As the MMLA event wrapped up in Michigan, a large number of people around the nation (and some from here) are gearing up to travel to (or within) California to attend the California MBA’s Western Secondary and then FAMP’s annual convention in Orlando. The number of conferences is skyrocketing. Numbers are a big part of our industry, and this morning’s MBA application data reflected what I am hearing from MLOs around the nation. (Today’s L1 2PM ET interview features veteran broker Brian Benjamin discussing what he’s seeing.) Joel Kan writes, “The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 41.5 percent of total applications from 40.7 percent the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to 8.5 percent of total applications.” Huh? Refis approaching 50 percent, and ARMs approaching 10 percent? Lenders are certainly focusing on helping clients with refinancing out of high interest rate credit card debt, and with the yield curve heading toward a more normal shape, 5-1 and 7-1 adjustable rate products are seeing renewed interest. (Today’s podcast can be found here and Sponsored by Total Expert, the purpose-built customer engagement platform trusted by hundreds of modern financial institutions. Total Expert turns customer data into actionable insights that help lenders engage and guide consumers through complex financial decisions. Hear an interview with borrower Riley Howard on his strategy for choosing a lender.) Products, Services, and Software for Lenders and Brokers