Rocket’s Pathfinder Gets An Upgrade

Rocket Mortgage’s search tool has new advancements, the company announced in a press release. Pathfinder is an AI and machine learning-powered search engine used by more than 40,000 bankers, brokers, and underwriters to simplify mortgage processing. “Pathfinder has been an invaluable tool for curating complex data and transforming it into knowledge engineering. This technology, and others that leverage advancements in AI and machine learning, are truly evolving how we can facilitate homeownership,” said Brian Woodring, Rocket Mortgage CIO. Its custom Google AI search, which Rocket developed after releasing a searchable home loan knowledge database three years ago, increased Rocket’s speed and efficiency in answering client questions by 29%. Rocket is now testing a new AI chat interface, which has shown…

Listen To The Mortgage Note’s Fall Podcast

The Mortgage Note’s team has been tracking the housing crunch as low inventory, coupled with high interest rates, creates challenges for homebuyers and mortgage professionals. Editor Kimberley Haas interviewed industry leaders to learn more about what they are seeing and what products are being offered for this podcast. If you would like to participate in future episodes, please email us at [email protected]. Listen Here: Read Articles Featuring The Guests: Learn About The Eastern Tennessee Market With Loan Officer Matt Ronne Rocket Pro TPO EVP Talks About Current Successes, Challenges Bonzo Leader Says Success Starts With Personalized Messaging More Audio: FormFree’s Chief Customer Officer Christy Moss sat down with The Mortgage Note to talk about the company’s Residual Income Knowledge Index,…

Rocket Takes Second In “100 Companies That Care” Rankings

Rocket Companies has been recognized by PEOPLE in its 100 Companies That Care rankings for its contributions to Detroit homeowners. For the past seven years, PEOPLE has partnered with Great Place To Work to honor companies that go above and beyond to positively impact their communities.  This year, Rocket Companies earned second place for its efforts to support residents of Detroit. PEOPLE said its decision was based on the Detroit Home Repair Fund, part of the Gilbert Family Foundation. The fund facilitates critical home repairs for low-income Detroit homeowners – where Rocket is headquartered – through its nonprofit partners. Nonprofit partners inspect the home and obtain the funding, as well as oversee contractors and post-inspections while monitoring compliance. “Stable housing…

UWM, Rocket Best Profit Expectations For Q2

The country’s two largest mortgage lenders reported unexpected profits in the second quarter of 2023. United Wholesale Mortgage and Rocket Companies both bounced back last quarter after dismal results at the beginning of the year. UWM reported a net income of $228.8 million, making up for losses of $138.6 million in the first quarter of 2023 and $62.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. It originated $31.8 billion in loans, up from $22.3 billion in Q1. The boost coincided with warm weather bolstering home sales, though this past spring buying season was tepid compared to historical norms. “UWM continues to prove that regardless of the interest rate environment, our business model, coupled with the broker channel being the best…

Credit Availability Declined In July

Mortgage credit availability fell in July, sinking to its lowest level since 2013, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Mortgage Credit Availability Index. The MCAI dropped by 0.3% to 96.3. Declines indicate that lending standards are tightening, while increases show loosening credit. The index was benchmarked to 100 in March 2012. The Conventional MCAI fell 0.5%, while the Government MCAI slipped by 0.1%. Within the Conventional MCAI, the Jumo MCAI fell by 0.8% but the conforming MCAI increased, up 0.2%. Lenders are pulling their least utilized loan programs to alleviate liquidity stress, MBA Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist Joel Kan noted. “Declining origination volumes have led to lower profitability for many lenders, resulting in narrower loan product offerings to…

New Rocket CEO Named

Fintech exec Varun Krishna has been named CEO of Rocket Companies, the parent company of Rocket Mortgage. “I am honored to join the Rocket Companies team,” Krishna said in a statement. “Rocket has a rock-solid foundation and tremendous potential, with its comprehensive ecosystem and industry-renowned technology, strong brand, and award-winning client service. I look forward to working with Bill, the Board, and Rocket’s exceptionally talented team members to drive the company’s future success and create long-term value for our stakeholders.” Krishna succeeds Bill Emerson, who has served as interim CEO since June when Jay Farner retired. Emerson will remain on the Board and work with Krishna throughout the transition. Krishna officially takes over on September 5. Krishna brings over two…

Rocket Companies Announces Expansion In Canada

Leaders at Rocket Companies have announced an expansion of Rocket Mortgage Canada. The digital mortgage broker has become a mortgage lender. Using a tech-driven experience, clients can close faster than if they use the traditional paper-heavy process. Programs include a 5% down option. Rocket Mortgage Canada, founded in 2020, is currently offering mortgage products in Ontario, where the company is headquartered. Company leaders plan to expand to additional provinces. “The Rocket Mortgage brand is synonymous with innovation. For too long Canadian homebuyers have endured an inefficient and old way of financing a home that we are eager to transform,” said Hash Aboulhosn, President of Rocket Mortgage Canada. “As a lender, we are now able to impact every part of the…

Rocket Pro TPO EVP Talks About Target Profit Control

By KIMBERLEY HAAS Leaders at Rocket Pro TPO have announced a new loan level pricing adjustment tool and the executive vice president says it is the result of listening to feedback from their partners. Mike Fawaz sat down with The Mortgage Note on Monday to talk about Target Profit Control, which eliminates misquoting or loan adjustment oversights by applying systematic profit levels. Fawaz said that before Target Profit Control, correspondent brokers were tracking files manually. “Now, you have the ability to set your target profit per loan officer and you no longer have to really go into every single file manually. It’s now set on a loan officer basis,” Fawaz said. “It is an innovative technology. It’s something that is…

As Rocket’s Jay Farner Retires His Impact Is Remembered

By KIMBERLEY HAAS After a 27-year career, Rocket Companies CEO Jay Farner is retiring this week and he will be remembered as a keen businessman who helped make mortgages more accessible to average Americans as technology pushed transactions out of traditional offices and onto mobile devices. Leaders at the company announced Farner’s retirement on February 13, saying that he had stepped down from his position on the Rocket Board of Directors and would begin transitioning his roles and responsibilities as CEO to longtime Rocket executive Bill Emerson. Emerson will assume the role of chief executive officer on an interim basis on June 1, according to the press release. Farner, who is 50 years old, said in a statement that he…

Rocket Rolls Out 1% Down Payment Program

Rocket Mortgage is launching a product for low-to-moderate income borrowers to help get them on the ladder of homeownership. With ONE+, homebuyers pay a down payment of 1% of the purchase price. Households with income equal to or less than 80% of their area median income are eligible. Rocket will then kick in the remaining 2% required for a loan. ONE+ covers the monthly mortgage insurance fee required if a buyer places less than 20% down. The program is available for single-family home purchases, including manufactured homes, and it is expected that more than 90 million Americans can save thousands of dollars. Bob Walters, CEO of Rocket Mortgage, said in a statement that no other lender has an option that…