Finance
40% Jump in Rate-and-Term Refis Drives Overall Lock Growth as Purchase Activity Stalls
PLANO, Texas — Optimal Blue today released its February 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report, showing a 7% month-over-month increase in mortgage lock volume driven primarily by a surge in refinance activity. Rate-and-term refinances saw the biggest jump, rising nearly 40% as homeowners seized the opportunity to lower their monthly payments. Cash-out refinances also edged higher, while purchase lock activity remained subdued for the second consecutive month….
The Mortgage Collaborative 3.16.25 Mortgage Tech Day Presents Five Startups to Compete in Dallas Pitch Event
DALLAS, Texas — The future of mortgage technology is set to take the spotlight in Dallas as The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation’s largest independent cooperative network serving the mortgage industry, and the TMC Emerging Technology Fund LP present the seventh Mortgage Tech Day (MTD)….
Fifth Third’s Nikki Bialka to spotlight fair lending strategies and equitable homeownership on The Big Picture
CLEVELAND, Ohio — In recognition of Fair Lending Month and Women’s History Month, this week’s episode of top mortgage industry webcast The Big Picture will feature Nikki Bialka, vice president and national community lending strategy manager at Fifth Third Bank, in a discussion on bridging the homeownership gap for BIPOC and low-to-moderate-income (LMI) communities through equitable lending practices. Airing live Thursday at 3 pm ET, the episode will explore innovative mortgage programs, special-purpose credit programs (SPCPs), alternative credit models and strategies for embedding equity into lending practices beyond regulatory compliance….
IRS Solutions® Named as American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS) Partner
VALENCIA, Calif. — IRS Solutions®, a company offering innovative tax resolution software explicitly designed for tax professionals, announces that it has been named an industry partner by the prestigious American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS)….
Floify taps Sol Klein as head of client experience and business operations
BOULDER, Colo. — Floify, the mortgage industry’s leading point-of-sale (POS) solution, today announced the appointment of Sol Klein as head of client experience and business operations. Klein, a seasoned mortgage technology executive with extensive experience in customer success and implementation, will lead initiatives to help clients maximize the value of their investment in Floify’s platform….
MMI Names Kortney Lane-Schafers as Its New Vice President of Growth & Client Advocacy
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI), a leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries, is pleased to announce the promotion of Kortney Lane-Schafers to Vice President of Growth & Client Advocacy….
Cloudvirga completes enhanced integration with ICE Mortgage Technology
IRVINE, Calif. — Cloudvirga, a leading provider of digital mortgage point-of-sale platforms, today announced Cloudvirga’s Horizon Retail POS integration using Encompass Partner Connect, the latest API framework for mortgage technology from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). This modern framework enables industry participants to integrate to ICE solutions and provide their services to loan originators and servicers through secure API-enabled technology….
Dovenmuehle recognized by Fannie Mae’s STAR Program for excellence in mortgage servicing
LAKE ZURICH, Ill. — Dovenmuehle Mortgage, Inc. (DMI), a leading mortgage subservicing company, announced today that Fannie Mae has once again recognized the company with their Servicer Total Achievement and Rewards™ (STAR™) Servicer Award for outstanding servicing performance during the 2024 program year. This honor marks the fourth time Fannie Mae has recognized DMI for servicing excellence….
iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli recognized among National Mortgage Professional’s 2025 Diversity Leaders
DES MOINES, Iowa — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced that CEO Laird Nossuli has been named a 2025 Diversity Leader by National Mortgage Professional (NMP) magazine. The award recognizes mortgage professionals who have demonstrated dedication and success in promoting inclusivity within their companies or the communities they serve….
Floify introduces Dynamic Apps so lenders can tailor applications by loan type while supporting regulatory compliance
BOULDER, Colo. — Floify, the mortgage industry’s leading point-of-sale (POS) solution, today announced Dynamic Apps, a no-code feature that lets lenders tailor loan applications based on loan type. By eliminating irrelevant questions, Dynamic Apps shapes the home financing journey to borrowers’ unique goals while helping lenders accelerate approvals, improve application completion rates and maintain regulatory compliance….