The spreadsheet trap: Why investor reporting still operates like it’s 2005

Manually updating spreadsheets. Dealing with paper jams in the printer. Remember what office life was like in 2005? If you’re feeling nostalgic, you can find many of the same practices still in place in the investor’s reporting offices of loan servicers today.
But why haven’t these offices evolved with changing technology?

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.

What real estate can learn from LEGO’s reinvention

Just in time for the holidays, Troy Palmquist looks at how this legacy manufacturer bounced back from a market downturn and how agents can, too
A few weeks ago, on a podcast, I was asked which brands I admire most. Without hesitation, I said LEGO. The toy company has an incredible comeback story, from the brink of bankruptcy to one of the world’s most beloved and profitable brands.