MORTGAGE BLOG

CMG Welcomes Christie Schalock, Regional Sales Manager

News posted On April 08, 2025

Boise, ID – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, is pleased to announce the appointment of Regional Sales Manager, Christie Schalock (NMLS# 18193). With a distinguished career spanning two decades in the mortgage industry, Schalock will oversee sales operations across Idaho, Utah, and Alaska, bringing her unwavering commitment to excellence and personalized support to homeowners in these regions.

CMG Home Loans Announces New Hire of Gus Floropoulos, Regional Vice President

News posted On April 02, 2025

New York, NY – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, is proud to announce the hire of Regional Vice President, Gus Floropoulos (NMLS# 784266). With over 20 years of experience spanning Wall Street strategy and Main Street lending, Floropoulos is set to drive production, build strong teams, and expand CMG’s presence across Long Island and New York.

CMG Welcomes Jason Everette, Area Sales Manager

News posted On March 25, 2025

Lafayette, IN – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the hire of Area Sales Manager, Jason Everette (NMLS# 1208653). With a robust background in the financial sector, Everette brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to personalized home loan solutions to the Midwest.

CMG Home Loans Announces the Opening of New Las Vegas Branch

News posted On March 18, 2025

Las Vegas, NV – CMG Home Loans, the retail arm of the well-capitalized and privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the opening of a new branch in Nevada. Leading the Vegas location is Branch Manager J. Cole Boren (NMLS ID# 384591), a seasoned mortgage professional with nearly 30 years of experience, assisting homeowners in and around the Silver State as well as the majority of the states in the west.

CMG Home Loans Announces the Opening of New Denver West Branch

News posted On March 10, 2025

Denver, CO – CMG Home Loans, the retail arm of the well-capitalized and privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the opening of a new branch in Denver, CO. Leading the Denver West location is Regional Sales Manager Ashley Pratt (NMLS ID# 257354), a seasoned mortgage professional with nearly 30 years of industry experience.

CMG Home Loans Announces the Addition of LaSalle Mortgage, Bolstering Its Northern California Presence

News posted On March 04, 2025

Oakland, CA – CMG Home Loans, the retail arm of the well-capitalized and privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the opening of a new branch, LaSalle Mortgage. The branch will be led by Area Sales Manager, Phil Aguillon (NMLS# 1818749). A dynamic leader with over two decades of experience in the mortgage industry, Aguillon has built a reputation for driving market share growth, fostering high-performing teams, and delivering innovative lending strategies across the Bay Area.

January 2025 Month In Review

Blog posted On February 12, 2025

This Month’s Key Takeaways

• Buyers are payment-focused, not price-focused. According to a recent report from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), mortgage affordability remains the top concern for buyers, with 78% citing monthly payments as their primary hesitation.
• Financing incentives must align with buyer needs. A National Association of Realtors (NAR) survey found that 62% of first-time buyers used some form of financial assistance to make homeownership viable in Q4 2024.
• Sales teams need better conversations about affordability. Data from Fannie Mae’s latest housing sentiment survey indicates that 81% of buyers believe it's a bad time to buy due to high costs, meaning the ability to communicate affordability solutions effectively is more critical than ever.

CMG Home Loans Welcomes Shawn Williams, Area Sales Manager

News posted On February 04, 2025

Annapolis, MD – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the hire of Area Sales Manager, Shawn Williams (NMLS# 216745). A skilled mortgage professional with 20 years of experience, Williams will be bringing his commitment to excellence and personalized client solutions to the Maryland area.

CMG Home Loans Announces New Hire of Brady Thomas, Area Sales Manager

News posted On January 30, 2025

Oakland, CA – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the hire of Area Sales Manager, Brady Thomas (NMLS# 396946). With nearly two decades of experience leading high-performing teams, Thomas has earned a reputation for significantly growing purchase market share in the Oakland, California region.

What the Election Means for the Housing Market and Mortgage Rates

Blog posted On November 14, 2024

The upcoming administration turnover is raising a lot of questions and concerns about the future of the economy, housing industry, and mortgage rates. Though nothing is set in stone, there are some predictions about what could happen in coming years. Here are some of the major concerns and potential outcomes.

Are Sellers Pulling Back? Examining Recent Inventory Challenges

Blog posted On October 31, 2024

Is it true that some sellers are throwing in the towel? Due to the rising mortgage rates of last year and this year, the percentage of price cuts for homes have risen. Along with the price-cut increase, listings are also receding, which has led to this surge of sellers calling it quits. Thankfully, there are loan programs out there that can benefit sellers and buyers alike.

A Bountiful Autumn: What to Expect with Seasonal Mortgage Trends

Blog posted On October 04, 2024

The end of summer heralded a shift in the real estate market. The recent Fed rate cut announcement caused ripples throughout the industry, cutting the benchmark interest rate by 0.5%. Home buyers and real estate professionals alike have been celebrating as this announcement marked the first rate reduction in four years. After a languid summer and a dragging housing market, this economic shift has aligned perfectly with the changing season. Autumn has now been injected with buying energy, and potential home buyers may finally feel ready to leap off the sidelines into the golden leaves of homeowning.

CMG Home Loans Welcomes Josh Allyn, Area Sales Manager

News posted On October 01, 2024

The Woodlands, TX – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the hire of Area Sales Manager, Josh Allyn (NMLS# 213245). Allyn, a passionate mortgage expert with nearly 20 years of experience in the industry, will be bringing his commitment to excellence and personalized client solutions to the Houston area.

CMG Financial Raises Conforming Loan Limits to $802,650 ahead of FHFA’s Increase

Blog posted On September 27, 2024

CMG Financial has increased its agency conforming loan limits to $802,640, a 4.71% increase from this past year’s limits. Though the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has not officially announced the new conforming loan limits, CMG wanted to give home buyers early access in an effort to ease some of their affordability challenges.

How Falling Interest Rates Could Reignite the Housing Market

Blog posted On September 20, 2024

With mortgage rates tumbling to their lowest levels in recent times, priced-out potential home buyers may start to hope again. Due to the recent lower-trending rates, refinance applications jumped starting in August. Now, with the Fed beginning its long-awaited rate cuts, home buyers could be in luck in the coming months.

CMG Home Loans Welcomes Corey McGuire, Area Sales Manager (NMLS ID# 258143)

News posted On September 10, 2024

BOZEMAN, MT – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage banking firm, CMG Financial, announced today the hire of Area Sales Manager, Corey McGuire. A skilled mortgage professional, McGuire has formidably grown purchase share in the Montana region, leading successful teams for over 25 years.

Effective August 17th: Preparing for NAR's Upcoming Industry Changes

Blog posted On August 15, 2024

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) are implementing practice changes, effective on Saturday, August 17^th. Some of these changes include updates to compensation offers, written agreements, and communications with communities and consumers. These updates will affect anyone involved with real estate, including home buyers and real estate professionals. With this deadline fast approaching, let’s take a look at these practice changes one by one and what to expect going forward.

CMG Financial Celebrates Record-Breaking Month in May 2024, Demonstrating Remarkable Growth Amid Industry Contraction

News posted On June 26, 2024

SAN RAMON, CA – CMG Financial, a leading privately-held mortgage banking firm, is proud to announce record-breaking growth in May 2024. CMG Financial achieved a monthly funding of $2.61 billion last month, with a record-breaking $1.96 billion coming from its retail division, CMG Home Loans. In addition to the company's overall growth, hundreds of loan officers have broken their personal production records in the past three months. This success – both individually and organization-wide – underscores CMG’s ability to thrive and grow in an environment where many mortgage companies are contracting.

Glimmers of Hope for Home Buyers Arise as Inventory Inches Up

Blog posted On June 21, 2024

Higher-trending mortgage rates getting you down? Here’s something you can get excited about: according to Realtor.com, there are 35.3% more homes on the market than this time last year. Even more exciting news: there is a rising number of affordable homes hitting the market.

Breaking News! HUD Updated Gift Fund Guidelines to Add Increasing Flexibility on FHA Loans

Blog posted On June 05, 2024

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently updated its guidebook that spans over 1,800 pages. One of the updates brought welcome news for borrowers using an FHA Loan. With the new requirements, borrowers have additional flexibility surrounding any gift funds they might receive.

VA Plans to Temporarily Allow Buyers to Compensate Agents

Blog posted On May 23, 2024

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has finally broken its silence on the future of buyer’s agent commissions for borrowers using VA Loans. In an unofficial announcement on Tuesday, VA Deputy Director of Policy Michelle Corridon stated that the Department plans to temporarily lift its restriction on that prohibits buyers from directly paying for professional real estate representation. This circular is slated to be issued between now and June 12, and will help buyers while the agency engages in a formal rulemaking process for a longer-term solution.

Market Update: Rates Slide Following Friendly Inflation News; Slow Week Ahead

Blog posted On November 21, 2023

Rates continued their downward trend last week, bringing them to their lowest levels in months. Who do we have to thank? The consumer price index from October. This showed that inflation was cooler than expected last month, which is a good thing for rates. Now, the bigger question that remains is: does this mark the beginning of a downward shift in rates?

What the New LLPA Changes Mean for You

Blog posted On May 05, 2023

There’s been a lot of talk recently about the changes to Loan Level Pricing Adjustments (LLPAs) from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. You may have heard that people with higher credit scores are being ‘punished’ with higher fees than those with lower credit scores. But before you start intentionally lowering your credit score, you might want to hear the FULL story about the changes.

Legislative Proposal to Ban Trigger Leads Offers Consumers Hope of Long-Needed Relief

Blog posted On April 27, 2023

Last week, Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York introduced bill H.R. 2656 in hopes of ending the sale of trigger leads, which could greatly reduce the number of unsolicited calls a consumer receives after applying for a mortgage. Oftentimes, trigger leads cause confusion for buyers because they can come from competing lenders who are asking for personal information. Although this bill is still in the early stages, it’s a good (and far overdue) step in the right direction.

VA Mortgages Will Become Cheaper in April, Just in Time for the Spring Buying Season

Blog posted On April 07, 2023

The spring home buying season is gearing up, and there is good news coming for VA buyers, just in time for the upcoming season. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) announced that funding fees for purchase, construction, and cash-out refinance loans would be reduced on loans closed on or after April 7, 2023, and prior to November 14, 2031. The reduced fee will depend on the down payment amount, loan type, and whether the borrower has ever used a VA Loan in the past.