podcast, our Data Reports, the "A Tale of Two Mortgages" webcomic, and LodeStar Report Newsletter.
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Data Reports
2025 Purchase Mortgage Closing Cost Data Report
The national average total closing costs for a purchase mortgage transaction were $4,661. This amount consists of a national average of 1.06% of the home sales price.
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Full Disclosure
Vibe Check Before the Holidays
Here’s one last mortgage industry vibe check before the holidays. With just three and a half short weeks before break, Jim and Alayna give their take on the state of the mortgage industry.
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Full Disclosure
Diving Into 2026
It’s officially 2026, and Jim and Alayna are kicking off a new year of the Full Disclosure podcast with a brand-new mortgage industry vibe check.
Full Disclosure
Looking Back and Looking Ahead
For the final Full Disclosure episode of 2025, Jim and Alayna are taking a moment to reflect on the past year and look ahead to changes in 2026.
Full Disclosure
Reshuffling How We Use AI
Tired of hearing about how AI is going to change your job? We sure are… That’s exactly why the way we think about AI in relation to our work needs to be reshuffled. This week, Jim is eager to share one of his latest reads, which helps us reframe how we think about AI.
Full Disclosure
Vibe Check Before the Holidays
Here’s one last mortgage industry vibe check before the holidays. With just three and a half short weeks before break, Jim and Alayna give their take on the state of the mortgage industry.
Full Disclosure
Alayna Got Published!
This is a special episode of Jim’s Book Club on the Full Disclosure Podcast. Lodestar’s very own Alayna Gardner recently published an essay in a book, Rethink Everything You Know About Networking.
A Tale of Two Mortgages
Mental Health Before the Holidays
Octavia reckons with the struggles inherent to the holiday season.
Full Disclosure
What Happens in Vegas…
Alayna and Jim are fresh off MBA Annual in Las Vegas, and they’re here to share their thoughts on the conference and the state of mortgage lending as we head into the holidays.
Full Disclosure
The Future of MISMO
For this special episode of the Full Disclosure podcast, Jim and Alayna are returning to their Lending Leaders roots and welcoming an exciting guest, Brian Vieaux, CMB, the new president of MISMO. Together they discuss the future of mortgage industry standards and how rapidly AI is changing the game.