
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24:27Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. Jim Glennon, Jeff McCarty, and Alex Hebner kick things off by discussing the current mortgage rates, which have hovered around the mid to high sixes, making it challenging for any significant refinancing activity to take off. Both consumer and homebuilder sentiments have taken a hit, reflecting br…
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BONUS: Driving Profitability & Innovation at No Additional Cost – Joe Tyrrell | Optimal Blue Summit 2025
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25:59At the first annual Optimal Blue Summit, Joe Tyrrell, CEO of Optimal Blue, reflects on past industry challenges, the importance of preparation, and the rapid advancements in technology. He shares insights on Optimal Blue's new core competencies, including flexibility, transparency, innovation, value, and control, all aimed at increasing profitabili…
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BONUS: Driving Profitability & Innovation at No Additional Cost – Joe Tyrrell | Optimal Blue Summit 2025
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25:43At the first annual Optimal Blue Summit, Joe Tyrrell, CEO of Optimal Blue, reflects on past industry challenges, the importance of preparation, and the rapid advancements in technology. He shares insights on Optimal Blue's new core competencies, including flexibility, transparency, innovation, value, and control, all aimed at increasing profitabili…
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Understanding Builder Forward Commitments in Today's Market | Feb. 18, 2025
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27:55Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. Join Jim Glennon, Ben Larcombe, and Jeff Casella as they dive into the pressing issues facing today's market, with a special focus on how high inflation is impacting mortgage rates. Jim kicks off the episode by exploring how the current economic environment is shaping builder strategies, particula…
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20 Questions With HousingWire Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler | Optimal Blue Summit | January 2025 Data
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35:40Market Advantage – Episode 5 Welcome to this month’s episode of the Market Advantage podcast by Optimal Blue, recorded on-site at the Optimal Blue Summit in San Diego. The hosts look at mortgage rate lock data from January 2025 before welcoming HousingWire Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler for a round of “20 questions” spanning her career journey, her …
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Essential Economic Insights | Sasha Hewlett Discusses the MBA's 2025 Focus | Feb. 10, 2025
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34:17Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, Jim Glennon and Alex Hebner discuss the current state of the market, focusing on the recent dip in mortgage rates and its implications for all of us. Special Guest: Sasha Hewlett, associate vice president of secondary & capital markets at the Mortgage Bankers Association, joins us…
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BONUS: Optimal Blue Summit Recap: Product Launches, Key Insights, and More
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33:58Welcome to this bonus episode of Optimal Insights. Recorded on-site at the inaugural Optimal Blue Summit, Jim Glennon, Vimi Vasudeva, and Kevin Foley shared some insights from our general sessions and breakout sessions. The team also discussed the seven product announcements unveiled live at the first general session with Optimal Blue CEO Joe Tyrre…
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From Tariffs to AI Tech: What’s Shaping the Market Today | Feb. 3, 2025
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27:05Welcome to this week's episode of Optimal Insights! In this episode, our experts discuss the current state of the economy, the impact of tariffs, and the latest advancements in artificial intelligence. Recent data indicates that interest rates remain resilient, and we continue to grapple with inflation—it's quite the rollercoaster ride. Join Jim Gl…
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Impact of California Fires on the Industry & Optimal Blue Summit Preview | Jan. 27, 2025
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27:21Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights! Our experts discuss the current economic landscape, the impact of the California fires on mortgage servicing rights (MSRs), and give an exciting preview of the upcoming Optimal Blue Summit. Discussion Highlights: Economic Resilience and Challenges: Jim Glennon and Alex Hebner discuss the economy's…
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Market Insights | New Market Instrument Launch: Mortgage Rate Futures | Jan. 21, 2025
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30:38Welcome to Optimal Insights. In this episode, Optimal Blue experts discuss the launch of the Mortgage Rate (OB30C) futures contract. This capital markets instrument represents a significant advancement in hedging strategies for lenders, providing a new tool that directly relates to the primary mortgage rate. Jim Glennon, Ben Larcombe, and Kevin Fol…
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Mastering the Market With America’s #1 Loan Originator Shant Banosian | December 2024 Data
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38:36Welcome to this month’s episode of the Market Advantage podcast by Optimal Blue, where we analyze mortgage lock data from December 2024 and feature an interview with Shant Banosian, executive vice president of sales at Rate (formerly known as Guaranteed Rate). Shant is the #1 loan originator in America for 6 years running. Key Takeaways: December m…
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Navigating the Markets: Understanding Jobs, Inflation, and Interest Rates | Jan. 13, 2025
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35:20In this episode of Optimal Insights, Jim Glennon, Alex Hebner, and Ben Larcombe discuss the latest economic indicators impacting the mortgage industry. They explore the implications of last week's strong jobs report, rising mortgage rates, and key inflation metrics, providing insights on how these factors influence lending practices and the broader…
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Economic Insights | CapitalW Collective: Empowering Women in Mortgage Finance | Jan 6, 2025
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38:39Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts discuss current economic landscape as we enter 2025, alongside conversation with Amy Creason and Pat Peters about the initiatives of Capital W Collective, an organization dedicated to promoting gender diversity in mortgage capital markets. Jim Glennon and Alex Hebner a…
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Looking Ahead to 2025 & Year-End Market Wrap | Dec. 23, 2024
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29:37Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts offer an analysis of the economic landscape as we approach the new year. Jim Glennon, Jeff McCarty, and Ben Larcombe discuss the Federal Reserve's recent announcements and their implications for interest rates, highlighting a potential pause in rate cuts moving into 20…
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Reflections on 2024: Economic Trends and Industry Impact | Dec. 16, 2024
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33:57Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. This week, our experts reflect on the pivotal events and trends of 2024, providing a comprehensive year-in-review that touches on both industry-specific developments and broader global occurrences. Notably, they discuss the persistent high interest rates and their implications for profitability in…
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CME Group’s Agha Mirza Talks Mortgage Rate Futures, Trading on an Exchange, Cross-Margining | November 2024 Data
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35:58Welcome to this month’s episode of the Market Advantage podcast by Optimal Blue, where we analyze mortgage lock data from November 2024 and feature an interview with Agha Mirza, managing director and global head of rates and OTC products at CME Group. Key Takeaways: November mortgage rate lock activity: Overall lock volume fell 25% MoM, yet stood 1…
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Tariff Tangle: Tracing the Impact on the U.S. Economy and Housing | Dec. 9, 2024
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27:42Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts discuss the intricate relationship between tariffs, inflation, and the mortgage market. Jim Glennon leads a discussion with Jeff McCarty, Alex Hebner, and Kevin Foley, emphasizing how proposed tariffs could significantly impact inflation rates and, consequently, mortga…
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Unpacking the 2025 FHFA Loan Limits | Dec. 2, 2024
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28:57Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, Optimal Blue experts discuss key economic data, recent cabinet appointments, and their potential impacts, while also highlighting the newly released loan limits for 2025. The episode emphasizes the implications of these loan limits, which have increased significantly, reflecting c…
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The Current Landscape of Mortgage Servicing Rights and Recapture | Nov. 25, 2024
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29:21Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts discuss the impact of recent economic data and holiday trading schedules on profitability. Ben Larcombe highlights a notable uptick in existing home sales, marking the first year-over-year increase since 2021, while also cautioning about potential slowdowns due to risi…
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What are Mortgage Servicing Rights and Why Should Originators Care? | Nov. 18, 2024
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30:28Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts discuss the current state of the mortgage market, highlighting the challenges and opportunities as interest rates hover above 6.8%. The discussion emphasizes the rise in cash-out refinancing due to significant home equity, even as overall volume struggles in the face o…
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The Evolution of the Loan Officer With Dave Savage | October 2024 Data
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34:32Welcome to this month’s episode of the Market Advantage podcast by Optimal Blue, where we analyze mortgage lock data from October 2024 and feature an interview with Dave Savage, chief innovation officer at Trust Engine and founder of Mortgage Coach. Key Takeaways: October mortgage rate lock activity: Rates rose, yet purchase lock volume showed resi…
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Demystifying Hedging Strategies in a Volatile Market | Nov. 11, 2024
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26:42Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts discuss the intricacies of hedging within capital markets, emphasizing its critical role in protecting profit margins amidst fluctuating interest rates. Host Jim Glennon is joined by experts Jeff McCarty and Alex Hebner to explore the recent election outcomes and their…
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Unlocking the Lock Desk: Policies, Production, & Capital Markets Connections | Nov. 4, 2024
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24:27Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts share the current state of the capital markets, emphasizing the impact of recent economic indicators and the upcoming election on rate trends. Jim Glennon leads the discussion with insights from Jeff McCarty, who highlights the uncertain market landscape post-Fed rate …
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Exploring Economic Data | Chris Maloney on Potential Election Impact | Oct. 28, 2024
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27:50Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts discuss recent housing supply data, highlight the significant impact of inflation, and explore how election outcomes could influence interest rates and government spending with special guest, Chris Maloney, mortgage strategist at Bank of Oklahoma. Key Takeaways: Curren…
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Housing Policy and the Effects on Pricing | October 21, 2024
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28:14Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts discuss the critical intersection of housing policy and market dynamics as the election approaches. They explore how political platforms from both major candidates could influence housing supply and affordability, the current state of the housing market, including rece…
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Why Are There So Many Loan Products? | Oct. 14, 2024
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29:10Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts explore the intersection of economic indicators and mortgage market dynamics with guests Alex Hebner and Kevin Foley. The team discusses market updates, recent inflation metrics, and the topic of specified pools and loan products in this week’s episode. Key Takeaways: …
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Refi Activity Surges, Joel Kan Discusses the MBA Application Survey Index | September 2024 Data
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38:18Welcome to this month’s episode of Market Advantage from Optimal Blue, where we analyze mortgage lock data from September 2024 and feature an interview with Joel Kan, deputy chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association. Key Takeaways: September rate lock activity: The month saw a significant surge in refinance volume. MBA Application Survey …
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Navigating Economic Winds: Employment, Rates, and Refinancing | Oct. 7, 2024
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24:13Welcome to Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts discuss how the robust job growth, particularly in the hospitality and service sectors, has influenced market expectations and rate movements. They highlight the ongoing challenges in the economy and the potential for refinancing waves as rates trend lower in the coming months. The conversat…
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From Inflation to Interest Rates: Understanding Market Dynamics | Sept. 30, 2024
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25:42Welcome to the first episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts discuss the recent developments in interest rates and their impact on market trends. The episode highlights a significant drop in mortgage rates, approaching 6%, which has sparked an increase in lock volumes, defying typical seasonal patterns. The team also explores the …
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The multi-trillion-dollar housing market is a centerpiece of the U.S. economy. Whether you’re a mortgage lender, real estate professional, or anyone simply interested in staying informed – understanding housing finance starts with data-driven insights and analysis. The Market Advantage is your source for timely mortgage origination data and trusted…
…
continue reading
Get the insights you need to maximize your profitability this week. Welcome to OPTIMAL INSIGHTS, brought to you by Optimal Blue. Join our experts as they explore the latest real-time rate data and provide essential commentary spanning from originations to capital markets – insights you need to hear as you start your week. Designed for mortgage prof…
…
continue reading