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James Kleimann
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The Secret to an 83% Recapture Rate*

The Secret to an 83% Recapture Rate*

Karen Postiglioni breaks down the creative math behind mortgage retention claims. Plus, Fannie’s workforce hits the therapy couch & Chad Smith leaves Better.

Sep 8, 2026

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6 min read

Pulte Just Opened the VantageScore Floodgates. Who’s Ready?

Pulte Just Opened the VantageScore Floodgates. Who’s Ready?

FHFA’s chief wants VS4.0 everywhere, is eyeing bi-merge (or even a single credit report!) & says the bureaus act like a cartel. Plus, Fay Group buys a $1B IMB & Fannie gives LOs a new pipeline play.

Sep 4, 2026

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4 min read

Rocket’s $10K Bounty on UWM Brokers

Rocket’s $10K Bounty on UWM Brokers

Detroit smells vulnerability in Pontiac: bounties, a “Moving Squad” & sharper pricing for brokers. Plus, Roam appears to be toast

Sep 2, 2026

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5 min read

Summer Rumors & Rate Surges

Summer Rumors & Rate Surges

Mortgage quickies! Sogorka’s on the move (again), Motto is No Mo’(?), NAF lands a $370M team & NEXA could shake up AIME. Plus, rates hit a 52-week high & agency delinquencies creep up.

Aug 31, 2026

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4 min read

Better’s $3,000 Mortgage Claim, Examined

Better’s $3,000 Mortgage Claim, Examined

Karen Postiglioni traces that number back to its source & asks a simple question: What’s actually in it?

Aug 27, 2026

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7 min read

Inside the NEXA-UMortgage Deal

Inside the NEXA-UMortgage Deal

Anthony Casa & Mike Kortas are joining forces. Here’s how the deal came together, how the 10 bps earn-out works & the messy stuff that didn’t make the announcement.

Aug 24, 2026

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6 min read

The 47 Mortgage Companies Still Losing Money 🥹

The 47 Mortgage Companies Still Losing Money 🥹

We dug into the MBA’s numbers to find out who’s still losing money, why they’re losing it & what separates them from the winners. Plus, a huge leadership shakeup at Fannie & more

Aug 21, 2026

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5 min read

Checkr vs. The Work Number (And Your Processors)

Checkr vs. The Work Number (And Your Processors)

Truv acquisition puts the incumbent on notice. But Equifax's biggest advantage arguably isn’t data or price — it’s habit. Plus, behind Matador's bet that GoRascal can help take its Texas business from $200M to $1B.

Aug 19, 2026

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6 min read

A Very Sneaky Way to Avoid an EPO

A Very Sneaky Way to Avoid an EPO

Plus: PMI claws back share, & the LOs acquirers can't afford to lose are leaving anyway

Aug 17, 2026

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5 min read

Vishal’s Back (?) & Where LOs Go After M&A

Vishal’s Back (?) & Where LOs Go After M&A

Better founder launched a bid to reclaim his company. Plus, you bought the lender, but you might be renting the sales staff

Aug 14, 2026

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5 min read

"The Worst Hedge of All Time"

"The Worst Hedge of All Time"

UWM says the $27.5B position was tied to Two Harbors. The deal died March 27, but the trade didn't. Plus: Wall Street LOs shrug at the Morgan Stanley story, & June MBS numbers.

Aug 12, 2026

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7 min read

MSRs are hot. Condos are a nightmare. 🔥😱

MSRs are hot. Condos are a nightmare. 🔥😱

Buyers love low WAC servicing. LOs can't get an HOA to answer an email. Plus: CrossCountry's coming for the Top 10 in servicing & Fitch downgrades UWM.

Aug 10, 2026

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6 min read

What $1.5B From Oaktree Actually Cost Ishbia

What $1.5B From Oaktree Actually Cost Ishbia

Inside the deal terms, why big broker shops are taking Pylon's calls, & the Zillow Home Loans numbers that should worry every LO w/ an MSA.

Aug 7, 2026

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7 min read

Ishbia Raises $2B & Kills the Dividend 🥵

Ishbia Raises $2B & Kills the Dividend 🥵

UWM rebuilds its balance sheet with a historic $2B recap while Valon makes its boldest bid yet to unseat ICE in mortgage servicing.

Aug 5, 2026

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5 min read

Goodbye, Vishal 👋  & Chase is Coming for 850 LOs

Goodbye, Vishal 👋 & Chase is Coming for 850 LOs

Garg is ousted as Better CEO. We unpack what's next for the company & run the numbers behind Jamie Dimon's splashy $750B housing pledge.

Aug 3, 2026

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6 min read

ICE Blinks on SDK Billing

ICE Blinks on SDK Billing

Plus: eye-popping VantageScore files, Chris Gallo's sentencing math, loanDepot's return to wholesale & more

Jul 31, 2026

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5 min read

Then Morgan Stanley Took Him to the U.S. Open 🎾

Then Morgan Stanley Took Him to the U.S. Open 🎾

Inside the strange economics of private-bank jumbo lending.

Jul 29, 2026

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4 min read

The DIY LOS Era Is Here

The DIY LOS Era Is Here

Top lenders & small shops alike are building origination systems they hope to sell. Plus, UWM previews its Rocket defense, foreclosures hit highest level since '20 & more.

Jul 27, 2026

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5 min read

Analysis: These Lenders Own the Strongest Realtor Relationships

Analysis: These Lenders Own the Strongest Realtor Relationships

RETR’s new index reveals which mortgage companies build durable Realtor relationships. Plus, PrimeLending loses $$$ in Q2, a debate over the cheapest mortgage system on earth & more

Jul 24, 2026

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5 min read

A VantageScore 710 & a FICO 660 Walk Into a Bar 🍺

A VantageScore 710 & a FICO 660 Walk Into a Bar 🍺

Equifax says nobody thinks of it as gaming. Plus: three lenders dominate GSE repurchases & our $1.1M Brooklyn co-op offer falls short.

Jul 22, 2026

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5 min read

Who’s Ready for ICE’s Encompass Deadline?

Who’s Ready for ICE’s Encompass Deadline?

Lenders have less than six months to untangle old plugins, undocumented workflows & applications nobody remembers building.

Jul 20, 2026

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6 min read

Union Home Mortgage Strikes Again

Union Home Mortgage Strikes Again

Bill Cosgrove lands AmeriTrust, borrowers make peace with higher rates & The Mortgage Scoop prepares to get a mortgage.

Jul 17, 2026

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5 min read

The UAD 3.6 Deadline is Coming. Most lenders Aren't Prepared

The UAD 3.6 Deadline is Coming. Most lenders Aren't Prepared

The appraisal overhaul could mean longer turn times, higher fees & a brutal capacity crunch. Plus: VantageScore in the wild, Keller Williams’ mortgage-centric acquisition & banks’ Q2 production surge.

Jul 15, 2026

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7 min read

The Unexpected Winners of UWM’s Ultimatum

The Unexpected Winners of UWM’s Ultimatum

UWM’s broker ultimatum may have lowered rates for borrowers who never used UWM or Rocket. Plus, the shrinking mortgage rate-collusion case against Optimal Blue, MSR transaction trends, the non-QM leaderboard & more

Jul 13, 2026

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5 min read

A Fed-Up $30M Producer & The Death of Channels

A Fed-Up $30M Producer & The Death of Channels

A candid conversation with a frustrated LO who's ready to exit, housing bill hits the Trump wall, Michael Strauss fallout continues & more scoops from around the industry.

Jul 10, 2026

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6 min read

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