The originator’s playbook: Competing and growing in a shifting market

As interest rates continue to ease and borrower confidence rebuilds, originators are operating in a market that demands both adaptability and creativity.

To better understand how mortgage professionals are approaching today’s environment, I asked four experienced originators to share how they’re guiding clients, leveraging non-qualified mortgage (non-QM) solutions, and refining their playbooks to stay competitive. What emerged was a shared message of optimism and resilience, as well as a renewed focus on client education and relationships, two cornerstones of long-term success in our business.

The new battlefront in lending: Payment intelligence, buyer retention, and the capital rails that will decide 2026 purchase winners 

For the past decade, rate marketing has been the dominant gravitational force in mortgage acquisition. Whoever shouted the lowest 30-year fixed rate the loudest won the most attention. But attention has never been the same as intent, and intent has never been the same as a closed loan.