Here in Colorado, banking, credit unions, and independent mortgage banks are a solid part of the economic fabric. LOs here and everywhere are scrambling to add value and educate their borrowers and referral partners ahead of a potential federal shut down tomorrow night. For those who want to know how Colorado, or any state, is doing this year origination-wise, the CFPB rides to the rescue with current nationwide and state-level stats. Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group projects Single-family mortgage origination activity at $1.85 trillion in 2025 and $2.32 trillion in 2026, with the refinance share to rise from 26 percent in 2025 to 35 percent in 2026 on the lower mortgage rate outlook; New and existing home sales to total 4.72 million in 2025 and 5.16 million in 2026. Loan originators also care about trends in rentals, and on a more granular level, a story from the apartment building side of things from San Francisco reports that a huge owner of apartments is in default. If true, that’s not good. (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s are sponsored by Spring EQ, one of the nation’s leading non-bank home equity lenders, giving partners more ways to serve customers. Known for speed, service, and innovation, Spring EQ makes tapping into home equity easier. Hear an interview with NEO Home Loans Ryan Grant on a growing shift in the mortgage industry as originators seek platforms that offer true operational control, pricing transparency, and long-term business support, delivering on promises the traditional broker model often fails to keep.)