Category: Optimal Blue
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Optimal Blue Director of Data Solutions Brennan O’Connell Named a 2024 HousingWire Rising Star
PLANO, Texas — Optimal Blue today announced that Brennan O’Connell, director of data solutions, has been honored with the 2024 HousingWire Rising Stars award. The award program celebrates emerging leaders in real estate and mortgage who have demonstrated rapid career growth and an ability to lead, achieving remarkable milestones before the age of 40.
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Average Homebuyer Credit Score Hits the Highest Mark in Years
PLANO, Texas — Today, Optimal Blue released its March 2024 Originations Market Monitor report, which reveals the average homebuyer credit score has reached 737 – an all-time high since the company began tracking this data in January 2018. Despite the potential buyer pool being somewhat limited to borrowers with higher credit, rate lock volume showed…
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Mortgage Industry Veteran Sara Holtz Joins Optimal Blue as Chief Marketing Officer
PLANO, Texas — Optimal Blue announced today that it has appointed Sara Holtz as chief marketing officer. As a seasoned marketing and communications leader, Holtz brings more than 20 years of career experience, including a decade of driving change in the mortgage industry. As chief marketing officer, Holtz will drive unified marketing and communications strategies…
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Spring Buying Season Kicks Off With an Uptick in Purchase Applications Despite Climbing Interest Rates
PLANO, Texas — Today, Optimal Blue released its February 2024 Originations Market Monitor report, which reveals that the spring homebuying season has kicked off with a jump in monthly purchase mortgage locks. The seasonal spike in purchase locks propelled a net increase in origination activity, even as higher interest rates led to steep declines in…
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Optimal Blue’s Mike Schommer Honored as a 2024 HousingWire Finance Leader
PLANO, Texas — Today, Optimal Blue announced its vice president of finance, Mike Schommer, has been honored as a 2024 HousingWire Finance Leader. The award program celebrates senior finance executives who have exhibited exceptional leadership in corporate finance, capital markets, and accounting within the mortgage and real estate sectors.
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Optimal Blue Originations Market Monitor: Lock Volume Rises 36% Month Over Month in January, Falling Rates and Slowing Decline in Purchase Counts May Signal Lending Relief in 2024
PLANO, Texas — Today, Optimal Blue announced the release of its Originations Market Monitor report, looking at mortgage origination data through January month-end. Leveraging daily rate lock data from the Optimal Blue PPE – the industry’s most widely used product, pricing, and eligibility engine – the Originations Market Monitor provides a comprehensive and timely view…
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Optimal Blue Clinches 2024 HousingWire Tech100 Mortgage Award
PLANO, Texas — Today, Optimal Blue announced its selection by HousingWire as a Tech100 Mortgage award winner. Now in its 12th year, HousingWire’s Tech100 award program spotlights the most innovative and impactful tech organizations in housing.
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Optimal Blue PPE Now Available in Native Mobile App for Android and iOS, Gives Loan Officers ‘Pricing in Their Pocket’ With Full Product and Search Capabilities
PLANO, Texas — Today, Optimal Blue announced releases related to its publicly listed, native mobile app for the Optimal Blue PPE – the industry’s most widely used product, pricing, and eligibility engine. The releases consist of a new mobile app for Android, as well as enhancements to the company’s mobile offering for iOS.
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Optimal Blue Originations Market Monitor: December Brought Significant Growth in Rate/Term Refinance Volume as Falling Rates Created Favorable Tailwinds
PLANO, Texas — Today, Optimal Blue announced the release of its Originations Market Monitor report, looking at mortgage origination data through December month-end. Leveraging daily rate lock data from the Optimal Blue PPE – the industry’s most widely used product, pricing, and eligibility engine – the Originations Market Monitor provides a comprehensive and timely view…