James Kleimann

What Really Happened at Mesa? Inside a Fast, Expensive Failure

Plus, CoStar accuses Zillow of overcharging mortgage borrowers, a startup attempts a version of Rocket's Redfin play & more

Dec 24, 2025

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15 min read

UWM Brokers Hit with RESPA Inquiry

Minnesota regulators are looking into UWM's Success Track program. Plus, mortgage lenders insure against AI errors, Mesa's abrupt shutdown & more

Dec 22, 2025

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14 min read

Hard Times for Easy-Money DSCRs & a Stealthy Mortgage Tech Unicorn Lands a New Client

Investors & warehouse lenders are increasingly taking a cautious approach to DSCR loans. Plus, fresh info on UWM's plans for Two Harbors, a major servicing tech deal & more.

Dec 19, 2025

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14 min read

Inside UWM’s High-Stakes Servicing Gamble & ICE Gets Its Swagger Back

Our analysis of UWM's pending $1.3B acquisition of Two Harbors, what Tim Bowler's exit from ICE Mortgage Technology means for the industry & more.

Dec 17, 2025

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12 min read

Top Producer Trips: Now Safe for Work

A look at the evolution of President's/Chairman's Club trips post-Countrywide. Plus, a fast-rising lender opens the books (sort of) & Google gets into the Portal Wars.

Dec 15, 2025

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12 min read

When the Homebuilder’s Agent Roots Against Their Own Mortgage Co.

Why builder LOs & builder sales agents are often frenemies. Plus, what to make of Trump's EO on AI regulation, another Triple Play fight & more

Dec 12, 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

Dec 10, 2025

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11 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?

Dec 8, 2025

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12 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

Dec 5, 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

Dec 3, 2025

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13 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

Dec 1, 2025

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10 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

Nov 26, 2025

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13 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

Nov 24, 2025

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11 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...

Nov 21, 2025

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13 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?

Nov 19, 2025

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14 min read

The Loyalty Crisis Breaking LOs & Fifth Third’s Mortgage Rehab

Customers don't value LOs like they used to, but the industry hasn't kept up. Plus, James Sias looks to makeover Fifth Third's formerly "bad" mortgage division, Pulte's beef w/ Rocket & more

Nov 17, 2025

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12 min read

The Confidential Pricing Leak Rocking the GSEs

Pulte ally at Fannie shares confidential data w/ chief rival, Better sees an opening w/ ICE frustration, Zillow's mortgage steering case & more

Nov 14, 2025

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14 min read

No Exam, Big Checks for Agent-LOs & Pulte's Spaghetti Wall

How dual licensing is playing out, portable mortgages somehow are in play for GSEs, more lender M&A deals, bad news for the CFPB & more

Nov 12, 2025

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13 min read

It’s 2076. I Just Paid Off My Mortgage

What to make of Trump's 50-year mortgage proposal, GSEs to remain in conservatorship, Blend turns its nose up at smaller IMBs & more

Nov 10, 2025

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14 min read

The Math Behind UWM’s AI-Servicing Play

UWM's AI voice agent Mia is already delivering big returns, a fun theory on Fannie's big DU change, Rocket's old-but-new servicing platform & more

Nov 7, 2025

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13 min read

Big Bites & Slow Chews at Lower

Acquisitive Lower is fusing many big strategies all at once, rumored changes to LLPAs a real bummer for industry, a twist on a classic down payment scam & more

Nov 5, 2025

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12 min read

ICE Bets on ICE & Zillow Bets on Mortgage Discounts

How ICE is integrating AI into Encompass & MSP, Zillow's mortgage discount play, what's pissing off LOs & more

Nov 3, 2025

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13 min read

The Broker World's Messiest Breakup & Rocket's Scary Potential

AIME, UWM & Katie Sweeney throw down — plus Rocket's early wins post-M&A spree, the hidden risk in letting lenders pick the higher credit score & more

Oct 31, 2025

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14 min read

Unpacking the Mortgage Cadence Sale & DSCR Bedlam in B'more

OB's response to the 'cartel' lawsuit, "liberated" from Accenture, plus: ignoring red flags in Charm City

Oct 29, 2025

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11 min read

Bad Actor Whack-a-Mole & the Lead Gravedigger

Being shady is worth the risk to some. Plus, a new mortgage tech co. pitches a 77% profit margin on 'dead' leads & more

Oct 27, 2025

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12 min read