TheMReport — News and strategies for the evolving mortgage marketplace.
Issue link: http://digital.themreport.com/i/1494596
A New Chapter B eginning in April, both MReport and its sister publication DS News will join forces and become MortgagePoint, launching a new chapter in mortgage finance news coverage brought to you by the Five Star Institute. Each month, we will still bring you all the latest in the mortgage finance and loan origination markets, along with the latest in the investment, default servicing, REO, foreclosure, legal, and loss mitigation spaces. MortgagePoint will serve as your one-stop shop for all breaking news and all things relevant that impact your daily business. This month, in the final issue of MReport, we look back on the past decade-plus of industry coverage. Launched as a spinoff and sister publication to DS News, the Five Star Institute brought MReport to life to focus on the "front half" of the industry, spotlighting lending and originations, while DS News would concentrate on the default servicing sector of the mortgage landscape. Also this month, Phil Britt examines the nation's spring home buying season in "Back in the Game?" Is the time near where rates will dip enough for prospective buyers to again enter the homebuyer market? Will those hampered by affordability issues and a volatile economy reach a point where they can break these impediments which constrain them? Turn to page 20 to find out what the experts have forecast for Q2 2023 and beyond in the U.S. housing sector. And as the industry preps for the potential of a buyer's market, the emergence of eSignatures, remote online notarization (RON), and eNote technologies will lead the way in expediting the mortgage process in the future. In his piece "This Year, Expect and Prepare for a Digital Revolution in Mortgage Industry," Kosta Ligris—CEO and Founder of digital mortgage platform Stavvy—explains how the digital revolution will relieve mortgage professionals of tedious, robotic tasks, and allow for professionals to focus their energy on what they're best at, building customer relationships and helping their clients attain the American Dream of Homeownership. We take an even deeper dive into the digital mortgage revolution with Jimmy Lewis and Sridhar Loganathan of TrueFocus Automation, as they present their co-authored piece, "The Automation Revolution Reaches a New Phase." Lewis and Loganathan explain how the industry is embracing Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technology to its fullest potential. And as we close out February's celebration of Black History Month, Tai Christensen of Arrive Home explains why the Black community should shift their spending and invest in homeownership in her op-ed piece beginning on page 32 titled, "Respect the Black Dollar." In her piece, Tai explains why now is the time for the Black community to make a dynamic shift in its spending patterns and place critical importance on investing in their families and communities, and to build wealth through homeownership. You will find all of this and more in the March 2023 issue, the final issue of MReport. We all hope you enjoyed the ride that was MReport over the past 10-plus years, and we look forward to bigger and brighter things as the market continues to evolve as does our coverage of it with MortgagePoint beginning next month. Sincerely, David Wharton Editor-in-Chief 2 | M R EP O RT MNOTES © 2011 First American Financial Corporation and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. YOUR business is OUR business! First American Mortgage Services is laser focused on mitigating YOUR cost, risk and exposure by aligning our advanced solutions with YOUR strategic objectives and compliance needs. We are the New First American, over 120 years young, strong and financially secure. Insight | Innovation | Integrity First American Title Insurance Company and First American Mortgage Services make no express or implied warranty respecting the information presented and assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. FIRST AMERICAN and FIRST AMERICAN TITLE are trademarks owned by First American Financial Corporation. 2 | Th e M Rep o RT Publisher Jon Ball contributing editor Abby Gregory online editor theMrePort.coM Ryan Schuette coPy editors Alison Rich emily White Youree heather hill contributors phil Britt Bob Calandra eric Fox Jack Konyk Mark Lieberman creative director Jason Stone art director Jonathan Won associate art directors Bruce Sons Chanyanont Loha-Unchit design director Sean Walker advertising Dina Duncan (214.525.6740) Jason Myers (214.525.6760) Andi Zimmerman (214.525.6724) technology Toby Tull Brandon Shangraw social Media Leon McKenzie Ani Vera circulation/corresPondence Celina Avila corPorate officers chairMan & chief creative officer chief executive officer Mark hulme edward R. Delgado business develoPMent Andi Zimmerman chief financial officer John harrison director of huMan resources ernest Gillespie director of oPerations Toby Tull account executives senior account executive Donna Lott (214.525.6792) sPonsorshiPs Jason Myers (214.525.6760) account executives Renee Charles (214.525.6742) Thomas Griffin (214.525.6754) Kristin Larson (214.525.6713) Ryan McLemore (214.525.6706) Marketing Travis Bogdon Matt hulme Production Kyle Curtis Miguel Martinez Christian McCrossan concierge Celina Avila art direction Jason Stone Sean Walker Jonathan Won No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. ©2011 Reo publishing LLC All Rights Reserved This publication is intended to provide accurate, authoritative, and detailed information in regard to the subject matter covered. All written materials are disseminated with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal advice or other professional services. Under no circumstance should the information contained herein be relied upon as legal advice as it is designed to be a source of information only. MReport strongly encourages the use of qualified attorneys or other qualified experts with regard to the subject matter covered. MReport does not guarantee the accuracy of the information and is not liable for any damages, losses, or other detriment that may result from the use of these materials. FORDEFAULTSERVICINGPROFESSIONALS THEFIVESTARINSTITUTE Follow us. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF David Wharton ART DIRECTOR Jason Stone MANAGING DIGITAL EDITOR Eric C. Peck REPORTERS Kyle G. Horst Demetria Lester MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTORS Phil Britt Tai Christensen Jimmy Lewis Kosta Ligris Sridhar Loganathan COPY EDITOR Brandy Scott ADVERTISING 214.525.6700 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Benjamin Gottheim, Director, Mortgage Servicing Policy, Freddie Mac Erik Schmitt, Managing Director, Origination Division, Chase Home Lending Douglas Whittemore, Head of Default Servicing, US Bank Jacob Williamson, VP Single-Family Collateral Risk Management, Fannie Mae Kim Yowell, EVP of Servicing, Fairway Independent Mortgage Servicing Corporate Officers PRESIDENT & CFO Jonathan Hughes ART DIRECTION Jordan Funderburk, Jason Stone, No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. © 2023 Five Star Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved This publication is intended to provide accurate, authoritative, and detailed information in regard to the subject matter covered. All written materials are disseminated with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal advice or other professional services. Under no circumstance should the information contained herein be relied upon as legal advice as it is designed to be a source of information only. MReport strongly encourages the use of qualified attorneys or other qualified experts with regard to the subject matter covered. MReport does not guarantee the accuracy of the information and is not liable for any damages, losses, or other detriment that may result from the use of these materials.