Singer/actress Olivia Newton John AND author David McCullough, both dying to start the week? (I just finished “Mornings on Horseback.”) After I die, I want my remains to be spread over Disneyland in Southern California. But I don’t want to be cremated. (Think about it.) Brokers know that also involving Southern California is today’s loanDepot earnings call at 2PM PT. “LD” has made some very public pronouncements of cutbacks in recent months… Will today continue that streak? Stay tuned. One can only imagine. Follow the money… how ‘bout the budget reconciliation bill that include $80 billion for the IRS for audits and enforcement, among other things?! Capital markets staff certainly focus on money, and the current STRATMOR blog is titled, “Capital Markets: Protecting Margins and Assets.” Does your company offer a 2nd mortgage behind someone else’s 1st? Interesting… Independent mortgage banks (IMBs) are mostly brokering out HELOCs, or referring out piggyback 2nds. Standalone HELOCs are not overly profitable. (Available here, this week’s podcast is sponsored by SimpleNexus, an nCino company and award-winning developer of mobile-first technology for the modern mortgage lender. Today’s has an interview with Simple Nexus CEO Ben Miller on the future of mortgage technology and industry innovation!) Lender and Broker Services, Programs, and Software As trends from the late 1990’s and early 2000’s make a comeback, we are unfortunately being forced to relive the trauma of fuzzy bucket hats, velour tracksuits and low-rise denim. Unlike these trends, which should’ve been left in the past, down payment assistance (DPA) has been on the rise since the early 90’s when policymakers began focusing on increasing homeownership among low-income and minority households. As a nationwide authority on DPA, Down Payment Resource issues its quarterly Homeownership Program Index (HPI) report to track changes and trends in U.S. homebuyer assistance. Notably, despite declining economic conditions, the Q2 2022 HPI report showed growth in homebuyer assistance programs for the third consecutive quarter. View the full report for a comprehensive breakdown of homebuyer assistance trends in Q2 2022.