STRATMOR Group

Senior Partner Garth Graham sat down with National Mortgage Professional in the fall to discuss the mortgage trends of 2024 and how they will shape the industry in 2025. From refinance activity and LO compensation to servicing rights and rising homeowners insurance rates, Garth cautions mortgage professionals to ready themselves for battle. "It's time now for lenders to prepare for the changes that are coming. Standing still is not a good option and hope is not a strategy." Check out "Another Trip Around the Sun" in the December issue of NMP for more on Garth's insights.

In “STRATMOR’s Greatest Hits: Volume 2024,” we recap highlights from the thought-provoking and impactful articles we published, showcasing the key insights, trends and discussions that defined our year. Whether you’re revisiting favorites or catching up on what you missed, this overview provides a curated look at the ideas that shaped our industry and set the stage for 2025. https://lnkd.in/g_R5nBPn

The proof is in the pudding. Customer Experience Director Mike Seminari shares that the true quality and value of testimonials must be judged based on their results, not simply their existence. In Mike’s experience, the most valuable comments contain the phrase “I’ve already recommended you” because the desired results are already baked into the comments. So, what are successful LOs doing to earn more referrals? In his latest CX Tip, Mike has distilled wisdom from tens of thousands of borrower testimonials and shares secret ingredients that successful LOs employ to earn more referrals. Check out “Recipe for Success in 2025: LO Behaviors Proven to Generate Referrals” for concrete examples and practical ideas to start earning more referral business: https://lnkd.in/eMg5EznW

If you missed yesterday's Advisory Angle episode on AI in Mortgage, you're in luck! The link to the recording is now live: https://lnkd.in/gMjhX6rU Great discussion between Sue Woodard, Jennifer Smith and Kris van Beever with lots of fantastic feedback and questions from the live audience. Thank you to the Chrisman Commentary for making this podcast possible each month!

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to disrupt traditional mortgage processes by improving cost efficiencies while providing an enhanced customer experience. Join STRATMOR Group senior advisor Sue Woodard and principals Kris van Beever and Jennifer Smith as they tackle the topic on this month's episode of Advisory Angle powered by Chrisman Commentary. https://lnkd.in/gXVtc_Ee

To our clients, partners, and industry colleagues: your dedication and collaboration inspire us daily. Whether you're helping families find their dream homes or building innovative financial solutions, your hard work shapes the future of the mortgage industry, and we are thankful to be a part of it. We wish you all a time of reflection, rest, and connection with your loved ones.

PGR is vital to gaining an understanding of your performance and an assessment of current strategies and operating tactics that can be undertaken to maintain competitiveness and meet challenges in the new market environment. Take your benchmarking to the next level. Join the Mortgage Bankers Association and STRATMOR Group for the Spring 2025 PGR program cycle.

Throughout 2024, STRATMOR’s experts have crisscrossed the country to participate, present at, and gain insights from industry events. While last year’s atmosphere was decidedly grim, 2024 brought encouraging signs of cautious optimism and renewed confidence in the industry’s future. In our most recent InFocus article, senior partners Garth Graham and Nicole Yung, along with senior advisors Sue Woodard and Brett McCracken and Customer Experience Director Mike Seminari share key takeaways from recent industry gatherings and provide strategic guidance for capitalizing on the opportunities ahead in 2025. Check out "Get on Your Feet: Insights Gleaned from Mortgage Industry Events for a Prosperous 2025." https://lnkd.in/gyCVyr_r

Have you registered? We're looking forward to Mike Seminari's discussion of the results with Reggora's Brian Zitin. Tune in on December 12 to see how your repurchase and underwriting costs compare with industry averages.

Senior Partner Garth Graham recently spoke with National Mortgage News to discuss the outlook for M&A activity in 2025. Garth expects the number of transactions to be less than 2023 but believes they will still exceed the 13 completed in 2020, when rates dipped and every mortgage player was enjoying profits. Check out the full interview for more from Garth on the M&A environment today, where interest has picked up, and how the incoming Trump administration could affect future transactions. https://lnkd.in/gs3_bt97