Ginnie Guide, Borrower Marketing, e-Note Products; AI Webcast; Advocacy Week Approaching

Broker and Correspondent Products

NFTYDoor, an end-to-end digital HELOC platform, is now operating as a fully independent company, enabling direct partnerships with wholesale brokers and private label correspondents. Brokers are already active on the new structure, submitting applications and closing loans today with no waiting period supported by NFTYDoor's combination of AI-powered origination and real people on every loan. Key enhancements include minimum FICO reduced from 640 to 600, maximum CLTV increased from 80 to 90 percent, maximum loan amount increased from $500,000 to $750,000, borrower rates reduced by 100+ bps, increased partner compensation, and a fully embedded no-cost warehouse line for private label partners. Available exclusively to partners contracting directly with NFTYDoor. Get started at nftydoor.com/partner-application.

Peak season calls for peak financing, and Logan Finance is helping mortgage brokers close more deals for their highest-earning self-employed clients with the Open Road Elevated Bank Statement program. Using 12 or 24-months of bank statements (personal, business, or both), the Elevated program qualifies borrowers up to $5.0M with a 740 minimum FICO, up to 65% LTV, interest-only options on 30-year terms, and primary, second home, and investment occupancy all eligible. Logan’s team will be at the MBA National Secondary & Capital Markets Conference. Book time at MBA Secondary with Logan here, or contact bizdev@loganfinance.com to learn more. Logan Finance Corporation, NMLS #127722.

“Veterans deserve a lender who knows their VA loans. This May, Kind Lending is honoring Military Appreciation Month with 25 basis points improvement on VA purchases because talk is cheap and pricing isn't. We manually underwrite government loans, accept 580 FICO with no DTI overlays, offer no credit score programs through non-traditional credit, and have the joint VA loan expertise most lenders don't. Purchase only. Valid May 1–31, 2026. Contact your Kind AE to learn more! Not an approved partner? Let’s change that! Join the Kind movement here.

Lender and Broker Products, Software, and Services

Navigating the New Frontier of TRID Reform: The March 2026 Executive Order is shifting the industry toward "materiality-based" standards, prioritizing consumer clarity over rigid technicalities. On May 21st, join Cotality and TRID expert Joe Kolar (Partner at Orrick) to explore how this "cure-first" model and the push for e-note standardization will streamline your origination. We’ll break down the latest Regulation Z amendments and the roadmap to a digital-first pipeline. Don’t just react to these changes. Understand how to turn them into a definitive operational advantage. Register now.

“In today’s complex lending environment, financial institutions face increasing regulatory demands while striving to deliver exceptional customer service. Servbank, the nation’s premier bank subservicer, helps lenders navigate these challenges by streamlining operations, reducing costs, and enhancing the customer experience. Our proven subservicing solutions allow you to stay focused on what matters most: growing your business with confidence. Discover how Servbank can support your goals.”

The most forward-thinking lenders are streamlining how their teams originate and close loans. By embracing automation and advanced capabilities across their loan lifecycle, they're scaling operations without compromising loan quality or compliance. See how leading lenders are transforming their operations with Encompass®. Explore their stories.

Headed to MBA’s Secondary & Capital Markets Conference? So are we, and we’re bringing more than business cards. Arrive Home and Mountain West Financial are helping lenders unlock more approvals, more options, and more momentum. Whether it’s down payment assistance or fresh paths to homeownership, our programs are built to help you say “yes” a little more often. Grab time with Matt Pettit and Shawn King while you’re there… We promise a conversation worth having (and maybe your next best product idea).

Your customers are ready to talk. But are they talking to you? Most originators are leaving opportunities on the table, not because they don't care, but because there aren't enough hours in the day. Total Expert’s Customer IQ changes that. Joe Welu sat down with HousingWire to discuss Total Expert’s latest platform evolution, which uses contextual data and AI agents to identify high-value opportunities, engage them at scale, and bring originators into the conversation at the right moment. The results? Lenders see up to 4x more loan applications. When you understand "the why" behind your customers' financial choices, you can engage them with empathy to build lasting loyalty and grow a sustainable lending business far beyond 2026. Watch the full conversation.

Ginnie Mae requires issuers to ensure their document custodians are compliant with Ginnie Mae’s Mortgage-Backed Security Guide. While the requirement itself is well known, issuer responsibility is often misunderstood. Even when the document custodian is being reviewed, issuers remain accountable for scope, timing, and alignment with Ginnie Mae guidelines. When those expectations are unclear, reviews can become more disruptive and higher risk than necessary. To help issuers navigate this requirement with confidence, Richey May published a short overview that outlines the expectations, where document custodian reviews commonly go off track, and how issuers can simplify execution. Read: What Issuers Are Responsible for and How to Simplify the Process. Contact info@richeymay.com with any questions or to sign up for a review.

The Chrisman Marketplace is a centralized hub for vendors and service providers across the mortgage industry to be viewed by lenders in a very cost-effective manner. We’re adding new providers daily, so check back often to see what’s new. To reserve your place or learn more, contact us at info@chrismancommentary.com.

Webinars Today and Tomorrow

Today is the Advisory Angle at 2PM ET, powered by STRATMOR Group. Sue Woodard, Garth Graham, and Will Ayer break down what effective AI adoption actually looks like in mortgage. The conversation focuses on combining human expertise with technology to drive real results while avoiding common pitfalls.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is Mortgage Matters at 2PM ET, powered by Lenders One. Robbie and Rob Chrisman are joined by Owen Lee, CEO of Success Mortgage Partners and 2026 MBA Chair Elect, to discuss leadership and growth in today’s market. The conversation explores scaling, advocacy, and what it takes to lead through changing cycles.

Also tomorrow is The AI Show at 3PM ET, powered by JazzX. Becca Seward, Brooke Anderson-Tompkins, Jagjit Singh, Mike Hogan, and Tela Mathias come together for a brand-new Chrisman Commentary Show to separate hype from reality in AI adoption across mortgage. The discussion explores governance, vendor risk, underwriting use cases, and what lenders need to operationalize now.

The Big Picture is Thursday, May 7, at 3PM ET. Rich Swerbinsky and Rob Chrisman are joined by Tammie Gravlee, Melanie Coulton, and Deb Jones to discuss leadership and production in today’s environment. The conversation focuses on what is driving consistent performance and how teams adapt to market shifts.

Advocacy: Speak Up!

Brian Vieaux, President, MISMO, wrote in with an “LO VieauxPoint.” May 11 marks the start of Advocacy Week across our industry. It’s a good reminder of something we don’t talk about enough. Participation. The Mortgage Action Alliance (MAA) has about 50,000 members. That sounds strong, until you consider there are 300,000+ professionals in housing finance. That means less than 15 percent of us are engaged in advocacy. Policy decisions directly impact how we serve borrowers, that number should be higher. Lawmakers pay attention to scale, listening to large, organized groups speak with a unified voice. MAA is free, non-partisan, and takes less than five minutes to join. Once you’re in, you’ll receive Calls to Action on issues affecting our industry. Each one comes with a prepared message you can review, personalize, and send directly to your elected officials. A few clicks, and your voice is heard. You can register for MAA here. If you’re interested in activating MAA within your organization, reach out to Jamey Lynch. The strength of our industry’s voice depends on participation. Right now, we’re at 15 percent. We can do better. #VieauxPoint” Thank you, Brian.

STRATMOR’s Consumer Direct Workshop

Consumer Direct isn’t getting any easier. Between tighter margins, more informed borrowers, and relentless competition, lenders are being forced to rethink what actually drives performance. That’s exactly the focus of STRATMOR’s upcoming Consumer Direct Workshop, where consumer direct mortgage leaders and STRATMOR experts will share what’s working right now, from marketing and conversion to borrower engagement and call center effectiveness. This virtual workshop is for lenders only and will take place May 19-20, 2026. Split into two, 90-minute sessions, it’s a candid, data-driven workshop (and one of STRATMOR’s most popular events), with plenty of practical takeaways for lenders looking to sharpen their edge in today’s market. Learn more and register now.

Capital Markets

The mainstream press talks about Treasury yields, but we’re more focused on MBS, right? Agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) had a surprisingly strong April, posting modest gains despite geopolitical tensions and inflation concerns, helped largely by seasonal trends and a sharp drop in market volatility. Investors shifted toward longer-duration bonds, boosting 30-year Fannie Mae and Ginnie Mae securities, while shorter-term MBS lagged. Overall performance for the year has improved compared to 2025. Demand remained steady with solid issuance and continued support from institutions like Fannie Mae, even as spreads tightened to slightly expensive levels. Looking ahead, seasonal momentum may continue, but persistent inflation risks and uncertainty tied to geopolitical developments are likely to keep the Federal Reserve cautious, favoring a defensive approach focused on shorter durations and capital preservation.

Heightened volatility in oil and the resulting sell-off in Treasuries to open the week were driven by a fresh wave of Iran-related headlines, including comments from President Trump about guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz, confirmed U.S. naval escorts, and conflicting reports of military engagement. Markets are increasingly interpreting these developments not as progress toward de-escalation but as evidence of a prolonged disruption, keeping upward pressure on energy prices and reinforcing persistent inflation risks. This is making it difficult for Treasury yields to decline meaningfully, even as economic data remains relatively firm and the Federal Reserve maintains a patient, "wait-and-see" stance.

Yes, rates remain range-bound but tilted higher as geopolitical uncertainty continues to dominate the narrative. Yields are now pressing against key technical levels, particularly in the long end of the yield curve (10-year Treasury notes at 4.5 percent, anyone?) though any breakout higher may prove temporary as markets balance strong economic data, looming Treasury supply, and elevated equity valuations that continue to ease financial conditions. With the Federal Open Market Committee showing no urgency to cut rates and inflation pressures building, absent a clear de-escalation in the Middle East or a meaningful shift in Fed expectations, markets appear stuck in a holding pattern, with geopolitical headlines and incoming labor data likely to dictate the next directional move.

Today’s economic calendar kicked off with the March Trade Balance (-$60.3 billion from -$57.3 billion previously). Later today brings Final April S&P Global U.S. Services PMI, April ISM Non-Manufacturing Index, February New Home Sales, March New Home Sales, and March Job Openings. There are short-term Treasury bill auctions, including an 8-week bill, but these are much less market-moving than the coupon auctions (3s/10s/30s) coming next week. We begin the day with Agency MBS prices .250-.375 worse than yesterday’s close, the 2-year yielding 3.93, and the 10-year yielding 4.42 after closing yesterday at 4.45 percent.