How Valon built a $100M business without a sales team

Optimal Blue Head of Corporate Strategy Michael Vough joins the Lending Forward podcast with Hannah McManus, AMP to discuss some of the most relevant topics in today’s mortgage landscape, including: 🔘 How secondary departments protect profitability and manage risk 🔘 The impact of global events and regulatory changes on rates 🔘 The role of technology and AI in the secondary market 🔘 The future of non-QM lending and digital assistants Mike shares valuable insights for anyone interested in the secondary mortgage market and the forces shaping our industry. Check out the full episode for more: https://lnkd.in/dFJj4Avd Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group #ModernProven #ModernTechProvenResults

From CFPB shifts to agency tech changes, the compliance landscape is full of churn. In Rick’s Room, Melissa Kozicki of Mortgage Cadence shares how lenders can take advantage of this “calm before the storm” to update processes, strengthen vendor oversight, and build compliance into daily operations. Watch the episode:https://lnkd.in/gYYbnCYg #MortgageCompliance #RiskManagement #Fintech

Until Tinman® Ryan Grant went first. You're next. Vishal Garg unveiled Better's AI Mortgage Advisor—built on Tinman®, the same platform that powers NEO. Ryan's AI is trained on his voice and expertise. Soon, every advisor gets their own. See it in action → https://lnkd.in/eTSq7pHQ

How can lenders move faster, without breaking the rules? In this conversation, Seth Hooper of Mortgage Cadence explains how aligning AI innovation with compliance can unlock real, sustainable transformation across the mortgage ecosystem. Read the article accompanying this interview on HousingWire: https://lnkd.in/gVnHbw_b 

🚀 AI That Works for Brokers — From Data Dump to Call List in Seconds At Clear2 Mortgage, we’re committed to two priorities: 👉 Protecting client information 👉 Finding smarter, faster ways to help brokers and loan officers grow That’s why we tested Rocket Pro Navigate’s Lead Scanner using anonymized demo data, and the results speak for themselves. In under one minute, the system: ✅ Analyzed 6 sample leads ✅ Flagged 5 refinance opportunities ranked by savings potential ✅ Recommended FHA Streamline and VA IRRRL options ✅ Produced ready-to-use call scripts and talking points The takeaway: • Brokers save hours of spreadsheet work • Borrower privacy remains protected • Clients get faster, more relevant outreach This is the future of mortgage: AI doing the heavy lifting so humans can focus on connection, strategy, and results. If a tool could tell you which lead to call first and why — how would that change your business? Rocket Pro, Craig Simon, Lucas Barbat, Christopher Kas-Marogi, Christopher Essak, Polyhronis Apostolakis, Frank Kareem #Clear2Mortgage #AIinMortgage #MortgageTechnology #RocketPro #MortgageInnovation #BrokerLife #HomeLoans #Leadership #DigitalMortgage #PaulApostolakis

In today’s mortgage market, scaling production and volume demands more than hard work—it demands smarter work. That’s why I’m proud to highlight our new FinLocker blog that shows how AI tools (specifically our custom GPTs + video-creation workflows) are enabling loan officers to produce real, measurable results in outreach, education and partner engagement. 🔹 What we’re doing: Equipping originators to speak with borrowers and referral partners, not at them. 🔹 Why it matters: Speed + consistency + compliance = competitive edge. 🔹 What’s next: Embedding these tools into the sales cycle so that every loan officer becomes a content-driven, trusted advisor—not just another originator. If you’re a mortgage lender or loan officer, this article is a must-read. Let’s move from “we could do it” to “we are doing it.” https://hubs.ly/Q03PMD3b0

From document to decision, vertical AI is raising the bar. See how mortgage lenders use Ocrolus to reconcile discrepancies, validate income and move loans to clear to close faster. Plus, learn about the next step in mortgage efficiency with automated condition creation and management synchronized with Encompass. Read the blog: https://brnw.ch/21wX48b #MortgageLending #MortgageTechnology #Fintech

What happens when ICE Mortgage Technology, arguably the most powerful company in mortgage not named Fannie or Freddie, starts incorporating AI into its workflows? A 7-year project to get MSP off the mainframe gets cut in half. Company leaders spent time on last week's earnings call detailing some of the new AI tools/workflows they say will help lender clients become more efficient & also capture opportunities. They also said PENNYMAC's departure from the platform won't be felt until '28. Some contract renewals came a bit lighter but sales overall in Q3 were very strong... Also in today's edition of The Mortgage Scoop, thoughts on whether Fiserv's disastrous $30B selloff might be a lesson for big mortgage tech companies. Fiserv leaders were slow to respond to on the superfluous fees users had long complained about... Plus, a look at Zillow's mortgage discount play in the wild, sales tactics that really piss LOs off & much more.

The magic combo for 2026: acceleration and confidence The future of mortgage lending isn't waiting for the next market cycle — it's being built on Innovation right now. At #MBAAnnual25 in Las Vegas, our SVP of Mortgage Solutions, Sage Nichols, delivered decisive insights to HousingWire on securing a competitive advantage. Sage highlighted the critical shift: moving beyond fragmented, point-solution processes and leveraging comprehensive property data is the magic combo that drives growth. This end-to-end approach builds the operational confidence needed for market acceleration, ultimately helping you deliver a better, faster experience for your borrowers 🏠. If you are serious about transforming your lending platform, you need to hear this strategy. Tap the link below for the full interview and the 3 key strategies that will define next year's winners. 👇 Thank you, HousingWire, for the great conversation! 🔗: https://ctlty.co/48MkoPd #MortgageLenders #HousingWire #MBAAnnual25 #MortgageSolutions #Fintech #RealEstateTech #Cotality #DataDriven #LendingStrategy

MQube restructures to accelerate global rollout of AI mortgage technology Following a strategic review, MQube will separate its technology and lending divisions, allowing the business to focus exclusively on its core AI-native platform.