Hello All,

Just think, a short (or long) year ago, we were embarking on an all-out lockdown due to COVID-19. Think of all of the peaks and valleys we have seen….it feels a bit like the mortgage business, only even more painful. As vaccinations increase and the country heals, we remain vigilant and cautiously optimistic, as various strains of COVID-19 are presenting all over our country. Yet, the money engine keeps pumping, turning, working. And this means, mortgages are still needed. That’s where we enter, stage right.

Hello All,

It’s a new day, a new dawn, with a new Presidential administration.  It seems that I am spending 10% of my time on webinars regarding Economic outlooks, How the Administration will affect Public Housing and Finance Policy, and the birth of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee amongst many state and our national mortgage associations.  I feel like I have neglected all of these amazing tools and opportunities in my past 25 years in this business, but it’s really that these are now so readily available.  I believe that knowledge is power, and while I certainly need more knowledge, I’m not sure if Power is my jam.  But it’s a good side benefit, anyway.

Hello All,

Happy New Year! And that, I am hopeful, it is. It’s been an interesting beginning to 2021, with the markets being strong, the President-Elect (finally) being confirmed by Congress, and some unrest in the Capitol.  Amidst all of this, people continue to tour homes, get approved for mortgages, and move into new homes; all mostly masked, as is still mandated for Covid-Safety.  As the FDA approved vaccinations continue to be released throughout the United States, we continue to look ahead to brighter days where we can safely gather in groups for personal and professional reasons, and get back to some level of “normal” life.

Hello All,

Last December, when I took on the role of President of the Minnesota Mortgage Association, I had no idea what was in store for 2020. It has been an incredible year. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed all of our lives. A year of mask mandates, social distancing, business lockdowns, school closings, financial market turmoil, and working remotely (just to name a few) have changed the way we live and work. Throw in a dash of civil unrest, social justice reform, and a politically charged and contested presidential election, and that adds up to one crazy year…

Hello all,

After a long counting process we finally have a new President Elect. The new Biden-Harris administration will have several effects on our industry. We will likely see a change at the top of the CFPB. The Biden platform includes a potential tax credit for first time home buyers. It is also unlikely that Fannie and Freddie will come out of conservatorship under a Biden Presidency. The MMA will keep you updated as changes to our industry evolve in the upcoming administration.

Stay safe and healthy.

Roger Kadlec
President

Hello All,

Here we are already in the 4th quarter of the year.  The year is setting up to be a record-breaking year for the mortgage industry.  2020 has certainly been a wild ride and October looks to continue the craziness….  President Trump recovering from COVID, Senate confirmation hearings for a new Supreme Court Justice, Fears of fall resurgence of COVID, Congress grappling over a new stimulus bill, oh and let’s not forget an election that is now less than 30 days away.  October will be interesting.

The COVID 19 Pandemic is affecting many homeowners in our State.  The Minnesota Homeownership Center has several resources for folks struggling to make housing payments due to the pandemic.  When a member is contacted by a borrower that is having trouble making monthly mortgage payments, the borrower should be instructed to contact their servicer about a forbearance, loan modification or other type of repayment plan. If the mortgage is not federally backed, they may be eligible for Minnesota’s COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program. The borrower should contact the Minnesota Homeownership Center at 651-659-9336 or at MN Homeownership Center.  MN COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program

MMA Board Member Erich Mische continues his journey down the Mississippi River in his homemade raft to raise money for Spare Key.   He is now about halfway between St. Louis MO and Memphis TN.  You can track Erich’s adventure at Hope on the River.  Good Luck Erich!

Roger Kadlec
President

It is hard to believe that it is already Labor Day. The kids are back in school (kind of), trees will be changing colors soon and evenings will be cooling down. What is not cooling down in our mortgage market. Pipelines and originations remain strong as lenders and origintaors battle with extended turn times and work life balance. Hopefully everyone had a refreshing Labor Day holiday and reinvigorated to dive back into work.

Thanks to everyone who made their voices heard by reaching out to your elected officials and voicing your opposition to the 50 basis point G-Fee. Because of your efforts the implementation of the G-FEE was postponed from Sept 1 to Dec 1st. If you haven’t done so already please sign up for the Mortgage Action Alliance to make sure you are informed of all industry related news. Mortgage Action Alliance

Good luck to MMA Board Member Erich Mische as he journeys down the Mississippi River in his homemade raft to raise money for Spare Key. Hope On the River embarked on August 27th from St. Paul. You can track Erich’s adventure at Hope on the River

A big thank you to TradeMark Title Services Inc for being our lead sponsor at our annual MMA Golf Event on Aug 25th!  It was a beautiful day for golf and great to connect face to face with fellow mortgage professionals.

Nominations are now open for our annual MMA Awards Dinner and Banquet. Please take the time to nominate a worthy colleague. Click here for more details!

Roger Kadlec
President

As we head into the dog days of summer we should all feel blessed to be in the mortgage industry.  While many parts of our economy are struggling with the effects of Covid-19 our industry is booming with low interest rates and full pipelines.  July was a fantastic month for many of us in the industry.  Unfortunately, July also had some controversy that I feel compelled to comment on.

In July the Chairman of a national mortgage trade association made some incredibly disgusting and misogynic comments.  As a board, the MMA  unconditionally and staunchly condemns these comments.  Women have made huge contributions to our industry and our association. I am proud to say that the MMA will welcome a woman to lead us in 2021.  The MMA is an association that prides itself on the highest standards of professionalism, ethics and integrity.  The MMA has established  a code of ethics that our members are required to abide by.  Our association is one of inclusion and collaboration from all facets of the lending industry.

Now onto August.  It’s time to GOLF!!  Our annual summer golf outing will be held on August 25th.  We will be adhering to state safety guidelines to put on a safe and fun event.  Grab a few colleagues and  let’s have a day of fun at the Wilds.  We will also be holding a webinar with a guest speaker from the MBA on August 20th so be sure to get registered for both of these events.

Stay safe and healthy,

Roger Kadlec
President

It is hard to believe we are halfway through 2020.  It has been a crazy first half of the year and the second half is sure to be full of ups and downs as we all navigate through this pandemic and the upcoming elections.

The MMA has been working hard to put out quality virtual content.  In June we had 2 Leadership Forum Panels, 1 Education Event and 1 Round Table.  If you haven’t joined these events you are missing out!  Check out our events calendar and take advantage of these opportunities.

Have a safe 4th of July weekend.

Roger Kadlec
President