Archive | The Mortgage Scoop

The Fed

How Mortgage's Biggest-Ever Brawl Went Down

Dec 10, 2025

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11 min read

How Mortgage's Biggest-Ever Brawl Went Down

We've got the inside story on why two rival lenders went at it at Triple Play in Atlantic City in '21. Plus, an update about a very interesting CCM clawback case, expectations post-Fed Day & more

James Kleimann

FHA

The Anti-50-Year Mortgage Hack & the Mortgage Reality Show America Deserves

Dec 8, 2025

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12 min read

The Anti-50-Year Mortgage Hack & the Mortgage Reality Show America Deserves

Here's a real-world hack to flip a "Refer" to a "Approve" on both FHA & Conventional loans. Plus, what would a new Netflix mortgage reality show look like?

James Kleimann

Freddie Mac

Freddie's the New AI Sheriff & Layoffs at Lennar Mortgage

Dec 5, 2025

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13 min read

Freddie's the New AI Sheriff & Layoffs at Lennar Mortgage

A breakdown on how to prepare for Freddie's new AI rules, layoffs hit Lennar Mortgage, a twist on a classic mortgage fraud scheme & more

James Kleimann

M&A

'Obamacare for Mortgages' & 5 M&A Predictions for '26

Dec 3, 2025

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13 min read

'Obamacare for Mortgages' & 5 M&A Predictions for '26

Some see rising credit report costs as a big strategic opportunity. Plus, Mat Ishbia loves the 50-year mortgage, M&A forecast for '26 & more

James Kleimann

M&A

No Cake for you! & an MBA-FICO Reckoning

Dec 1, 2025

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10 min read

No Cake for you! & an MBA-FICO Reckoning

Cake Mortgage has warehouse problems. Plus, Absolute Home Loans acquires a lender, MBA has a hill it won't die on & more

James Kleimann

LOs

Inside the LO Bonus Trap & How Mortgages Worked in Colonial America

Nov 26, 2025

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13 min read

Inside the LO Bonus Trap & How Mortgages Worked in Colonial America

You took the $500K bonus, now you’re stuck in Margin Hell. Plus, a cyberattack update, a Ken Burns mortgage Thanksgiving & more

James Kleimann

mortgage tech

Nov 24, 2025

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11 min read

Real Hack: SitusAMC. Fake Hack: ICE

What SitusAMC's very real breach means for the industry. Plus, a bizarre false claim about ICE being hacked & more

James Kleimann

Tidalwave

Nov 21, 2025

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13 min read

The Mortgage Credit Wars Escalate & Tidalwave's Big Fundraise

After FICO's bold play, the bureaus are now adding their mark-ups to credit reporting costs. Plus, what's really interesting about Tidalwave's $22M Series A round...

James Kleimann

Rocket Companies

Bill Ackman’s GSE Pickup Line & The Rise of DIY Mortgage Tech

Nov 19, 2025

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14 min read

Bill Ackman’s GSE Pickup Line & The Rise of DIY Mortgage Tech

Our breakdown of the hedge funder's plan to pry the GSEs out from conservatorship. Plus, what happens if/when small- and mid-sized lenders no longer need to buy from tech vendors?

James Kleimann

How Mortgage's Biggest-Ever Brawl Went Down

The Anti-50-Year Mortgage Hack & the Mortgage Reality Show America Deserves

Freddie's the New AI Sheriff & Layoffs at Lennar Mortgage

'Obamacare for Mortgages' & 5 M&A Predictions for '26

No Cake for you! & an MBA-FICO Reckoning

Inside the LO Bonus Trap & How Mortgages Worked in Colonial America

Real Hack: SitusAMC. Fake Hack: ICE

The Mortgage Credit Wars Escalate & Tidalwave's Big Fundraise

Bill Ackman’s GSE Pickup Line & The Rise of DIY Mortgage Tech

If it's being whisperedin the halls, it's here first.

If it's being whispered
in the halls, it's here first.