In this episode of Lending Forward, host Hannah McManus sits down with Mike Vough, Head of Corporate Strategy at Optimal Blue, to pull back the curtain on the secondary mortgage market. Mike breaks down how secondary departments protect profitability, manage risk, and ultimately shape the rates offered to borrowers.

From global events and regulatory changes to the role of technology and AI, Mike explains the forces driving rate volatility and why transparency and communication between loan officers, secondary teams, and investors are more important than ever. He also shares exciting innovations at Optimal Blue, including a breakthrough in direct lock technology, and looks ahead to how non-QM lending and digital assistants could reshape the mortgage landscape.

A huge thank you to our friends at Capacity for sponsoring this conversation!

Lending Forward is the home for real discussions about the industry we love. Hear first-hand accounts from people at the heart of the business – Mortgage Bankers, Realtors, Financial Advisors, Coaches, and more – as they cultivate transparency around the future of lending.

So tell us, how are you lending it forward?

In this episode of Lending Forward, host Bill Hitchcock along with special guest host Juan Giraldo sit down with Laura Arce, Senior VP of Economic Initiatives at UnidosUS, to discuss the future of Latino homeownership and the barriers and opportunities that shape it.

Laura shares insights on building authentic trust with Hispanic communities, the younger demographics driving first-time home purchases, and how affordability challenges are shifting the definition of the “American Dream” of homeownership. She also highlights the importance of policy changes, representation, and community-based outreach in expanding access to credit and sustainable housing.

This episode offers both data-driven perspective and heartfelt storytelling from one of the industry’s leading voices.

Lending Forward is the home for real discussions about the industry we love. Hear first-hand accounts from people at the heart of the business – Mortgage Bankers, Realtors, Financial Advisors, Coaches, and more – as they cultivate transparency around the future of lending.

So tell us, how are you lending it forward?

In this episode of Lending Forward, host Hannah McManus sits down with Emenyo “E” Segbefia, Director of Business Development at Chenoa Fund, a national down payment assistance provider dedicated to expanding access to homeownership.

E shares his personal story of discovering the power of down payment assistance (DPA), explains how Chenoa’s tribal ownership makes their programs unique, and dives into how lenders can build stronger partnerships to better serve buyers. From dispelling myths about DPAs being “too hard” to walking through compliance considerations, E highlights why these programs are essential tools in today’s housing market.

You’ll also get a sneak peek into Chenoa’s upcoming builder-focused product, designed to make affordable homeownership even more accessible. Whether you’re a lender, Realtor®, or homebuyer advocate, this episode sheds light on how DPAs can transform lives and communities.

Lending Forward is the home for real discussions about the industry we love. Hear first-hand accounts every week from the people at the heart of the business – Mortgage Bankers, Realtors, Financial Advisors, Coaches, and more – as they cultivate transparency around the future of lending.

So tell us, how are you lending it forward?