Tag Archives: Des Moines

Analysis: iEmergent’s 2025 U.S. mortgage forecasts closely track HMDA actuals

Precision down to the census tract gives lenders a dependable edge for staffing, expansion and marketing decisions well before final HMDA data arrives

DES MOINES, Iowa, Sept. 16, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today released a new analysis validating its 2025 forecasts against actual Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data. The analysis, which uses final 2025 HMDA data released by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council on June 23, 2026, spans every geographic level from national down to individual census tracts, showing the strength of iEmergent’s bottom-up forecasting approach.

Image caption: 2025 PURCHASE FORECAST ACCURACY ACROSS THE NATION’S 30 LARGEST METRO MARKETS, MEASURED AGAINST HMDA ACTUALS.

The accuracy of iEmergent’s 2025 purchase loan forecasts for the nation’s top 30 largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) averaged well above 90% when compared against 2025 HMDA actuals. That figure reflects absolute forecast accuracy, which cannot exceed 100%.

Looking at per-tract loan error by individual census tract, iEmergent’s 2025 forecast was within 10 loans of actual volume in more than 64.3% of the nation’s 84,414 census tracts. Widening that margin to 15 loans, the forecast was accurate for 78.6% of all tracts.

Image caption: DISTRIBUTION OF ABSOLUTE ERROR ACROSS ALL 84,414 U.S. CENSUS TRACTS FOR 2025 PURCHASE LOANS.

“Lenders need a dependable line of sight into where mortgage opportunity is forming, market by market — not months after the fact, once HMDA data finally confirms it, but early enough to guide decisions on staffing, branch locations, marketing spend and growth strategy for the year ahead,” iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli said. “That’s exactly what iEmergent’s proprietary, bottom-up model is built to deliver.”

iEmergent also validated the accuracy of its forecasts against actual HMDA data at the borrower race and ethnicity level. Segment-level accuracy is calculated as the ratio of forecast to actual loan volume, which reflects both the size and direction of the forecast error. A figure above 100% indicates the forecast slightly exceeded actual volume; a figure below 100% indicates it fell short. For 2025, the company’s fourth-quarter 2024 forecast produced the following national-level accuracy rates by borrower segment:

Asian borrowers: 107.3% accuracy
Black borrowers: 96.3% accuracy
Hispanic borrowers: 90.5% accuracy
Native American and Pacific Islander borrowers: 83.8% accuracy
Non-Hispanic white borrowers: 89.4% accuracy

iEmergent’s forecasts are built on two core concepts: the Purchase Mortgage Generation Rate, which measures the rate at which an individual market produces purchase mortgages, and the Homebuyer Pool, the number of households ready, willing and able to buy a home in a given year. Together, these replace traditional top-down, supply-side forecasting models with a demand-driven approach rooted in how households actually behave. A full overview of iEmergent’s forecasting methodology is available at https://www.iemergent.com/insights/mortgage-opportunity-forecasting.

ABOUT IEMERGENT

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and analytics to the lending, housing and real estate industries. The company offers an extensive variety of forecast and market intelligence products, including Mortgage MarketSmart, a visualization tool that helps lenders quantify how mortgage markets will change. For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com.

Tags: @iEmergent

Media Kit (PDF): https://www.iemergent.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/presskit_digitallinked.pdf

NEWS SOURCE: iEmergent

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (iEmergent), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/analysis-iemergents-2025-u-s-mortgage-forecasts-closely-track-hmda-actuals/

iEmergent supports launch of CONVERGENCE Knowledge Hub with Market Profile Dashboard

Longtime CONVERGENCE partner powers interactive resource that helps communities identify opportunities to expand homeownership

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 25, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced its support of the newly launched CONVERGENCE® Knowledge Hub, a centralized resource designed to help lenders, nonprofit organizations, housing counselors, real estate professionals and community leaders expand access to sustainable homeownership.

Image caption: iEmergent.

Unveiled earlier this month by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) and the CONVERGENCE Collaborative, the Knowledge Hub brings together field-tested solutions, case studies, practical tools and research developed through years of collaboration among housing stakeholders working to address barriers to homeownership and housing affordability.

As part of the platform, iEmergent powers the Market Profile Dashboard, an interactive resource that allows users to explore local demographics, homeownership patterns, affordability challenges, mortgage credit access and housing supply trends across hundreds of U.S. markets. The dashboard helps communities identify homeownership gaps, understand local market dynamics and develop strategies tailored to the needs of their residents.

“The launch of the Knowledge Hub is exciting because it takes lessons that have emerged from years of collaboration in communities across the country and makes them accessible to a much broader audience,” said Laird Nossuli, CEO of iEmergent. “At its core, CONVERGENCE is about helping communities understand their local housing challenges, learn from what has worked elsewhere and build solutions that reflect their own needs. The Knowledge Hub brings those elements together in one place, combining practical resources, real-world examples and local market insights that can help stakeholders move from discussion to action.”

“iEmergent has been a cornerstone of CONVERGENCE’s ability to translate data into action at the local level,” said Wendy Penn, vice president of affordable housing initiatives at the Mortgage Bankers Association. “Too often, communities have the motivation to expand homeownership but struggle to make the case for where to focus and why. The Market Profile Dashboard changes that, giving local leaders the evidence they need to align partners, prioritize resources and build strategies with real staying power.”

CONVERGENCE is an initiative launched in 2019 by the Mortgage Bankers Association to expand homeownership through innovative community partnerships. CONVERGENCE addresses the information, trust, resource and market gaps that create barriers to homeownership. CONVERGENCE operates place-based initiatives in Memphis, Tennessee, Columbus, Ohio, Philadelphia and Baltimore. In each city, a mission-aligned local nonprofit organization serves as the lead partner, playing a central role in fostering collaboration among stakeholders across the housing ecosystem.

iEmergent’s contribution to the Knowledge Hub builds on years of involvement with CONVERGENCE initiatives nationwide. Nossuli currently serves as a national partner to CONVERGENCE and co-leads the Research and Evaluation workstream for both CONVERGENCE Philadelphia and Columbus. Beyond providing technology and market intelligence, iEmergent works alongside lenders, nonprofit organizations and municipal leaders to develop data-informed strategies, measure outcomes and expand access to sustainable homeownership.

Explore the CONVERGENCE Knowledge Hub at https://convergenceknowledgehub.org/.

About iEmergent

Tags: @iEmergent

Media Kit (PDF):
https://www.iemergent.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/presskit_digitallinked.pdf

NEWS SOURCE: iEmergent

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/iemergent-supports-launch-of-convergence-knowledge-hub-with-market-profile-dashboard/

iEmergent releases 2025 HMDA insights: volume rebounds, but the mortgage market grows more concentrated

Data insights now available in Mortgage MarketSmart show refinance-driven growth amid rising loan sizes

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 29, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, has released its analysis of 2025 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data in Mortgage MarketSmart. Presented by iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli, the findings point to a market that is regaining momentum after a prolonged downturn, with total volume increasing in 2025. That recovery, however, is uneven. Growth is being driven by refinancing activity and larger loan balances, while competitive gains remain concentrated among a relatively small group of lenders.

Image caption: iEmergent releases 2025 HMDA insights: volume rebounds, but the mortgage market grows more concentrated.

Top takeaways from 2025 HMDA data:

Refinance activity drove a disproportionate share of volume growth.
S. lenders originated approximately 6.75 million loans totaling $2.12 trillion in 2025, up from $1.82 trillion in 2024. Refinances accounted for a disproportionate share of that growth, rising to $610.4 billion and representing 29% of total lending volume, compared to 22% the prior year. This shift indicates that recent volume gains are being fueled more by rate-driven activity than by underlying purchase demand.
IMBs extended their lead in both share and growth capture.
Independent mortgage banks (IMBs) increased their share of originations to 57.8% in 2025, up from 55.8% in 2024, and accounted for 61.9% of total lending volume. Notably, they captured $193 billion of the market’s $303 billion year-over-year growth, far outpacing depository institutions. IMBs also dominated lender rankings, representing 18 of the top 25 institutions by both loan count and dollar volume.
Rising loan sizes continue to pressure affordability.
Average loan sizes increased across both purchase and refinance segments, with purchase loans rising to $379,600 (from $368,100) and refinance loans to $311,200 (from $272,900). These increases align with persistent inventory constraints and elevated home prices, which are pushing borrowers toward higher balances and further limiting access for more price-sensitive buyers.
Denial rates edged down, but elevated fallout points to ongoing borrower friction.
While denial rates declined modestly, overall application fallout remained high. Approximately 40% of applications from non-Hispanic White borrowers did not result in funded loans, while fallout exceeded 50% for Black, Native American/Alaskan and Pacific Islander applicants. Increased withdrawals and incomplete applications suggest that affordability constraints and valuation challenges are continuing to disrupt borrower progression through the origination process.
Market concentration remains high, with production concentrated among a small group of lenders.
The top five lenders accounted for just over 20% of both loan count and total volume in 2025. More broadly, only 47 lenders—roughly 1% of all institutions—originated half of total mortgage volume. This concentration underscores a competitive environment in which scale and operational efficiency are increasingly determining market share outcomes.
Loan purpose mix varies significantly by geography, reinforcing the need for localized strategy.
Purchase-driven markets in the Sun Belt, such as Houston (71% purchase) and Austin (68% purchase), stand in contrast to coastal markets like Los Angeles (40% refinance) and San Diego (38% refinance). These differences highlight the importance of market-specific strategy, as performance in purchase-heavy regions depends more on execution and affordability positioning than on cyclical refinance opportunities

“2025 HMDA data shows a market that is improving, but not uniformly,” said Nossuli. “Growth is being driven by specific products, borrower segments and geographies, while competitive gains are concentrated among lenders with the scale and strategy to capture them. Understanding where those opportunities exist is critical for lenders planning their next phase of growth.”

Lenders can now benchmark performance and identify growth opportunities
The integration of 2025 HMDA data into Mortgage MarketSmart allows lenders to benchmark their performance against peers across categories such as:

Purchase and refi loan volume (units and dollars)
Borrower race and ethnicity
Loan type and size
Borrower income levels
Denial reasons by demographic group

With side-by-side comparisons of HMDA data, historical trends and forward-looking forecasts, Mortgage MarketSmart empowers lenders to identify gaps, meet Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) obligations and reach underserved markets.

To explore 2025 HMDA insights in Mortgage MarketSmart, request a demo at https://www.iemergent.com.

About iEmergent

Tags: @iEmergent

Media Kit:
https://www.iemergent.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/presskit_digitallinked.pdf

NEWS SOURCE: iEmergent

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/iemergent-releases-2025-hmda-insights-volume-rebounds-but-the-mortgage-market-grows-more-concentrated/

iEmergent introduces free webinar series to help lenders turn market data into mortgage growth

New educational series gives lenders a practical roadmap for identifying strategy gaps and increasing loan production

DES MOINES, Iowa, March 11, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced a new webinar series, “From Gaps to Growth: A Data-Driven Roadmap to Increase Production.” The free, multi-episode series will help mortgage lenders navigate an increasingly complex mortgage environment and translate market intelligence into practical strategies for sustainable origination growth.

Image caption: Webinar, From Gaps to Growth: A Data-Driven Roadmap to Increase Production.

Across the series, which will span 2026 into 2027, iEmergent will walk lenders through the core elements of a successful mortgage growth strategy. Sessions cover topics such as:

Mapping mortgage opportunity
Setting production goals and aligning resources
Refining marketing strategies around the homebuyer journey
Strengthening loan products and programs to increase applications
Building high-performing sales teams
Expanding referral networks and community partnerships

The series is designed for professionals across the mortgage enterprise, including executives, sales and revenue leaders, marketing professionals, data and analytics teams, compliance professionals and loan officers. Individual episodes focus on different elements of the roadmap and are tailored to the priorities of each role.

“Many lenders know they need a clearer strategy for growth, but they lack a practical roadmap for getting there,” iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli said. “We developed this series as a free resource to show lenders how to connect market data to real production strategies. The roadmap we’re sharing reflects strategies we’ve developed with banks, credit unions and independent mortgage banks across the country that have proven effective in helping them identify opportunity and drive measurable mortgage growth.”

Episodes will be available on demand. To register for the series kickoff, visit: https://www.iemergent.com/playbook-webinar-series/overview/

About iEmergent

Tags: @iEmergent #MortgageLending #MortgageStrategy #HousingMarket #MortgageData #LoanProduction

Media Kit:
https://www.iemergent.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/presskit_digitallinked.pdf

NEWS SOURCE: iEmergent

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/iemergent-introduces-free-webinar-series-to-help-lenders-turn-market-data-into-mortgage-growth/

iEmergent’s latest U.S. mortgage forecast validation confirms industry-leading accuracy

New analysis shows iEmergent's mortgage origination projections outperforming other publicly available forecasts over a six-year period

DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 2, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, released a new analysis validating that its U.S. purchase mortgage origination forecasts continue to lead the industry in accuracy, outperforming other publicly available forecasts such as those published by Fannie Mae and the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) over the last six years.

Image caption: [1] 6-YR COMPARISON OF iEMERGENT’S ‘NEXT YEAR’S’ FORECAST ACCURACY VS. MBA, FANNIE MAE.

Image caption: [2] 6-YR COMPARISON OF iEMERGENT’S ‘LAST ESTIMATE’ FORECAST ACCURACY VS. MBA, FANNIE MAE.

iEmergent’s forecasting approach centers on the Purchase Mortgage Generation Rate (PMGR), a proprietary metric that represents the rate at which a defined market produces purchase mortgages. The PMGR simplifies forecasting by capturing the complexity of the U.S. mortgage market, including economic and demographic factors, homebuyer behavior and decades of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) loan data. When paired with a demand-driven view of the homebuyer pool, this bottom-up model—which can be applied at any geographic level from the individual census tract to the entire nation—delivers reliable insight into where and when mortgage activity will emerge.

For the six-year period spanning 2019 to 2024, iEmergent achieved a 9.5% mean absolute percent error (MAPE) for ‘next year’s’ forecasts (projections issued a year in advance) and a 3.9% MAPE for ‘last estimate’ forecasts (projections released a few months ahead of HMDA’s annual release of actual loan counts). And over the past three years (2022–2024), iEmergent’s forecast accuracy has improved even further, achieving an 8.4% MAPE for ‘next year’s’ forecasts and a 1.2% MAPE for ‘last estimate’ forecasts.

“These results demonstrate the strength of iEmergent’s proprietary forecasting model and why our approach consistently leads the industry in accuracy,” iEmergent COO Bernard Nossuli said. “Lenders need a dependable way to see where mortgage opportunity will take shape, and iEmergent’s model gives them that insight well before traditional indicators emerge.”

iEmergent’s purchase mortgage forecast accuracy remains high even when projections are segmented by borrower race and ethnicity. The company also delivers strong refi mortgage forecast accuracy, maintaining an error rate in the 2% range despite growing refinance market volatility.

For a closer look at iEmergent’s novel and highly accurate approach to forecasting U.S. mortgage originations, read the company’s methodology blog post.

About iEmergent

Tags: @iEmergent #mortgagelending #mortgage #origination #housingdata

Media Kit:
https://www.iemergent.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/presskit_digitallinked.pdf

NEWS SOURCE: iEmergent

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/iemergents-latest-u-s-mortgage-forecast-validation-confirms-industry-leading-accuracy/

iEmergent puts HMDA benchmarking, market analysis and broker insights at lenders’ fingertips with newest set of market intelligence dashboards

Interactive data visualizations, available within Mortgage MarketSmart or as standalone dashboards, help lenders measure performance and uncover growth opportunities

DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 16, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced three new market intelligence dashboards that give mortgage lenders immediate, data-driven visibility into competitive benchmarking, market trends and broker performance.

Image caption: iEmergent puts HMDA benchmarking, market analysis and broker insights at lenders’ fingertips.

The new dashboards are available within iEmergent’s flagship Mortgage MarketSmart platform or a la carte, giving banks, credit unions and independent mortgage lenders flexible ways to turn data into action.

They are:

HMDA Analysis
Built for competitive benchmarking, the HMDA Analysis dashboard lets users explore the latest Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data to compare performance against selected peer sets, identify potential partners and assess application, origination and denial patterns. Users can compare financial institutions side-by-side and apply flexible global filters to quickly focus analysis by geography and loan characteristics.
Market Analysis
Market Analysis reveals where mortgage origination opportunities are emerging and shifting in a chosen market down to the individual county. By blending iEmergent’s highly accurate loan origination forecasts with historical origination data, users can see how lending activity is trending over time and by loan purpose. Current real estate listings and Census demographics add critical context on housing supply, affordability and demand, helping lenders target growth with precision.
Broker Profile
Designed to help lenders identify and recruit ideal partners for their wholesale and correspondent channels, the Broker Profile completes iEmergent’s broader set of Profile dashboards introduced earlier this year. It illuminates any mortgage broker’s production and connections with loan officers, lenders and real estate agents.

Designed for clarity and flexibility, iEmergent’s market intelligence dashboards support a range of user experiences from quick exploration of top-level trends to deep, analytical dives. Continuous enhancements to dropdowns, filtering, labeling and navigation make it easy for everyday users to access key insights while giving power users the tools to conduct advanced, granular analysis. Built-in sharing and export options make collaboration effortless, ensuring insights flow smoothly across teams.

“Lenders need intelligence they can trust and apply immediately,” said iEmergent COO Bernard Nossuli. “The new dashboards make it simple to analyze performance, compare results and uncover opportunity without requiring deep technical expertise. It’s about making complex market data truly accessible.”

“The mortgage industry is awash in data but starved for insight,” added CEO Laird Nossuli. “This launch brings us closer to solving that problem. With every new dashboard, we’re turning raw information into a living, visual story about how lending markets evolve.”

Request a demo of iEmergent’s full suite of market intelligence dashboards by visiting https://www.iemergent.com/request-demo .

About iEmergent:

Tags: @iEmergent #lending #mortgage #mortgagelending #bi

Media Kit:
https://www.iemergent.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/presskit_digitallinked.pdf

NEWS SOURCE: iEmergent

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/iemergent-puts-hmda-benchmarking-market-analysis-and-broker-insights-at-lenders-fingertips-with-newest-set-of-market-intelligence-dashboards/

U.S. mortgage loan originations to climb nearly 10% in 2026, iEmergent forecasts

New three-year outlook also sees dollar originations growing 13% to reach $2.27 trillion next year

DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 8, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced the availability of its 2025–2027 U.S. Mortgage Origination Forecast. The firm projects total originations will climb to $2.27 trillion in 2026, a 13% increase over 2025, as slowing economic growth and easing interest rates fuel a rebound in refinance activity alongside modest purchase gains.

Image caption: Bar graph showing iEmergent’s 3-year U.S. Mortgage Origination Forecast for 2025-2027 by loan count/units.

According to iEmergent Chief of Forecasting Mark Watson, the 2026 outlook reflects a shifting economic landscape. As tariff impacts spread, consumer confidence wanes and the labor market cools, GDP growth is expected to slow further, setting the stage for lower interest rates and a modest housing recovery. Long-term interest rates are expected to rise slightly by the end of 2025 but fall again in 2026 as growth weakens. That drop should spur a rebound in refinances and lift overall mortgage originations.

2025: Total mortgage origination volume is forecast to surpass $2 trillion for the first time since 2022, driven by a 48% jump in refinance dollars and 12% in purchase dollar gains, an overall 20% increase from 2024.
2026: Total mortgage origination volume is projected to reach $2.27 trillion, a 13% increase from 2025. Refinance units are expected to grow 24% as lower rates boost activity, and a 2.3% increase in purchase units will help push total loan count up nearly 10% year-over-year.
2027: Purchase activity is projected at 4.09 million loans totaling $1.56 trillion, while refinance units are expected to hold steady at 2.37 million, with dollars dipping slightly at $754 billion.

“Crossing back above $2 trillion in 2025 signals renewed strength in the mortgage market,” Watson said. “By 2026, lower rates and moderating home prices should support activity, though affordability challenges will persist—especially for first-time buyers.”

Image caption: Bar graph showing iEmergent’s 3-year U.S. Mortgage Origination Forecast for 2025-2027 by dollar volume.

“These national trends tell an important story, but they don’t tell the whole story,” said Laird Nossuli, CEO of iEmergent. “Every market will experience the next wave of recovery differently. iEmergent’s data gives lenders visibility into those differences, so they can see how mortgage activity is expected to shift in specific markets, even down to the census-tract level.”

Read Mark Watson’s latest blog for more detailed analysis and commentary on the forecast.

Methodology

For more than two decades, iEmergent has been predicting mortgage market trends with a level of precision that surpasses even the industry’s most trusted forecasts from the Mortgage Bankers Association, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. In fact, in almost 70% of the nation’s 84,414 census tracts, iEmergent’s U.S. Mortgage Origination Forecast has proven accurate to within 10 loans.

iEmergent’s proprietary forecasting method is a hybrid of several traditional demand forecast models. Many variables go into these forecasts, but there are two fundamental elements: first, the Purchase Mortgage Generation Rate (PMGR), which is the rate at which an individual market produces purchase mortgages. Second, the homebuyer pool: the number of households that are ready, willing and able to buy a home. By evaluating the relationship between each census tract’s homebuyer pool and PMGR, probability theory can be applied to estimate the number of purchase mortgage loans and dollars that will be originated in that market.

Read more about iEmergent’s approach to forecasting here: https://www.iemergent.com/insights/mortgage-opportunity-forecasting

About iEmergent

Tags: @iEmergent

Media Kit:
https://www.iemergent.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/presskit_digitallinked.pdf

NEWS SOURCE: iEmergent

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/u-s-mortgage-loan-originations-to-climb-nearly-10-in-2026-iemergent-forecasts/

iEmergent honored with PROGRESS in Lending’s 2025 Connections Award

The award celebrates iEmergent's role in CONVERGENCE Columbus initiative to expand minority homeownership through strategic collaboration and data-driven innovation

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 9, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced its selection as a recipient of PROGRESS in Lending’s 2025 Connections Award. The recognition honors iEmergent’s instrumental role in CONVERGENCE Columbus, a cross-sector initiative led by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) to close the racial homeownership gap in Central Ohio.

Image caption: iEmergent.

The Connections Award celebrates groundbreaking partnerships and integrations that advance mortgage lending. As a founding member and active steering committee participant in CONVERGENCE Columbus, iEmergent has helped shape the coalition’s data strategy, community engagement framework and performance measurement tools. Through its proprietary Mortgage MarketSmart platform, iEmergent empowers lenders and housing stakeholders with localized market insights to identify opportunity gaps, design inclusive lending programs and measure impact.

“CONVERGENCE Columbus exemplifies how data, community partnership and shared purpose can drive scalable and sustainable progress,” said iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli. “We are honored to be recognized by PROGRESS in Lending for our role in building a more equitable housing ecosystem, starting at the local level and grounded in collaboration.”

In collaboration with public agencies, nonprofit organizations and financial institutions such as Huntington National Bank and Fifth Third Bank, CONVERGENCE Columbus has launched innovative programs like the Maude Hill Growing Homeownership Fund and FHLBank Cincinnati’s Rise Up Program, which together have supported more than 230 households to date. The initiative also developed Bloom614.org, a resource hub and homebuying guide for prospective homeowners in Central Ohio.

By co-leading the Evaluation & Outcomes workstream, contributing loan officer data and donating tens of thousands of dollars in services, iEmergent has helped ensure that CONVERGENCE Columbus’ lending outcomes are measurable and replicable. The firm’s commitment to the initiative reflects a broader industry shift toward proactive, equity-centered growth strategies.

Learn more about PROGRESS in Lending’s 2025 Connections Award at https://mymortgagemindset.com/the-2025-connections-award-winners-are/.

About iEmergent

NEWS SOURCE: iEmergent

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/iemergent-honored-with-progress-in-lendings-2025-connections-award/

iEmergent releases 2024 HMDA insights: IMBs dominate, refinances rise, equity gaps persist

Data insights now available in Mortgage MarketSmart highlight rising refi activity, IMB dominance and persistent equity gaps

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 29, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, has released its analysis of 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data in Mortgage MarketSmart. The insights, shared by iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli, highlight a modest market recovery from 2023 alongside deepening disparities in borrower outcomes and a reshuffling of lender dynamics.

Image caption: iEmergent.

TOP TAKEAWAYS FROM 2024 HMDA DATA:

Mortgage lending volume rebounded slightly, driven by a resurgence in refinancing.
In 2024, U.S. lenders originated a combined 4.9 million loans totaling $1.67 trillion in dollar volume across purchase and refi, up from $1.45 trillion in 2023. Refinances surged 63% by dollar volume to $393.7 billion and accounted for nearly a quarter (23.5%) of purchase and refi dollars, up from 16.7% in 2023.
Independent mortgage banks (IMBs) extended their lead.
IMBs originated 65.4% of all purchase and refinance loans in 2024, up from 61.3% in 2023. They also claimed 16 of the top 25 spots by dollar volume and 17 by loan count, underscoring their continued role as the primary engine of mortgage lending despite representing just 18% of reporting institutions.
Borrowers are taking out bigger loans, amplifying affordability concerns.
The average size of purchase and refinance loans grew in 2024, reaching $339,903 (up from $323,282 in 2023). Rising home prices and interest rates continue to widen the gap between what buyers can afford and what they must borrow.
Denial rates ticked up, with notable differences by lender type.
People of color households made up a growing share of applicants in 2024, but approval rates remained unequal. Black borrowers, for instance, faced an 18% denial rate for purchase loans compared to 9% for non-Hispanic white applicants. While banks and credit unions lowered their denial rates year over year, IMBs saw a slight increase—contributing to uneven outcomes, since IMBs originated the majority of loans. Debt-to-income (DTI) ratios remained the most common denial reason across all racial and ethnic groups.
Dominance by leading lenders continues to intensify.
The top five lenders accounted for nearly 20% of all loans and dollars originated in 2024, a notable uptick from 2023. This growing market concentration signals intensifying consolidation and competition among top-tier lenders.

“2024 brought modest recovery to the mortgage market, but also highlighted some of the structural inequities and concentration trends that shape lending outcomes today,” said Nossuli. “iEmergent’s Mortgage MarketSmart puts this data into context—geographically, demographically, and competitively—so lenders can find smarter ways to grow and serve their markets.”

LENDERS CAN NOW BENCHMARK PERFORMANCE AND PLAN FOR GROWTH

The integration of 2024 HMDA data into Mortgage MarketSmart allows lenders to benchmark their performance against peers across categories such as:

Purchase and refi loan volumes (units and dollars)
Borrower race and ethnicity
Loan type and size
Borrower income levels
Denial reasons by demographic group

To explore 2024 HMDA insights in Mortgage MarketSmart, request a demo at https://www.iemergent.com/.

About iEmergent

Tags: @iEmergent #HMDA #housing #mortgage #data

Media Kit (PDF):
https://www.iemergent.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/presskit_digitallinked.pdf

NEWS SOURCE: iEmergent

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/iemergent-releases-2024-hmda-insights-imbs-dominate-refinances-rise-equity-gaps-persist/

iEmergent confronts the DEI debate with bold webinar on the business case for diverse lending

'Not Sold on Diversity? Fine. Let's Talk About Your Bottom Line' tackles how lenders can reach underserved markets and fuel long-term growth

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 2, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced a provocative new webinar that dares to reframe the diversity conversation through a business lens. Amid growing pushback on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, iEmergent is doubling down on the importance of inclusive lending to lenders’ long-term success. Titled “Not Sold on Diversity? Fine. Let’s Talk About Your Bottom Line,” the roundtable session will take place Wednesday, April 30, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm ET and will feature mortgage industry leaders sharing actionable insights on how lenders can drive sustainable growth by expanding access to homeownership.

Image caption: iEmergent confronts the DEI debate with bold webinar on the business case for diverse lending.

With more than 77% of net household formation in the next decade projected to come from diverse households, the mortgage industry is at a turning point. While some lenders are adapting to these demographic shifts, others remain focused on traditional, often affluent borrower segments. The roundtable will explore the business case for reaching underserved markets and the risks of ignoring them.

“This conversation isn’t just about diversity — it’s about the future of mortgage lending,” said iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli. “Lenders that overlook these borrower segments today risk falling behind in a market where diverse households will drive future mortgage demand. Understanding where the opportunities exist and implementing the right strategies is a game-changer for long-term growth.”

Panelists will explore how lenders can assess gaps in minority and low- to moderate-income (LMI) lending, strengthen their real estate referral networks using MLS data and recruit loan officers already connected to these communities. They will also discuss practical approaches to overcoming systemic barriers to homeownership, such as appraisal bias and limited generational wealth, and highlight ways to build durable community partnerships that support a consistent borrower pipeline.

Moderated by Nossuli, the panel will feature:

Nikki Bialka, national community lending strategy manager at Fifth Third
John Harpst, vice president of community lending at Lake Michigan Credit Union
Gabe Ewing del Rio, president and CEO of the Homeownership Council of America
Tom Sullivan, head of retail mortgage sales for First Commonwealth Bank
Tony Thompson, founder and CEO of the National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America
Tay Toliver, vice president and retail market leader at Cardinal Financial

Mortgage executives, sales leaders and compliance professionals from banks, credit unions and independent mortgage banks (IMBs) are encouraged to attend to learn how data-driven strategies can unlock new growth opportunities while meeting the needs of today’s — and tomorrow’s — homebuyers.

About iEmergent

Tags: @iEmergent @NAMMBAConnects @FinanceBetter @LMCU @CardFinancial @FifthThird #mortgage #lending

Media Kit:
https://www.iemergent.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/presskit_digitallinked.pdf

NEWS SOURCE: iEmergent

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/iemergent-confronts-the-dei-debate-with-bold-webinar-on-the-business-case-for-diverse-lending/

iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli recognized among National Mortgage Professional’s 2025 Diversity Leaders

Award honors Nossuli's role in helping lenders expand homeownership opportunities

DES MOINES, Iowa, March 3, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced that CEO Laird Nossuli has been named a 2025 Diversity Leader by National Mortgage Professional (NMP) magazine. The award recognizes mortgage professionals who have demonstrated dedication and success in promoting inclusivity within their companies or the communities they serve.

Image caption: iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli.

Nossuli has long championed data-driven strategies that help lenders expand their reach and align business growth with shifting demographic trends. Under her leadership, iEmergent developed Mortgage MarketSmart, the industry’s only market intelligence and forecasting platform designed to help lenders identify and engage home-ready, underserved markets. By integrating market intelligence, lender production data and origination forecasts on interactive maps, the platform enables lenders to pinpoint lending gaps and strategically expand mortgage access.

iEmergent’s insights have helped lenders across the country drive measurable impact. By using iEmergent’s data and analytics, lenders have increased CRA-eligible lending, closed minority homeownership gaps and launched new products such as special purpose credit programs (SPCPs) to better serve historically underserved borrowers.

“As an industry, we can either embrace the future of homeownership or risk falling behind,” said Nossuli. “At iEmergent, we provide lenders with the data and insights they need to make smart, strategic decisions about where mortgage demand is growing. I’m honored to be recognized by National Mortgage Professional for our work in helping lenders build sustainable growth strategies.”

Beyond her role in shaping iEmergent’s technology solutions, Nossuli has contributed to key industry initiatives aimed at expanding mortgage access. She helped develop DIVERSIFi, a collaboration with the National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America that connects lenders with diverse borrower segments. She has also supported the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) CONVERGENCE affordable housing efforts. A sought-after speaker, Nossuli has shared her insights at industry events hosted by the Black Homeownership Symposium, the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, and the MBA.

The full list of NMP Diversity Leaders is available in the latest issue of NMP magazine or online at https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/.

About iEmergent

Tags: @iEmergent #housingfinance #housingequity #housingeconomy #mortgage @NatlMortgagePro #NMPDiversityLeaders

NEWS SOURCE: iEmergent

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/iemergent-ceo-laird-nossuli-recognized-among-national-mortgage-professionals-2025-diversity-leaders/

Conterra Ag Names Jake Espenmiller as President and CEO, Marking a New Era In Agricultural Finance

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 24, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Conterra Ag Capital has announced the January 2025 appointment of Jake Espenmiller as President and Chief Executive Officer, succeeding company founder Paul Erickson. Following a carefully planned and seamless 2-year succession strategy, this leadership transition marks a significant milestone for Conterra, reinforcing its commitment to providing innovative financial solutions to farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses across the United States.

Photo caption: Jake Espenmiller New President & CEO of Conterra Ag Capital.

Espenmiller brings over 25 years of experience in agricultural finance, risk management, and lending strategy, including 10 years of senior management experience. Before joining Conterra, Jake served in leadership roles with Oak River Farms and MetLife Investment Management, where he played a crucial role in expanding operations across key agricultural regions. Since joining Conterra in 2022 as Chief Lending Officer, he has been a driving force behind business development and strategic growth initiatives.

“With agriculture evolving rapidly, farmers and ranchers need financial partners who understand their challenges and can offer flexible solutions. I am honored to lead Conterra into its next chapter,” said Espenmiller. “Paul has built an exceptional organization with a strong foundation and a clear mission. I look forward to building on that legacy, continuing to provide exceptional service to our customers, delivering strong returns for our investors, and fostering a great culture for our employees.”

For more than a decade, Erickson has led Conterra with a deep commitment to supporting the long-term success of American agriculture. Leveraging his 30 years of experience in agriculture and financial services, Erickson built the company from the ground up, expanding it into a trusted and nationally recognized provider of agricultural financing. His dedication and strategic vision have guided Conterra to manage over a billion dollars in assets, solidifying its position as a key partner in agricultural finance.

“Building Conterra been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” said Erickson. “I am deeply grateful to our team, our clients, and our partners who have been part of this journey. Conterra was founded with a mission to provide farmers and ranchers with flexible financial solutions, and I am confident that under Jake’s leadership, the company will continue to thrive and expand its impact.”

This leadership transition comes at a critical time for the agricultural industry. Farmers and agribusinesses face rising interest rates, market fluctuations, and increasing operational costs, requiring financial partners who can offer stability and expertise. Conterra remains committed to providing traditional farm and ranch loans, development financing, and alternative lending solutions that help producers manage risk and invest in long-term growth.

“As we look to the future, our focus remains on being a trusted financial resource for farmers and ranchers,” Espenmiller added. “We are here to ensure they have the capital and support they need—today and for generations to come.”

More information: Conterra Ag Lending Home – Conterra Ag Capital.

About Conterra Ag Capital:

Based in West Des Moines, Iowa, Conterra Ag Capital focuses exclusively on agriculture, providing traditional farm and ranch loans, development, and alternative lending solutions to America’s farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses. The company also offers its loan products and asset management services to institutional investors, banks, and other agricultural lenders throughout the United States.

Conterra has loan products to help meet the challenges of today’s agricultural environment:

Long-term fixed rate and short-term variable rate loans
Alternative ag loans for producers under stress
Varied capital sources and flexible terms
Restructuring debt to improve cash flow

NEWS SOURCE: Conterra Holdings LLC

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Conterra Holdings LLC), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/conterra-ag-names-jake-espenmiller-as-president-and-ceo-marking-a-new-era-in-agricultural-finance/

iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli to speak at 2025 CU:REALM Live! in San Diego

Leading industry expert to share insights on using localized mortgage data to drive credit union growth

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 19, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced that its CEO, Laird Nossuli, will present at the 2025 CU: REALM Live! April 14–15 in San Diego, California. Nossuli will lead the day one session on “Utilizing Market-level Mortgage Data to Increase Referrals and Grow Originations,” offering credit union leaders actionable strategies for leveraging localized mortgage data to expand their member base and grow lending volume.

Image caption: iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli.

CU:REALM Live! is an annual event that brings together credit union professionals, industry experts and thought leaders to share insights, strategies and best practices for optimizing credit union mortgage lending operations. Nossuli’s session will provide attendees with a framework for using hyperlocal data to identify lending opportunities, strengthen referral relationships and improve member engagement.

“The mortgage landscape continues to evolve, and credit unions have a unique opportunity to grow their lending portfolios by tapping into underserved markets,” said Nossuli. “Using market-level data, credit unions can better understand their communities’ homeownership potential and build targeted sustainable growth strategies.”

A recognized authority in mortgage market analytics, Nossuli has consulted with leading banks, credit unions and independent mortgage lenders to help them align their lending efforts with demographic and market trends. Her work includes collaborations with the Mortgage Bankers Association’s CONVERGENCE initiatives and municipal partnerships focused on expanding access to homeownership.

The 2025 CU:REALM Live! event will kick off on Monday, April 14, with a half-day session at the Courtyard San Diego Miramar and an evening networking dinner. Nossuli’s presentation is part of the event’s dynamic agenda, which features keynote speakers Selma Hepp of CoreLogic and industry veterans Rob and Robbie Chrisman. The second day, hosted at Mission Federal Credit Union, will include interactive discussions, panel presentations and leadership roundtables.

Registration is now open, and interested attendees can reserve their spot here.

About iEmergent

Tags: @iEmergent #mortgage #creditunions #homeownership

NEWS SOURCE: iEmergent

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/iemergent-ceo-laird-nossuli-to-speak-at-2025-curealm-live-in-san-diego/

iEmergent named to HousingWire’s Tech100 list for 2025

Recognition highlights iEmergent's groundbreaking mortgage market intelligence platform, Mortgage MarketSmart

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 4, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced its selection to HousingWire’s 2025 Tech100 Mortgage list. The prestigious recognition honors iEmergent’s flagship platform, Mortgage MarketSmart, for equipping mortgage lenders with the insights to serve diverse and underserved communities.

Image caption: HousingWire Tech100 Honoree.

Mortgage MarketSmart is the industry’s only market intelligence and forecasting platform that helps lenders locate and engage home-ready, underserved markets. By integrating comprehensive loan origination forecasts with demographic, economic, housing and competitor data, iEmergent enables lenders to visualize and act on lending opportunities at both macro and micro levels. The platform’s interactive maps empower lenders to pinpoint market gaps, develop targeted lending strategies and recruit loan officers who can support diverse homeownership initiatives.

“Understanding and addressing homeownership disparities requires more than good intentions—it demands data-driven strategies,” said iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli. “Mortgage MarketSmart provides lenders with the intelligence they need to identify and serve historically overlooked communities. Being recognized by HousingWire underscores the impact our technology is making in advancing equitable lending.”

“The 2025 Tech100 honorees are driving real transformation in mortgage and real estate,” said HousingWire Editor-in-Chief Sarah Wheeler. “These companies are not just enhancing processes—they’re redefining what’s possible. Their innovations, from streamlining lending operations to elevating the real estate experience, pave the way for a more efficient and dynamic housing market.”

HousingWire’s Tech100 awards program, now in its 13th year, celebrates companies pioneering new housing finance solutions. Learn more about HousingWire Tech100 and view iEmergent’s complete company profile here: https://www.housingwire.com.

About iEmergent

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and market intelligence to help lenders strategically expand homeownership opportunities. Mortgage MarketSmart, iEmergent’s industry-leading visualization tool, equips lenders with actionable insights to engage diverse and emerging markets effectively. The company’s consultative services also support lenders in implementing Special Purpose Credit Programs (SPCPs) and other outreach initiatives. For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com/.

Tags: @iEmergent #housingfinance #housingequity #housingeconomy #mortgage @HousingWire #HWTech100

NEWS SOURCE: iEmergent

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/iemergent-named-to-housingwires-tech100-list-for-2025/

iEmergent launches shareable market intelligence dashboards to help lenders unlock mortgage growth opportunities

iEmergent introduces a faster, more interactive way for lenders to explore loan production, referral networks and competitive performance

DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 30, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced the release of four new market intelligence dashboards that make it easy for lenders to slice, visualize, export and share historical and forecasted loan production, real estate listing and demographic data. Powered by iEmergent’s award-winning market intelligence platform Mortgage MarketSmart, the new dashboards empower banks, credit unions and independent mortgage bankers (IMBs) to identify untapped mortgage lending opportunities and implement actionable growth strategies.

Image caption: iEmergent.

iEmergent’s market intelligence dashboards are designed for both flexibility and ease of use, making powerful data visualizations accessible to experts and non-experts alike. These dashboards uncover insights that support strategic planning as well as day-to-day operations. Built-in sharing capabilities allow lenders to instantly send dashboard insights via email or export them as PDFs, Excel spreadsheets, or PowerPoint presentations for more streamlined collaboration with colleagues and partners.

The first four market intelligence dashboards available now include:

Loan Officer Profile
Optimizes recruiting, performance management and retention strategies by analyzing and ranking HMDA-reported loan production data for tens of thousands of mortgage loan originators. Users can filter by geography, transaction type, loan type and property type to dynamically generate insights broken down by loan purpose, average loan size and market penetration in key census tract designations, including majority-minority and CRA-eligible areas. A built-in map brings each loan officer’s footprint to life, and users can also access contact details for the buy-side and sell-side real estate agents involved in each loan.
Lender Profile
Gives IMBs, credit unions and banks a competitive edge by offering visibility into peer institutions’ market share, loan production and growth trends. Lenders can identify their competitors’ top-performing loan officers, analyze referral sources and assess market positioning to refine their marketing and partner strategies.
Real Estate Agent Profile
Strengthens referral partnerships by providing line of sight into agent listing data and market influence. Users can filter by geography, agent role, property type and listing status. They can also rank agents by transaction volume, track trends over time, map activity and identify the loan officers and financial institutions agents collaborate with to uncover new business opportunities.
Builder Profile
Simplifies builder partnership analysis with a comprehensive view of builder production data. Users can filter by geography, rank builders by production volume and drill into individual builder activity, including their affiliated real estate agents, loan officers and mortgage companies. This dashboard is particularly valuable for loan officers specializing in new construction, helping them identify strategic partnership opportunities and competitive advantages in key markets.

“iEmergent’s market intelligence dashboards enable lenders to create beautiful, precise market and competitive analyses in seconds, no matter their level of data expertise,” said iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli. “And because iEmergent’s market intelligence is designed to inform real-world growth strategies, we’ve made it a breeze to put data into action by sharing dashboards with colleagues and business partners.”

“Whether it’s operational leaders assessing competitive position, recruiters identifying top loan officers or loan officers strengthening referral partnerships, our dashboards deliver dynamic, actionable insights in seconds,” added COO Bernard Nossuli. “By making critical data more accessible, we’re helping lenders make smarter decisions, faster.”

iEmergent will expand its dashboard offerings in March with the launch of a HMDA Analysis dashboard lenders can use to explore 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data. Additional Forecast and Equitable Lending dashboards are also in development and will provide predictive market data and fair lending analysis, respectively.

Future enhancements will include full integration of all dashboards into Mortgage MarketSmart and the ability for lenders to request custom dashboards that can be delivered quickly and cost-effectively, without the lengthy development cycles typical of traditional software projects.

To request a demo of iEmergent’s market intelligence dashboards, visit https://www.iemergent.com/request-demo.

About iEmergent

X/Twitter: @iemergent #lending #mortgage #mortgagelending #bi

NEWS SOURCE: iEmergent

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/iemergent-launches-shareable-market-intelligence-dashboards-to-help-lenders-unlock-mortgage-growth-opportunities/

Iowa Author Launches New Women’s Romance-Suspense Novel, ‘I’ll Call You Mine’

DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 19, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Romance and suspense novelist Sharon L. Clark ushers in a new series just in time for holiday book shoppers. On December 3, 2024, “I’ll Call You Mine” (ISBN: 979-8886533033), the first in Clark’s Enderlin Calling series hit bookshelves and is already making a buzz in the romance, workplace romance, and suspense novel categories on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other major book outlets. Clark’s debut release via Satin Romance Imprint from Melange Books, LLC, is available in paperback print and eBook formats through your favorite book retailers.

Image caption: “I’ll Call You Mine” by Sharon L. Clark.

ABOUT “I’LL CALL YOU MINE”

When Katie Parker flees San Francisco for her small Midwestern hometown, she expects to leave behind an obsessed admirer. Being back in her family home gives her a sense of safety, her new job gives her purpose…and her coworker Ben Collins lights a spark she’s been missing for far too long.

For Ben, life in Enderlin is quiet and peaceful, his biggest concern the ex-fiancée who keeps turning up like a bad penny. That is, until he literally bumps into a curvy brunette with stunning blue eyes and something to prove. Parker is a complication he doesn’t want or need; so why can’t he get her out of his head?

Katie settles into her new life, reconnecting with family and friends and falling for Ben’s easy charm a little more every day. But her attempt to escape seems to have made the stalker bolder, and his love letters quickly escalate to threats she can’t ignore.

When the mounting danger crosses the point of no return, Katie is left shocked, terrified – and utterly alone. But she knows one thing for certain; if she wants to get back to Ben and everyone she loves, she’s in for the fight of her life.

Image caption: Author Sharon L. Clark.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR, SHARON L. CLARK:

Sharon L. Clark is a romantic suspense author hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, where she never outgrew her enormous imagination and continues to feed both her hopeless-romantic heart and her villain-wannabe brain.

An avid reader from a very young age, Sharon still enjoys living vicariously through the heroines in adventure novels, falling in love again and again through romances, and getting the tar scared out of her now and again. After attending the University of Northern Iowa Sharon met her husband, Andrew, and together they have raised three pretty cool humans and a handful of dogs.

It wasn’t until she was nearly an empty-nester that she allowed herself to explore the stories running around inside her head. decided to focus on letting other people see what goes on inside her head: the good, the bad, and the bizarre.

“I’ll Call You Mine” is her debut novel, but you can check out her short stories and other musings on her website at https://SharonLClark.com/ or see what she’s up to on her other social channels:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/SharonLClarkAuthor/

X: https://x.com/sharclark36

IG: https://www.instagram.com/sharclark40

SUMMARY:

Title: “I’ll Call You Mine”

Released: December 3, 2024

Author: Sharon L. Clark

ISBN: 979-8-88653-303-3 Print

ISBN: 979-8-88653-304-0 eBook

Amazon: https://a.co/d/iiijkRO

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ill-call-you-mine-sharon-l-clark/1146566104?ean=9798886533033

Learn more: https://sharonlclark.com/

MULTIMEDIA:

Photo links for media

[1] Book: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/24-1219-s2p-icyoumine-300dpi.jpg

Caption: “I’ll Call You Mine” by Sharon L. Clark.

[2] Author: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/24-1219-s2p-Sharon-Clark-300dpi.jpg

Caption: Sharon L. Clark, Author.

NEWS SOURCE: Author Sharon L. Clark

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Author Sharon L. Clark), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/iowa-author-launches-new-womens-romance-suspense-novel-ill-call-you-mine/

iEmergent revises 2024-2026 U.S. Mortgage Origination Forecast downward

Purchase mortgage originations fell short of expectations amid stubbornly high interest rates, low housing affordability

DES MOINES, Iowa, Sept. 25, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced downward revision of its 2024–2026 U.S. Mortgage Origination Forecast. Updated to reflect ongoing economic conditions, iEmergent now expects lower-than-anticipated growth for the next two years, particularly in the purchase mortgage market, while refinance volumes are projected to rise due to a gradual decline in mortgage interest rates.

Image caption: Historical and forecasted first-lien mortgage originations for 1–4 family homes.

The revision comes as part of iEmergent’s quarterly forecast update, which integrates the latest economic data and market trends into the company’s detailed projections for mortgage originations across the United States. Using its proprietary forecasting methodology, iEmergent has adjusted its forecast for 2024 to reflect weaker-than-expected performance in purchase mortgage originations, which fell short of early-year estimates due to persistently high interest rates and continued housing affordability challenges.

According to iEmergent Chief Economist Mark Watson, 2024 purchase mortgage originations are now projected to decrease in loan count compared to 2023, though an increase in average loan sizes will lead to a modest 3.5% increase in purchase volume. Meanwhile, refinance originations are expected to rise 48% from their 2023 lows, driven by the recent softening of mortgage interest rates.

Looking ahead, iEmergent forecasts purchase volumes will grow by 7% in 2025, while refinance originations will increase by 37%, reflecting a more favorable interest rate environment. By 2026, overall mortgage origination volumes are expected to show modest recovery as housing affordability gradually improves.

“The economic boon of the COVID-era refinance boom has been underappreciated in its impact on keeping interest rates higher for longer than anticipated,” said Watson. “While this has helped maintain economic strength, it has also suppressed mortgage origination volumes. We expect rates to finally start declining in the months ahead, offering some relief for both potential buyers and those looking to refinance.”

The updated 2024–2026 U.S. Mortgage Origination Forecast is now available within iEmergent’s Mortgage MarketSmart platform, which allows lenders to map future lending opportunities at the census tract level and overlay them with historical loan production data, demographic insights, property listings and more.

Read Mark Watson’s latest blog for more detailed analysis and commentary on the forecast update.

Methodology

About iEmergent

X/Twitter: @iemergent #housingfinance #housingequity #housingeconomy #mortgage #HMDA #fairlending

NEWS SOURCE: iEmergent

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/iemergent-revises-2024-2026-u-s-mortgage-origination-forecast-downward/

iEmergent receives The Mortgage Collaborative’s Lenders’ Choice award for Thought Leadership, Creativity & Innovation

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, was awarded The Mortgage Collaborative's 2024 Lenders' Choice Award for Thought Leadership, Creativity & Innovation. Laird Nossuli, iEmergent's CEO, and Bernard Nossuli, COO, accepted the award on Monday during TMC's "A Mile Above" Conference, held at the Hyatt Regency in Denver.

In presenting the award, TMC Vice President of Business Development Mimi T. Paxson, CMB, read aloud one of the lender testimonials submitted in support of iEmergent's recognition:

"They [the iEmergent team] have proven to be a very valuable partner in our efforts to effectively serve underserved communities in all our markets. They live this mission, and their customer service interactions with us exemplify this as they are prompt, thorough, knowledgeable, and personable. Coupled with a great value for the quality of the service, you can always know they are serious about bringing you accurate and actionable data to assist in making strategic decisions."

iEmergent's signature market intelligence platform, Mortgage MarketSmart, helps lenders grow current market share and expand into untapped markets by visualizing current origination trends and anticipating shifts in the economic, demographic, housing and competitive landscape at a hyper-local level. A TMC preferred partner since 2018, iEmergent is a past recipient of HousingWire's Tech 100 award honoring the industry's most innovative companies. Last October, iEmergent received the Mortgage Bankers Association's Residential Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Leadership Award for helping lenders effectively increase homeownership within communities of color.

"This award is particularly meaningful to us because it reflects the experiences of TMC's lender members. To be recognized by the very organizations we aim to serve is a true honor," said Laird Nossuli. "Our goal has always been to provide actionable, forward-looking data that empowers lenders to better serve their communities, and our longstanding partnership with TMC has allowed us to expand that mission even further."

About iEmergent:

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and analytics to the lending, housing and real estate industries. The company offers an extensive variety of forecast and market intelligence products, including Mortgage MarketSmart, a visualization tool that helps lenders quantify how mortgage markets will change. For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com/.

Twitter: @iEmergent @MtgCoop #mortgage #mortgagelending #housingfinance #housingequity

iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, was awarded The Mortgage Collaborative's 2024 Lenders' Choice Award for Thought Leadership, Creativity & Innovation. Laird Nossuli, iEmergent's CEO, and Bernard Nossuli, COO, accepted the award on Monday during TMC's "A Mile Above" Conference, held at the Hyatt Regency in Denver.

Related link: https://www.iemergent.com

iEmergent’s Redlining Roundtable will teach lenders to identify and prevent mortgage redlining while seizing the business opportunity of equitable lending

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, will host a webinar on mortgage redlining on Thursday, September 19, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET. "Redlining Roundtable: Don't Just Dodge Risk, Capture Opportunity" will bring together experts from across the housing finance industry to discuss the high price of modern-day mortgage redlining, the strategies lenders can use to identify and prevent unintentional discrimination, and the long-term value mortgage lenders can build through fair and equitable lending practices.

Mortgage redlining excludes minority and economically at-risk groups. Whether intentional or not, redlining can lead to significant legal penalties for lenders, with some enforcement actions resulting in multi-million dollar settlements. The opportunity cost of exclusionary lending practices is even greater, with industry forecasts anticipating that most future mortgage growth will come from majority-minority census tracts (MMCTs) and BIPOC communities.

Hosted by iEmergent, the September 19 event will feature input from a diverse array of subject-matter experts, including:

* Latonia Donaldson, National Director of Multicultural Lending, PrimeLending

* Nikki Bialka, National Community Lending Strategy Manager, Fifth Third Bank

* Tony Thompson, CMB, Founder and CEO, National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America (NAMMBA)

* Olivia Kelman, Partner, Mitchell Sandler PLLC

* Geoff Cooper, Vice President of Product Development, MGIC

* Laird Nossuli, CEO, iEmergent

"Redlining practices can saddle lenders with stiff penalties, but their real cost is the lost business opportunity they represent," said Nossuli. "Lenders who effectively serve the financing needs of diverse households have better long-term growth outcomes and help build better communities. In our upcoming roundtable, we'll quantify that competitive advantage and show lenders how to seize it."

To register for iEmergent's Redlining Roundtable on September 19 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET, visit https://www.iemergent.com/redlining-roundtable/.

Attendees will earn points toward their Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) designation from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).

About iEmergent

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and analytics to the lending, housing and real estate industries. The company offers an extensive variety of forecast and market intelligence products, including Mortgage MarketSmart, a visualization tool that helps lenders quantify how mortgage markets will change. For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com/.

iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, will host a webinar on mortgage redlining on Thursday, September 19, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET. "Redlining Roundtable: Don't Just Dodge Risk, Capture Opportunity" will bring together experts from across the housing finance industry to discuss the high price of modern-day mortgage redlining, the strategies lenders can use to identify and prevent unintentional discrimination, and the long-term value mortgage lenders can build through fair and equitable lending practices.

Related link: https://www.iemergent.com

iEmergent’s 2024-2026 U.S. Mortgage Origination Forecast is now available in Mortgage MarketSmart

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced the availability of its 2024-2026 U.S. Mortgage Origination Forecast. Updated to reflect preliminary 2023 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data released by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council in March, iEmergent's latest projections call for modest growth in purchase originations and a gradual increase in refinance loan units and dollars as a percentage of total originations.

According to iEmergent Chief of Forecasting Mark Watson, persistent economic trends - including inflation, real GDP growth, a strong labor market and tight Federal Reserve monetary policy - will continue to dampen the mortgage origination market for the next three years:

* 2024: Although purchase dollar volume is expected to increase by about 9% in 2024, most of the volume gain will be attributable to larger average loan sizes rather than significant growth in loan count. Refinances are forecast to reach 18% of total mortgage originations, only slightly more than their record low of 17% in 2023.

* 2025: By 2025, deceleration and, ultimately, a mild decline in GDP growth should help reduce long-term interest rates and soften home prices, leading to slightly higher mortgage origination levels. Refi units are anticipated to grow 33% (albeit from historically low levels) on a year-over-year basis.

* 2026: By 2026, total U.S. mortgage origination volume is expected to exceed the $2 trillion mark for the first time since 2022 as refinances continue to recover share in both loan units and dollars.

"The American economy has proven surprisingly resilient, and that very resiliency has kept interest rates higher than anticipated for longer than expected. When you factor in an affordability crisis and an acute housing shortage, it's no wonder origination volumes continue to suffer," said iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli. "As economic growth slows over the next couple of years, we could finally see some improvement, provided inventory scarcity is addressed. As markets recover, origination opportunities will be unevenly distributed, making our census-level forecasts a critical tool for shaping lenders' growth strategies."

The 2024-2026 forecast is available now in iEmergent's Mortgage MarketSmart platform, where users can map future lending opportunities at the census tract level and overlay them with historical loan production data, real estate agent and property listing intelligence, household demographic and income insights, community points of interest and more.

Read Mark Watson's latest blog for more detailed analysis and commentary on the forecast.

Methodology

For more than two decades, iEmergent has been predicting mortgage market trends with a level of precision that surpasses even the industry's most trusted forecasts from the Mortgage Bankers Association, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. In fact, in more than half of the nation's 73,057 census tracts, iEmergent's U.S. Mortgage Origination Forecast has proven accurate to within 10 loans.

iEmergent's proprietary forecasting method is a hybrid of several traditional demand forecast models. Many variables go into these forecasts, but there are two fundamental elements: first, the Purchase Mortgage Generation Rate (PMGR), which is the rate at which an individual market produces purchase mortgages. Second, the homebuyer pool: the number of households that are ready, willing, and able to buy a home. By evaluating the relationship between each census tract's homebuyer pool and PMGR, probability theory can be applied to estimate the number of purchase mortgage loans and dollars that will be originated in that market.

Read more about iEmergent's approach to forecasting here.

About iEmergent

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and analytics to the lending, housing and real estate industries. The company offers an extensive variety of forecast and market intelligence products, including Mortgage MarketSmart, a visualization tool that helps lenders quantify how mortgage markets will change. For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com/.

iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced the availability of its 2024-2026 U.S. Mortgage Origination Forecast. Updated to reflect preliminary 2023 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data released by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council in March, iEmergent's latest projections call for modest growth in purchase originations and a gradual increase in refinance loan units and dollars as a percentage of total originations.

Related link: https://www.iemergent.com

Foster Group Recognized as a 2024 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Winner

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- On March 27, 2024, Foster Group received recognition as a 2024 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award winner. This is the seventh time Foster Group has received this award, placing them among eleven other companies to achieve this distinction. The award recognizes organizations that have created and remain dedicated to a culture of engagement at the core of their business strategy.

"The culture at Foster Group is built on the strength of all of our team members choosing to passionately rally around our vision of helping our team, our clients, and our communities experience meaningful and generous lives. This is an essential part of our day-to-day interactions," said Buck Olsen, CEO. "The foundation of our team is built upon our values of care, character, and competence. Our team embodies these values, and it shows up in the relationships we have with each other, and with the clients we have the privilege of serving."

Backed by Gallup's world-class analytics and research into high-performance workplaces, for more than a decade, Gallup has presented this honor to organizations that have proven their ability to achieve exceptionally high levels of workplace engagement by investing in their people.

Foster Group is one of just 60 total employers chosen worldwide.

PLEASE SEE IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION, ADVERTISING DISCLOSURE INFORMATION, AND THE LIMITATIONS OF ANY RANKING/RECOGNITIONS, at www.fostergrp.com/disclosures. A copy of our written disclosure Brochure as set forth on Part 2A of Form ADV is available at www.fostergrp.com. For specific details about the award, visit www.fostergrp.com/who-we-are/industry-recognition. Working with a highly-rated advisor does not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of satisfaction or performance. This award should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client.

About Foster Group Inc.

Since 1989, the team at Foster Group has been committed to helping you feel Truly Cared For®. Spanning our ownership over 3 generations of employees to help ensure client relationship continuity is just the start. Being an SEC-regulated fiduciary and our belief in fee-only compensation structures with our clients also ensures that we put your best interests first.

We believe in clients having full-access to the collective abilities of all our team members, rather than being served by just a single advisor. And, perhaps most importantly, we are committed to going beyond the portfolio, to understand the hearts and purposes of our clients.

We display our values-driven approach not just in what we say, but in how we serve our clients, our communities, and our fellow team members. By advancing our advice with science and getting the right people in the right positions, we are in constant pursuit of a better client experience.

We offer clients a full complement of financial services, including investment management for individuals and institutions, qualified retirement plan consulting and design, and advanced financial planning services.

We invite you to enter into a conversation, into our world of expertise, and into a long-lasting relationship in which we do everything within our power to live up to our promises.

Foster Group is registered as an investment adviser and only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the Commission nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability.

Learn more at: https://www.fostergrp.com/

On March 27, 2024, Foster Group received recognition as a 2024 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award winner. This is the seventh time Foster Group has received this award, placing them among eleven other companies to achieve this distinction. The award recognizes organizations that have created and remain dedicated to a culture of engagement at the core of their business strategy.

Related link: https://www.fostergrp.com/

iEmergent brings actionable mortgage market intelligence to credit unions as ACUMA affiliate member

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, announced it has joined the American Credit Union Mortgage Association (ACUMA) as an affiliate member. Since its founding nearly a quarter century ago, iEmergent has worked with credit unions and other lenders to identify missed mortgage opportunities and close gaps in market coverage. As an ACUMA affiliate, iEmergent will leverage its deep experience and award-winning technology to help the trade association's nearly 400 credit union members build and execute data-driven mortgage growth, recruitment and referral partner strategies.

Mortgage MarketSmart, iEmergent's cutting-edge market intelligence and forecasting platform, reveals mortgage opportunity down to the neighborhood level by projecting loan production metrics on maps that can be overlaid with robust external data sets like historical lending metrics, demographic and income data, real estate agent and listing intelligence, community points of interest, census tract-level opportunity forecasts and more. Mortgage MarketSmart gives credit unions everything they need to quantify and act on market growth opportunities, including diverse lending and recruiting strategies that support financial institutions' fair lending and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) obligations.

"We bring mortgage opportunities to life for credit unions, showing them exactly where their members are and where their gaps in coverage lie, and then we work hand in hand to build effective strategies for closing those gaps," said iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli. "We look forward to helping ACUMA members-all credit unions that have made a conscious investment in mortgage lending-capture more markets and, in so doing, better serve the home financing needs of members."

ACUMA is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering credit unions and credit union service organizations (CUSOs) to provide premier real estate and home loan services for their members. Its membership encompasses a diverse group including federal and state-chartered credit unions, CUSOs, mortgage insurance firms, secondary market investors, investment banking entities and technology providers specializing in mortgage lending solutions.

"It's our goal to provide credit unions with access to the best education and resources within the housing finance industry. This is supported by iEmergent's ability to identify and close market gaps in mortgage lending," stated ACUMA President Peter J. Benjamin. "We're excited to welcome iEmergent and present this valuable resource to our members."

About iEmergent

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and analytics to the lending, housing and real estate industries. The company offers an extensive variety of forecast and market intelligence products, including Mortgage MarketSmart, a visualization tool that helps lenders quantify how mortgage markets will change. For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com/.

TAGS: @iemergent @ACUMA #creditunions #housingfinance #housingequity #housingeconomy #mortgage

RELATED LINKS:

https://acuma.org/

https://www.iemergent.com/mortgage-marketsmart

iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, announced it has joined the American Credit Union Mortgage Association (ACUMA) as an affiliate member. Since its founding nearly a quarter century ago, iEmergent has worked with credit unions and other lenders to identify missed mortgage opportunities and close gaps in market coverage.

Related link: https://www.iemergent.com

Mortgage Bankers Association honors iEmergent for leadership in diversity, equity and inclusion at its Annual Convention and Expo

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, has been named the winner of the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) 2023 Residential Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Leadership Award for Market Outreach Strategies - Non-Lender. Laird Nossuli, iEmergent's CEO, accepted the award at MBA's Annual Convention & Expo today in Philadelphia.

iEmergent's software, Mortgage MarketSmart, helps mortgage lenders grow market share by identifying untapped home lending opportunities within the communities they serve. With technology that accurately models and forecasts demographic, economic and housing market trends down to the neighborhood level, iEmergent has created the only tool that helps lenders understand the home financing needs of underserved, minority and emerging markets.

"We are honored to be recognized by MBA for our efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion and look forward to continuing the work of fostering a more inclusive industry that extends more wealth-building opportunities to underserved borrowers," said Nossuli. "Our long-term vision is to help lenders change the homeownership pool so it mirrors the population of each market."

MBA is the leading trade association for the real estate finance industry. As part of MBA's multifaceted strategy and promotion of DEI, the Leadership Award for Market Outreach Strategies recognizes member company initiatives designed to increase outreach, marketing and products to attract customers from the industry's underserved market segments. The award also commends the hard work, dedication and creativity of exemplary programs promoting DEI.

"MBA received several worthy submissions [for the Residential DEI Leadership Award] this year, but iEmergent's application stood out for its clear goals and impressive metrics," said Laura Escobar, MBA chair-elect 2024 and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee chair in a written statement. "We were particularly impressed by [its] efforts in improving our industry and the communities we serve. It is apparent that these programs are positively impacting organizational culture."

About iEmergent:

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and analytics to the lending, housing and real estate industries. The company offers an extensive variety of forecast and market intelligence products, including Mortgage MarketSmart, a visualization tool that helps lenders quantify how mortgage markets will change. For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com.

For media queries, contact Depth: https://depthpr.com/contact-us/

DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 15, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, has been named the winner of the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) 2023 Residential Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Leadership Award for Market Outreach Strategies - Non-Lender. Laird Nossuli, iEmergent's CEO, accepted the award at MBA's Annual Convention & Expo today in Philadelphia.

Related link: https://www.iemergent.com

WHO 13 News Spotlights Stride Autism Centers’ ABA Therapy Services During Autism Acceptance Month

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- As part of its Autism Acceptance Month efforts, WHO 13 News - Des Moines's local NBC station - sat down with Brad Zelinger, Founder and CEO at Stride Autism Centers. Not only did they discuss the new Stride location opening up in Des Moines, but Zelinger and Anchor, Erin Kiernan, also explored effective treatment for kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

At the top of the interview, they discussed Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy, which Zelinger described as the "Gold Standard" in treatment for individuals with autism. He explained that at Stride, they use ABA to customize a treatment plan to help young children overcome their unique challenges.

Kiernan shared that her own son attends an ABA program. Her primary takeaway, she said, was that she often observes her son and other children playing as part of the program.

"The most effective therapy is when it's fun," Zelinger explained. He said that Stride Autism Centers specializes in supporting children ages 2-6. "They're really young and they should be playing and having a good time, and there's a lot of research supporting that. The more fun kids are having, the more engaged they are in those skill-building exercises," he said.

Zelinger also shared how the founding of Stride was born of his experiences with his older sister, Marissa, who has Rett syndrome, a severe autism-related disorder. "Knowing that there was a type of therapy that could make a huge difference and change the arc of someone's life, and not only for them but for their whole family, I decided to leave my old career in the business world to build something that would make an impact."

The result is Stride Autism Centers, which currently operates sixteen centers throughout Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska, with new locations in the works. One of them, in particular, will be opening right in the heart of Des Moines. This will be the fourth Stride location in the greater Des Moines area.

"I'm really motivated to bring this type of care to communities in need," Zelinger said as the interview wrapped up.

To learn more about ABA therapy and Stride's various centers, visit https://stridecenters.com/.

About Stride Autism Centers:

Stride Autism Centers is a mission-driven organization that provides evidence-based ABA therapy to children with autism ages 2 to 6. Stride has numerous locations throughout Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. Stride's full-day program combines structured one-on-one therapy with naturalistic group activities. It is designed to assist with communication, emotional regulation, school readiness, social skills, self-care, play and leisure, and transitioning skills.

Families interested in learning more can contact Stride Autism Centers at 312-554-5578 (Illinois) or 515-207-5251 (Iowa and Nebraska), or visit the Stride website at https://stridecenters.com/.

As part of its Autism Acceptance Month efforts, WHO 13 News - Des Moines's local NBC station - sat down with Brad Zelinger, Founder and CEO at Stride Autism Centers. Not only did they discuss the new Stride location opening up in Des Moines, but Zelinger and Anchor, Erin Kiernan, also explored effective treatment for kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Related link: https://stridecenters.com/

iEmergent shares top takeaways from 2022 HMDA data

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced the immediate availability of 2022 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data in Mortgage MarketSmart. To celebrate providing lenders with early access to HMDA reporting, iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli shared summary observations drawn from the loan-level origination data.

Top takeaways from 2022 HMDA data:

1. The last 12 months saw the U.S. mortgage market sliced in half.

While it comes as no surprise that lenders originated far fewer loans in 2022 than in 2021, HMDA data illuminates just how steep the dropoff was. Purchase units fell 19% and refinance (refi) units fell 70% year over year. Altogether, the market saw a combined 50.6% drop in purchase and refi units.

2. IMBs continue to carry a heavy load.

In 2022, independent mortgage banks (IMBs) represented just 20% of all U.S. lending institutions, yet they accounted for 58% of purchase and refi units and 56% of purchase and refi dollars originated. By comparison, credit unions were 33% of all lending institutions but represented just 9% of purchase and refi units and 7% of purchase and refi dollars. Banks were 47% of all lending institutions but represented 34% of purchase and refi units and 38% of purchase and refi dollars.

3. Credit unions are still playing catch-up in the pivot to purchase.

Purchase originations dominated in 2022, accounting for 62% of purchase and refi units and 68% of purchase and refi dollar volume industry-wide. But while banks and IMBs have crossed the threshold from mostly-refi to mostly-purchase, refi transactions still accounted for a majority (55%) of loan units originated by credit unions.

4. Select lenders are holding their own in a challenging market.

In 2022's contracting mortgage market, some lenders managed to turn lemons into lemonade. Seven of the year's top overall lenders by unit volume were new to the top 20, as were eight of the year's top overall lenders by dollar volume. Slicing the data by loan purpose shakes up the top 20 considerably, with IMBs taking 14 of the top 20 spots for purchase originations, IMBs and banks splitting the top 20 almost evenly for refi originations, and banks and credit unions dominating the top 20 for home improvement loans.

5. Buyers are borrowing more than ever.

The average size of a purchase loan increased 7.7% year over year from $337,813 in 2021 to $363,978 in 2022, outpacing overall inflation (*SEE NOTE 1) and exacerbating challenges to housing accessibility and affordability.

"In the current mortgage market, lenders face adversity and opportunity in almost equal measure - a story that is borne out in the latest HMDA data," said Nossuli. "iEmergent's Mortgage MarketSmart brings this story to life and puts it into actionable context with rich maps and forecasts that quantify a lender's market gaps all the way down to the neighborhood level."

HMDA data shows lenders how they stack up against peers

The integration of 2022 HMDA data into Mortgage MarketSmart, iEmergent's industry-first market visualization platform, makes it easy for lenders to compare their performance against competitors' across numerous categories including:

* Purchase origination units and dollars
* Refi origination units and dollars
* Borrower race
* Borrower ethnicity
* Loan type (conventional, jumbo, government)
* Borrower income (low, moderate, middle, upper)

By blending current HMDA data with historical market analysis and highly reliable forecasting, Mortgage MarketSmart gives lenders everything they need to quantify and act on market growth opportunities, including diverse lending and recruiting strategies that support financial institutions' fair lending and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) obligations. In fact, a comparison of iEmergent's U.S. Mortgage Origination Forecast against HMDA actuals shows that iEmergent predicted overall 2022 purchase originations with an accuracy over 99%.

To subscribe to Mortgage MarketSmart and gain access to 2022 HMDA data, request a demo.

About iEmergent

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and analytics to the lending, housing and real estate industries. The company offers an extensive variety of forecast and market intelligence products, including Mortgage MarketSmart, a visualization tool that helps lenders quantify how mortgage markets will change.

For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com.

CITATION:

*NOTE 1: https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2023/consumer-price-index-2022-in-review.htm#:~:text=Consumer%20prices%20for%20all%20items,December%202021%20to%20December%202022

iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced the immediate availability of 2022 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data in Mortgage MarketSmart. To celebrate providing lenders with early access to HMDA reporting, iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli shared summary observations drawn from the loan-level origination data.

Related link: https://www.iemergent.com

Stride Autism Centers and Blank Children’s Hospital Host Successful Free Workshop Series for Autism Caregivers

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- On March 22, 2023, Stride Autism Centers and Blank Children's Hospital co-hosted a free workshop to help caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The "Orientation to Autism Diagnosis and Treatment" event was designed to provide essential information for parents and other caregivers, with the aim of helping them navigate the challenges of caring for a child with ASD. The workshop was held both in-person and online to ensure optimal accessibility for attendees.

During the event, ASD experts from Stride and Blank Children's Hospital shared their knowledge on key areas, including navigating autism diagnostic assessments, the post-diagnosis applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy assessment and treatment process, and strategies to implement at home while on a waitlist. The content was tailored for caregivers in the early stages of navigating an ASD diagnosis or suspected autism.

This workshop was the first in a series of planned events between Stride Autism Centers and Blank Children's Hospital. Both organizations are committed to providing ongoing resources and care for children with ASD and their caregivers throughout Iowa.

"We are proud to work alongside Blank Children's Hospital to support families navigating an ASD diagnosis," said Brad Zellinger, CEO & Founder of Stride Autism Centers. "By offering these workshops, we hope to empower caregivers with the knowledge and tools they need to provide the best possible care for their child."

Stride Autism Centers is a mission-driven organization that provides evidence-based ABA therapy to children with autism ages 2 to 6. With numerous locations throughout Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska, Stride's full-day program combines structured one-on-one therapy with naturalistic group activities to assist with communication, emotional regulation, school readiness, social skills, self-care, play and leisure, and transitioning skills.

To learn more about Stride Autism Centers and its services, interested families can contact Stride at 312-554-5578 (Illinois) or 515-207-5251 (Iowa and Nebraska), or visit stridecenters.com.

About Stride Autism Centers:

Stride Autism Centers is a mission-driven organization that provides evidence-based ABA therapy to children with autism ages 2 to 6. Stride has numerous locations throughout Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. Stride's full-day program combines structured one-on-one therapy with naturalistic group activities. It is designed to assist with communication, emotional regulation, school readiness, social skills, self-care, play and leisure, and transitioning skills. Families interested in learning more can contact Stride Autism Centers at 312-554-5578 (Illinois) or 515-207-5251 (Iowa and Nebraska).

Learn more at https://stridecenters.com/

On March 22, 2023, Stride Autism Centers and Blank Children's Hospital co-hosted a free workshop to help caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The "Orientation to Autism Diagnosis and Treatment" event was designed to provide essential information for parents and other caregivers, with the aim of helping them navigate the challenges of caring for a child with ASD.

Related link: https://stridecenters.com/

iEmergent’s Laird Nossuli honored with National Mortgage Professional Magazine’s 2023 Women of Inspiration award

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced that its CEO Laird Nossuli was recognized by National Mortgage Professional (NMP) as one of its 2023 Women of Inspiration. The awards program highlights female visionaries who are paving the way for the next generation of women in mortgage lending.

Driven by her passion for closing the racial homeownership gap and increasing homeownership across the board, Nossuli oversees iEmergent projects that empower lenders to meet the home financing needs of historically underserved minority markets. She is best known for guiding the development of Mortgage MarketSmart, the industry's only market intelligence and forecasting platform specifically designed to map the movement and growth of diverse communities.

Nossuli's extensive experience helping lenders meet the needs of underserved homebuyers has made her a respected thought leader in the fields of housing diversity and affordable lending. One of her most notable achievements in the past year was hosting and moderating a free special purpose credit program (SPCP) workshop that educated attendees about SPCP development and qualified for credit toward the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) designation.

"As a mother and wife, as well as a fintech leader, I'm well aware of the unique challenges women face in the male-dominated mortgage industry," said Nossuli. "For that reason, I am deeply passionate about helping my fellow women and the industry as a whole succeed with tools that help overlooked families build wealth through homeownership."

The 2023 Women of Inspiration are featured in the March 2023 issue of NMP Magazine and online at https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/.

About iEmergent:

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and analytics to the lending, housing and real estate industries. The company offers an extensive variety of forecast and market intelligence products, including Mortgage MarketSmart, a visualization tool that helps lenders quantify how mortgage markets will change.

For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com.

iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced that its CEO Laird Nossuli was recognized by National Mortgage Professional (NMP) as one of its 2023 Women of Inspiration. The awards program highlights female visionaries who are paving the way for the next generation of women in mortgage lending.

Related link: https://www.iemergent.com

iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli honored in National Mortgage Professional’s 2023 Industry Titans awards program

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced that National Mortgage Professional (NMP) has selected Laird Nossuli to its inaugural list of 2023 Industry Titans - a new award program honoring housing leaders who represent the mortgage industry with professionalism and pride.

NMP recognized Nossuli for her work developing iEmergent's market intelligence and forecasting technology, which helps lenders find untapped areas of mortgage opportunity in both existing and emerging markets. After taking over as CEO of iEmergent in 2014, Nossuli broke new ground with the development of Mortgage MarketSmart, the only solution specifically designed to help mortgage lenders locate, understand and meet the needs of racially and ethnically diverse markets.

A trusted voice in the mortgage technology landscape, Nossuli is also regularly invited to share her expertise on data intelligence, market forecasting and strategies for closing the racial and ethnic homeownership gap at industry conferences, webinars and affordable housing workgroups.

"I joined the mortgage industry because I was driven to help lenders better understand the barriers to homeownership that have disproportionately affected majority-minority and low-to-moderate income communities for decades," said Nossuli. "As a 2023 Industry Titan, I hope to inspire even more mortgage professionals to overcome these barriers and create accessible paths to homeownership with data-driven, community-focused tools and strategies."

The 2023 Industry Titans will be showcased in the January 2023 issue of National Mortgage Professional Magazine. The full list of honorees is also available online at https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/news/meet-nmp-2023-titans-industry.

About iEmergent

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and analytics to the lending, housing and real estate industries. The company offers an extensive variety of forecast and market intelligence products, including Mortgage MarketSmart, a visualization tool that helps lenders quantify how mortgage markets will change. For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com/.

iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced that National Mortgage Professional (NMP) has selected Laird Nossuli to its inaugural list of 2023 Industry Titans - a new award program honoring housing leaders who represent the mortgage industry with professionalism and pride.

Related link: https://www.iemergent.com

Technology Association of Iowa selects iEmergent as a 2022 Prometheus Award winner

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced that it has been named the 2022 FinTech & InsurTech Company of the Year in the Technology Association of Iowa's (TAI's) annual Prometheus Awards program.

The Prometheus Awards unite innovators and leaders from technology, business, education and government to celebrate each year's most momentous achievements in Iowa's technology industry. TAI recognized the award finalists and announced final winners at the Prometheus Awards ceremony on November 3, at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Des Moines.

Founded 22 years ago, iEmergent is an advisory and technology firm dedicated to helping mortgage lenders grow business by better understanding the home financing needs of the communities they serve. With the power to accurately model demographic, economic and housing market trends against lenders' own production data at the neighborhood level, iEmergent is the only technology that helps lenders identify gaps in sales coverage, serve racially diverse communities and expand into new markets.

"As an Iowa-based family business, iEmergent is committed to investing in its home state while helping lenders nationwide grow business and provide more homeownership opportunities to underserved markets," said Laird Nossuli, CEO of iEmergent. "It is an honor to be recognized by TAI for our organization's impact on the state's technology industry."

To view the full list of 2022 Prometheus Awards winners and finalists, visit: https://www.technologyiowa.org/prometheus/.

About iEmergent:

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and analytics to the lending, housing and real estate industries. The company offers an extensive variety of forecast and market intelligence products, including Mortgage MarketSmart, a visualization tool that helps lenders quantify how mortgage markets will change. For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com.

iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced that it has been named the 2022 FinTech & InsurTech Company of the Year in the Technology Association of Iowa's (TAI's) annual Prometheus Awards program.

Related link: https://www.iemergent.com

iEmergent’s Laird Nossuli recognized by Mortgage Banker Magazine as 2022 Powerful Women of Mortgage Banking honoree

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced that CEO Laird Nossuli was recognized as a 2022 Powerful Women of Mortgage Banking honoree by Mortgage Banker Magazine. The annual award spotlights women who have made an indelible impact on the mortgage industry and are fostering the next generation of women leaders in housing finance.

Nossuli was recognized for leading the development of iEmergent's software, Mortgage MarketSmart, which helps mortgage lenders grow market share by identifying home lending opportunities within the communities they serve. With technology that accurately models and forecasts demographic, economic and housing market trends down to the neighborhood level, Nossuli has created the only tool that helps lenders understand the home financing needs of underserved, minority and emerging markets.

Nosulli's passion for housing equity, her ability to pinpoint opportunities to serve minority communities and her extensive collaboration with housing affordability workgroups have made her one of the industry's most sought-after speakers on serving diverse markets. Nossuli currently sits on two committees for CONVERGENCE Columbus, a cross-sector partnership led by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) that is focused on increasing minority homeownership in Columbus, Ohio. She also partners with the MBA on CONVERGENCE initiatives in other cities.

"As a female CEO of a company founded on the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, I get the opportunity to lead by example and, hopefully, empower more women to join the mortgage and fintech industries," Nossuli said. "I'm truly honored to be named as one of the 2022 Powerful Women of Banking and hope to continue the work of fostering a more inclusive industry that extends more wealth-building opportunities to minority borrowers."

The full list of 2022 Powerful Women of Mortgage Banking honorees can be viewed online in the October 2022 issue of Mortgage Banker Magazine.

About iEmergent:

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and analytics to the lending, housing and real estate industries. The company offers an extensive variety of forecast and market intelligence products, including Mortgage MarketSmart, a visualization tool that helps lenders quantify how mortgage markets will change. For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com/.

iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced that CEO Laird Nossuli was recognized as a 2022 Powerful Women of Mortgage Banking honoree by Mortgage Banker Magazine. The annual award spotlights women who have made an indelible impact on the mortgage industry and are fostering the next generation of women leaders in housing finance.

Related link: https://www.iemergent.com

iEmergent’s Special Purpose Credit Programs (SPCP) workshop will prepare mortgage bankers to launch their own diverse lending initiatives

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, will host a virtual workshop on Special Purpose Credit Programs (SPCPs) on Wednesday, November 9, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET. Through roundtable discussion and a hands-on practicum, "Tapping the Potential of SPCPs: A Hands-on Workshop for Mortgage Lenders" will give attendees the skills and confidence necessary to develop and launch successful SPCPs while earning points toward their Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) designation from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).

SPCPs are lending programs designed to give preferential lending terms to groups of people, like people of color and women, who would otherwise receive less favorable terms or altogether be excluded from access to credit.

Hosted by iEmergent, the November 9 event will feature input from a diverse array of subject-matter experts, including:

* Mosi Gatling, Sales Manager, loanDepot
* Jason Fraley, SVP & Community Lending Director, Huntington Bank
* Evan Zuverink, CRA Officer, First Commonwealth Bank
* Lindsay Cannaday, Vice President/Business Development Director, GreenState Credit Union
* Gabe del Rio, President & CEO, Homeownership Council of America
* Olivia Kelman, Partner, K&L Gates
* Rob Chrane, Founder & CEO, Down Payment Resource
* Laird Nossuli, CEO, iEmergent

Panelists will provide a comprehensive look into SPCPs - what they are, how lenders can deploy them to help close the racial homeownership gap and tactics for successful SPCP planning, implementation and measurement - using real examples from successful SPCP programs. The workshop will end with a Q&A session, giving attendees the opportunity to request personalized advice for building and optimizing their own SPCP initiatives.

"The government-sponsored enterprises have made addressing the longstanding racial homeownership gap a top priority, and SPCPs give lenders a unique opportunity to engage in the enterprises' equitable housing initiatives," said Nossuli. "By uncovering how to leverage SPCPs to expand credit opportunities among those impacted by discrimination, our virtual workshop will help lenders maintain purchase volume and level the playing field for underserved, would-be borrowers."

To register for iEmergent's virtual SPCP workshop on November 9 from 12 PM to 2 PM ET, visit: https://www.iemergent.com/spcp-workshop.

About iEmergent:

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and analytics to the lending, housing and real estate industries. The company offers an extensive variety of forecast and market intelligence products, including Mortgage MarketSmart, a visualization tool that helps lenders quantify how mortgage markets will change. For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com/.

iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, will host a virtual workshop on Special Purpose Credit Programs (SPCPs) on Wednesday, November 9: "Tapping the Potential of SPCPs: A Hands-on Workshop for Mortgage Lenders."

Related link: https://www.iemergent.com

EPIC Expands Life and Executive Benefits Platform with Acquisition of The National Benefit Corp

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants ("EPIC") announced today that it has acquired The National Benefit Corp ("TNBC"). The acquisition further expands EPIC's geographic footprint in the Midwest across its life insurance, executive benefits, and financial advisory distribution businesses under the Vanbridge Life and Executive Benefits umbrella. The transaction continues to broaden the reach of EPIC's current Life and Executive Benefits practice and provides TNBC with an expanded and complementary portfolio of products and resources to facilitate growth and enhance client service.

Founded in 1977, TNBC is a full-service insurance marketing organization and a trusted insurance and annuity partner for advisors across the country. TNBC offers advisors a diverse line of financial products including Life, Long-Term Care and Disability Income insurance along with a specialization in Annuity solutions. The current leadership team of TNBC, including President John Gilbert, will remain intact upon joining the EPIC organization. Gilbert also serves as Chair of the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA).

"Over the last 45 years, TNBC has become a leader in delivering personal relationships and independent life and annuity solutions to our incredible customers. Through this new partnership with EPIC and Vanbridge, we are very excited to be able to offer a more robust suite of solutions and best in class expertise to enhance our long-standing customer relationships," said Gilbert.

"I am fortunate to have known John Gilbert and Tom Kirke for the last decade and am very excited to welcome the team at TNBC into our collaborative organization," said Tom Bellig, EPIC Life and Executive Benefits and Managing Principal of Vanbridge.

"TNBC has cultivated a great reputation of performance within their specialty and this acquisition is an excellent opportunity for us to build on that success and drive growth - together," concluded Mitchell K. Smith, EPIC Life and Executive Benefits and Managing Principal of Vanbridge.

About EPIC Brokers & Consultants:

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants has more than 2,800 team members operating from more than 80 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs, and Private Client solutions to EPIC clients. Visit: https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

About Vanbridge Life and Executive Benefits:

Vanbridge's Life and Executive Benefits division provides coordinated advice about insurance planning, executive benefits, estate, tax, distributions, business succession, and other related financial matters. Clients rely on its team to identify relevant areas of risk, ask clarifying and exploratory questions to identify goals, generate custom solutions and manage the implementation in conjunction with their legal and tax advisors, when applicable. Vanbridge's infrastructure, tools, services, and strategies cater to RIAs, Family Offices, CPA firms and financial service professionals and institutions. It has assembled a distinguished interdisciplinary team that combines the best in life and annuity, capital markets, tax and legal expertise. A true independent firm with offices and leadership across the country, Vanbridge provides objective access to the world's leading carriers across life insurance, annuities, disability income, long-term care and linked benefits. Visit: https://www.vanbridge.com/.

About TNBC:

The National Benefit Corp. (TNBC) is a full-service insurance marketing organization focused on providing extraordinary service and building quality relationships with our customer, the financial services professional. TNBC streamlines the business of its customers using proprietary technology platforms and through extraordinary personal service. Life insurance, annuities, long term care and disability income insurance are the primary products that we use to strengthen the financial futures of our clients. Visit: https://www.tnbc.com/

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants ("EPIC") announced today that it has acquired The National Benefit Corp ("TNBC"). The acquisition further expands EPIC's geographic footprint in the Midwest across its life insurance, executive benefits, and financial advisory distribution businesses under the Vanbridge Life and Executive Benefits umbrella.

Related link: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

Change Course is a tuition-free career and community development program designed to educate and empower those living in poverty

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- The objective of Change Course is to provide program participants (referred to as "leaders") with stronger life and career skills. Through personal development courses and career-focused training, this six-month program aims to provide "leaders" connections to a network of business partners and higher-paying job opportunities.

Joseph Johnson, a recently retired business leader in the Des Moines community for over 25 years, along with his wife Karin, have opened the doors to Change Course. Joseph was incarcerated at a younger age, but was able to rebuild his life and establish a meaningful career, which he attributes to his faith, family and support from a community of caring people. This experience is what fuels Joe's passion to help people achieve personal and economic success in the face of adversity.

"Earlier in life, I was incarcerated for poor choices I made and while incarcerated, I got to know many men who struggled to enter the workforce-not from lack of desire, but the lack of opportunity, quality education, and support from healthy community," Joseph said. "I feel compelled by my relationship with Christ to step up and pay forward what was done for me to help develop a loving community around the people we plan to serve."

A video of Joe talking about his vision can be found at https://change-course.org.

ABOUT CHANGE COURSE:

Change Course is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed in 2022 to assist families living in poverty to remove the barriers such as inadequate education, poor support network, inability to navigate existing programs, etc. that are keeping them from emerging out of poverty and becoming self-sufficient. Change Course provides training, support, and connections to a network of other partners (such as educational and employment opportunities) to support program participants in their journey out of poverty.

Change Course has established relationships to facilitate career focused training with Iowa Works, the Evelyn K. Davis Center, Des Moines Area Community College, as well as other like-minded non-profit organizations. More information and opportunities to donate can be found at the website: https://change-course.org.

Change Course is part of the Cross Purpose Network, along with three similar non-profit organizations across the country serving a similar mission:

* Cross Purpose* - Denver, CO

* UpRise - Nashville, TN

* Summit Career Center - Stevensville, MT

* Neighborhood - Chesapeake, VA

*Cross Purpose has been successfully serving their community and building successful leaders for 10 years, and is the primary model for Change Course and all the organizations in the Cross Purpose Network.

2500 University Ave, Ste 311, Des Moines, IA 50311

https://change-course.org/

Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/changecourseiowa

https://www.instagram.com/changecourseiowa/

https://twitter.com/changecourseia

YOUTUBE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/CW6SqnEQUVg

The objective of Change Course is to provide program participants (referred to as "leaders") with stronger life and career skills. Through personal development courses and career-focused training, this six-month program aims to provide "leaders" connections to a network of business partners and higher-paying job opportunities.

Related link: https://change-course.org/

iEmergent appoints Chris Richey as Chief Analytics Officer

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced the appointment of Chris Richey as chief analytics officer. In this role, Richey will oversee and expand upon iEmergent's data analytics capabilities, which help mortgage lenders identify gaps in sales coverage and effectively expand into new markets.

Richey, who first joined iEmergent in a consulting capacity in 2016, has been instrumental in building out the data and information technology (IT) frameworks supporting the firm's external Mortgage MarketSmart and internal business intelligence (BI) platforms. With this infrastructure in place, Richey will next turn his attention to enhancing the analytics engine and statistical models that power iEmergent's market-leading data insights.

"Chris' combination of mathematics, economics and IT expertise is quite rare, but what's even more exceptional is his commitment to applying those skills to affect positive change," said iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli. "For years, iEmergent's data has pointed to diversity in lending as not only the right thing to do for our communities, but also a business imperative for lenders. Chris will play an integral role in advancing our ability to put this imperative into context for individual lenders so they can turn insight into action and measurable growth."

Before joining iEmergent, Richey was a data analyst in the IT business unit of a Fortune 100 government contractor. His work synthesizing and analyzing some of the largest healthcare databases in the United States helped guide Medicare's implementation of regulatory programs designed to improve the quality and lower the cost of healthcare for millions of Americans. Later, during the COVID pandemic, Richey was part of a task force that tracked nursing home outbreaks of COVID-19 and applied data sourced from multiple agencies to coordinate the delivery of training, supplies and vaccinations.

Earlier in his career, Richey worked as a quantitative analyst within the financing arm of a Fortune 100 equipment manufacturer, where he built statistical models for managing credit risk, conducted regulatory compliance stress testing and leveraged his background in IT to create a unified framework for consolidating and reporting data across the global organization.

Richey is a graduate of Iowa State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics and math and a master's degree in economics.

About iEmergent:

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and analytics to the lending, housing and real estate industries. The company offers an extensive variety of forecast and market intelligence products, including Mortgage MarketSmart, a visualization tool that helps lenders quantify how mortgage markets will change. For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com.

Twitter: @iemergent #housingfinance

iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced the appointment of Chris Richey as chief analytics officer. In this role, Richey will oversee and expand upon iEmergent's data analytics capabilities, which help mortgage lenders identify gaps in sales coverage and effectively expand into new markets.

Related link: https://www.iemergent.com

Stride’s Evidence-Based Autism Therapy Now Available at Four Iowa Locations

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- Stride Autism Centers ("Stride"), a mission-driven provider of evidence-based therapy for children with autism, today announced that it has expanded to serve families at four centers throughout Iowa. Stride is now actively enrolling clients at all four locations, including Clive and Johnston in the Des Moines metro area, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport in the Quad Cities.

Stride's clinical team specializes in Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA therapy - the most rigorously studied "gold standard" of treatment for individuals with autism. All of Stride's centers exclusively serve preschool-age children (ages 2-6) and utilize 1:1 therapist-to-child ratios to provide individualized support during the most critical years of child development.

Every child at Stride has a highly customized treatment plan developed by Board Certified Behavior Analysts and overseen by a dually credentialed clinical psychologist/BCBA-D.

"Stride's mission to provide the best possible support to children with autism and their families is deeply personal to me," said Brad Zelinger, Stride's Founder and CEO. "My sister has an autism-related disorder called Rett Syndrome. She is nonverbal, and requires substantial support in everyday activities. I founded Stride so individuals like her can get the effective therapy they need as early as possible to live more independent, joyous lives. As a Midwesterner myself, I'm particularly motivated to bring Stride's services to underserved communities throughout the Midwest."

"Decades of research demonstrating the effectiveness of early intervention for children with autism underly our decision to specialize in the early treatment of young learners," said Dr. Ashley Whittington-Barnish, PhD, LCP, BCBA-D, NCSP, Stride's Clinical Director and University Chair of ABA at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

"Our mission-driven team is incredibly motivated by Stride's unwavering commitment to meaningful outcomes. We're grateful that our singular focus on the highest quality care has allowed us to attract outstanding clinical leaders and therapists alike," Dr. Whittington-Barnish added.

About Stride Autism Centers

With center-based programs throughout the Midwest, Stride Autism Centers is a mission-driven provider of Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA therapy, to preschool-age children with autism. Stride can help with communication, social skills, self-care, school readiness, play and leisure, transitioning and emotional regulation. Prospective families can call 515-207-5251 (Iowa) or 312-554-5578 (Chicagoland) or visit Stride's website at https://stridecenters.com/.

*PHOTO LINK for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/21-0506s2p-stride-center-300dpi.jpg

*Caption: Stride Autism Centers in South Loop, Chicago

Stride Autism Centers ("Stride"), a mission-driven provider of evidence-based therapy for children with autism, today announced that it has expanded to serve families at four centers throughout Iowa. Stride is now actively enrolling clients at all four locations, including Clive and Johnston in the Des Moines metro area, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport in the Quad Cities.

Related link: https://stridecenters.com/