2nd Lien Reverse, Conversion, Settlement Tools; Bill Cosgrove on Consolidation; Agency News

I don’t know where August went, but it went somewhere. We’re now two thirds of the way through the 3rd quarter of 2026. Lenders and vendors are adapting to a lackluster homebuying “season,” stubborn rates, and origination costs around $11k per loan. Lenders are trying to drive that cost down through higher pull through. Labor Day is next Monday, and “Talk Like a Pirate Day” is the 19th. Loan originators are watching demographics, people in their 20s, and are also following trends in the rental markets and with landlords. Along these lines, here are some great landlord stats (updated regularly). For stats about households, our Census Bureau puts out some good information. For example, in 2022, more than half of American households were childless: 29 percent were married households without children, and 28.9 percent were single households without kids. More than a quarter of households included parents: 17.8 percent were married households, while 8.1 percent were single-parent households. Certainly households are changing… does your product mix, originator base, and investor mix reflect that? (Today’s podcast can be found here. This week’s ‘casts are sponsored by Zillow Home Loans, Zillow’s in-house mortgage lender. With tools built for modern lending, Zillow Home Loan’s loan officers can focus on guiding buyers with care and confidence. Today’s has an interview with Zillow's Meg McGrath Vaccaro on Zillow Home Loans’ AI strategy: from helping buyers and automating mortgage workflows to enabling smarter pricing conversations, and how Zillow’s unique ecosystem could reshape the entire mortgage industry.)