We spent 2020 and 2021 focused on things like volume, capacity and turn-time, since the vast majority of mortgages being made were basic refinance loans. But now we’re going to have a more diverse array of products being marketed as lenders vie for position.

Far more than we’ve ever seen before, especially on social media platforms, mortgage-related businesses celebrated their professional women and shared their gratitude. IWD was actually a thing this year.

We talk often here about the mortgage lending industry putting more emphasis on the borrower/consumer experience, and using better or more technology to support that. Well now, as the market begins to change a bit, the ability to do that could very well help lenders find success in spite of change. In fact, they’ll find success because of change, and their ability to embrace it.

We recently announced that LodeStar’s own client superstar, Kelsey Wright (our Director, Customer Operations) completed a certification class with our partner ICE Mortgage Technology. The result is that Kelsey is now a certified Encompass Administrator.

The mortgage industry has finally started taking automation and digitization seriously. Extremely seriously. And we welcome that.

The intention here is not to provide an answer or preach about the evils of trade conferences. Far from it. But we are asking a question that we think it’s time to start answering: isn’t it time to modernize the way we gather and network as an industry?