“Having plans sounds like a good idea until you have to put on clothes and leave the house.” Capital markets teams have plans, and STRATMOR’s current blog is titled, “Capital Markets: Protecting Margins and Assets.” At the other end of the mortgage food chain, as originators fight for every deal right now, those with the best survival skills will come out on top. To survive and thrive in the current market, LOs need to the embodiment of a Swiss Army Knife, well-versed in a wide variety of loan product options, underwriting guidelines, and risk/reward analysis. In his new July Customer Experience Tip, STRATMOR Group’s Mike Seminari offers tips for originators on adding tools to their toolboxes that will help them survive in this competitive environment. Check out, “The LO Survival Kit 2022” on the STRATMOR Group website. (Today’s podcast is available here and has an interview with Marty Green, Principal at Polunsky Beitel Green, on pathways for the Fed and what to expect from the FOMC meeting next week. This week’s is sponsored by EarnUp, an award-winning, consumer-first technology payments platform where originators and servicers can provide a borrower experience with flexible payment options that reduce risk and improves overall financial health.) Lender and Broker Software, Products, and Services Don’t let closing delays happen to you! While seamless closings are ideal for everyone involved, life doesn’t always work that way. There are a number of roadblocks that can delay the closing process, and sometimes there’s just no way around it. The good news is that many of the problems that can arise are actually things you can control. Read Radian’s article, 4 Home Loan Closing Delays & How You Can Avoid Them, to learn about the most common problems lenders and borrowers face and how each can be avoided.