Tag: Plano Business
Cooler Interest Rates Heat Up Refinances and Spark Early Signs of Purchase Demand
PLANO, Texas, April 8, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue today released its March 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report, showing a 24% surge in rate lock volume as early spring buyers returned to the market and homeowners jumped at the chance to refinance into lower rates. While still down 2% on a year-over-year (YoY) basis, purchase volumes were up 21% month-over-month (MoM). Rate-and-term and cash-out refinances jumped 52% and 20% MoM, respectively, together representing 25% of all lock activity.
Iowa Soccer Taps Stack Tourney to Power Its Events and Expand its Partnership with Stack Sports
PLANO, Texas, April 2, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Stack Tourney, a Stack Sports Company, is excited to announce that Iowa Soccer Association has expanded its partnership with Stack Sports by adopting the Stack Tourney platform to streamline and enhance tournament management for its festival/cup events. Iowa Soccer will leverage Stack Tourney to support tournaments such as the League America Festival, which has recently opened registration and takes place May 2-4.
Optimal Blue’s Shawn Chandwani Named to HousingWire’s 2025 Rising Star List
PLANO, Texas, April 1, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue today announced that Senior Software Engineering Manager Shawn Chandwani, 34, has been named among HousingWire's Rising Stars. The annual list celebrates young professionals who shoulder significant leadership responsibilities and contribute to the broader industry and business landscape, establishing themselves as influential figures and leaders for tomorrow.
Optimal Blue Establishes Alliance with Cotality to Expand the Reach of Its Mortgage Origination and Pricing Data
PLANO, Texas, March 27, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue today announced a strategic alliance with Cotality™ (formerly CoreLogic®) that expands access to its mortgage origination and pricing data. Through this collaboration, Cotality will offer Optimal Blue's data to a broader audience, including hedge funds, capital markets participants, and investment firms seeking insights into the mortgage markets.
40% Jump in Rate-and-Term Refis Drives Overall Lock Growth as Purchase Activity Stalls
PLANO, Texas, March 11, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue today released its February 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report, showing a 7% month-over-month increase in mortgage lock volume driven primarily by a surge in refinance activity. Rate-and-term refinances saw the biggest jump, rising nearly 40% as homeowners seized the opportunity to lower their monthly payments. Cash-out refinances also edged higher, while purchase lock activity remained subdued for the second consecutive month.
January Mortgage Lock Data Shows Year-Over-Year Improvement in Refinance Volume Despite Higher Rates
PLANO, Texas, Feb. 13, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue today released its January 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report, revealing a sharp rise in year-over-year (YoY) refinance activity alongside a drop in purchase lock counts. The decline in purchase lock counts marks the lowest January count since Optimal Blue began tracking this data in 2019. Meanwhile, refinance lock volume surged even though the Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices (OBMMI) 30-year ticked above 7% for the first time since May.
Celebrating Youth Sports Heroes: Stack Sports Names Winners of the 2024 Stack MVP Awards
PLANO, Texas, Feb. 7, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Stack Sports, the trusted leader in sports management technology, is honored to share the stories of 27 extraordinary individuals whose dedication and passion for youth sports have left a lasting impact on their communities. The Stack MVP Awards shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes of sports-coaches, volunteers, officials, athletes, and leaders.
December Mortgage Lock Data Reveals Year-Over-Year Increases Across All Loan Types Despite Seasonal Downturn
PLANO, Texas, Jan. 14, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue today released its December 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, showcasing year-over-year (YoY) growth in mortgage activity, even as seasonal trends led to a month-over-month (MoM) decline in rate lock volumes. Overall, December mortgage lock volume was up 26% YoY, driven by an 18% increase in purchase locks, a 43% rise in cash-out refinances, and an 82% jump in rate-and-term refinances.
New Mexico Youth Soccer Association Renews Longstanding Partnership with Sports Connect to Drive Soccer Forward
PLANO, Texas, and ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Jan. 8, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- New Mexico Youth Soccer Association (NMYSA), the governing body for US Youth Soccer in New Mexico, is proud to announce an extended multi-year partnership with Sports Connect powered by Stack Sports. As the Exclusive Technology, Online Registration, and League Management Provider, Sports Connect will continue delivering innovative solutions for NMYSA, affiliated clubs, and leagues, empowering administrators, coaches, families, and players to thrive on and off the field.
Stack Sports Teams Up with Gridiron Football to Drive the Sport of Flag Football Forward
PLANO, Texas, Dec. 23, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Stack Sports, the leading provider of sports management solutions, is excited to announce its renewed partnership with Gridiron Football, a national leader in youth non-contact football. As part of our partnership, Sports Connect will continue to serve as a preferred registration and website provider of Gridiron Football leagues across the United States.
Mortgage Lock Activity Fell in November as Interest Rates Hit Their Highest Levels Since July
PLANO, Texas, Dec. 10, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue today released its November 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, highlighting a 25% decrease in month-over-month (MoM) lock volume as interest rates hit their highest levels since early July, creating headwinds for affordability. Purchase lock volume was down 21% MoM, while cash-out and rate-and-term refinance volumes fell 20% and 50%, respectively.
Optimal Blue Announces Tony Hawk, Housing Industry Leaders to Headline Inaugural User Conference
PLANO, Texas, Dec. 5, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue today announced the speaker lineup for its inaugural user conference, the Optimal Blue Summit 2025. Legendary skateboarder and entrepreneur Tony Hawk will headline the event. The conference will also feature sessions led by Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research and Business Development Michael Fratantoni, Ph.D., MBA Associate Vice President of Secondary and Capital Markets Sasha Hewlett, AMP, HousingWire Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler, and representatives from Microsoft.
October Mortgage Lock Data Shows Resilience and Cracks in the Mortgage Market as Interest Rates Tick up 65 Basis Points
PLANO, Texas, Nov. 12, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue today released its October 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, highlighting resilient purchase activity in the face of rising interest rates and affordability challenges. Despite a 65-basis-point (bps) increase in the Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices (OBMMI) 30-year conforming rate, purchase lock volume grew by 12% month over month (MoM), signaling strong demand among homebuyers.
Optimal Blue Promotes Industry Experts to New Executive Roles to Accelerate Innovation and Prioritize Partnerships
PLANO, Texas, Nov. 11, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue today announced two key executive promotions that will position the company to deliver innovation faster across the company's entire capital markets platform, and to further expand the company's network of partners. Erin Wester has been promoted to chief product officer and Mike Vough has been promoted to head of corporate strategy.
Rate-and-Term Refinance Locks Surge 700% Over Previous Year Following the FOMC’s September Interest Rate Reduction
PLANO, Texas, Oct. 8, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue today released its September 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which found a 50% month-over-month (MoM) increase in rate-and-term refinance activity as people who purchased homes in recent years jumped at the opportunity to lower their interest rates and mortgage payments. While the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) lowered its target federal funds rate by 50 bps on Sept. 18, the market had already priced in a portion of the rate reduction, leading to a full month of increased refinance activity in September.
Optimal Blue Expands Expertise, Market Leadership With Launch of Two In-House Podcasts
PLANO, Texas, Oct. 1, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue announced the release of two in-house podcasts that extend the reach of the company's capital markets experience and expertise built over its decades as the technology leader in its space. The Optimal Insights podcast and video, which will be released weekly, will provide timely analyses of market factors impacting loan originators and capital markets professionals.
Optimal Blue Rolls Out Innovations in New UI, Gen AI, Originator Capabilities and New No-Cost Solutions
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today announced its extensive plans for innovation across its complete capital markets technology ecosystem leading up to its Optimal Blue Summit, where innovations will be unveiled live. New capabilities will be introduced into the core platform beginning in mid-September and continuing through the Optimal Blue Summit, a national user conference being held in San Diego in February.
Rate-and-Term Refinances Surge 109% MoM in August as Mortgage Rates Decline
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today released its August 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which reveals an overall 1% rise in rate lock volume despite the typical seasonal slowdown in purchase lending. Lock volume growth was driven by a surge in refinance activity as homeowners reacted to declining mortgage rates.
Optimal Blue to Host Inaugural Industry Summit February 3-5, 2025
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today announced it will host its inaugural Optimal Blue Summit from February 3-5, 2025, at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. Set against the scenic backdrop of San Diego Bay, the Optimal Blue Summit 2025 will bring together clients from across primary and secondary mortgage networks to connect, learn, and share best practices for pricing and profitability.
July Refinance Activity Hits Highest Levels Since September 2022
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today released its July 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which revealed that mortgage refinance demand surged to levels not seen since September 2022 amid softening interest rates. The lower interest rates seen in July also coaxed increased purchase activity, which, combined with greater refi activity, drove a 3.5% month-over-month (MoM) increase in mortgage rate lock volumes.
Optimal Blue Launches New Generative AI Assistant Capabilities
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today announced the delivery of generative AI capabilities centered on helping lenders maximize profitability on every loan transaction. Through direct engagement with its thousands of clients, the company has begun delivering generative AI capabilities built for secondary-market-specific use cases and purposefully designed to solve the real-world challenges that mortgage lenders face.
Stack Sports Teams Up with The Miracle League to Revolutionize Inclusive Sports
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Stack Sports, the leading provider of sports management solutions, is excited to announce the signing of its new strategic partnership with The Miracle League, an organization focused on providing opportunities for children with disabilities to play Miracle League baseball.
Falling Home Prices and Purchase Mortgage Locks Reveal a Stagnant Late-Spring Housing Market
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today released its June 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which revealed a stagnant late-spring housing market as home prices dropped for the first time in 2024 and purchase lock counts fell 8% over the previous year. All mortgage lock figures in this news release have been controlled for fewer market days in June.
Optimal Blue Launches Competitive Data License to Help Lenders Optimize Margins With Competitive Loan Pricing Data
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue announced the release of Competitive Data License, a collection of key national mortgage pricing data that enables lenders to price products competitively, operate more profitably, and react swiftly to changing market conditions. Competitive Data License draws upon direct-source loan data from the Optimal Blue PPE, which is used to price and lock over 35% of loans in the United States.
Stack Sports and The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Renew Strategic Partnership to Grow Participation
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Stack Sports, the leading provider of sports management solutions, announced the renewal of its multi-year partnership with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Sports, an interdenominational Christian sports ministry working to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.
Mortgage Interest Rate Sensitivity Triggers 25% Spike in May Rate-and-Term Refinance Activity
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today released its May 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which revealed a 25.6% month-over-month (MoM) spike in rate-and-term mortgage refinances. The spike was a response to a modest drop in the Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices (OBMMI) 30-year conforming rate, which ended the month at 7.02%.
Optimal Blue Names Joe Tyrrell Chief Executive Officer
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today announced the appointment of Joe Tyrrell as CEO. Tyrrell succeeds interim CEO Scott Smith of Optimal Blue's parent company, Constellation Software Inc. Tyrrell brings over 25 years of experience in the mortgage, finance, and technology industries to Optimal Blue.
Optimal Blue Announces ‘Optimize Your Advantage’ to Showcase How Its Capital Markets Platform Puts Lenders in Control of Their Margins
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue announced the launch of its Optimize Your Advantage campaign in advance of the MBA Secondary and Capital Markets Conference. This comprehensive brand initiative highlights the value and innovation the company delivers to clients. Through Optimal Blue's position as the housing industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform, lenders and other market participants have greater control of their profit margins, giving them distinct advantages, regardless of market conditions.
Mortgage Purchase Lock Counts See First YoY Gain Since Fed Rate Hikes Began Two Years Ago
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today released its April 2024 Originations Market Monitor report, which reveals the first year-over-year increase in purchase mortgage lock counts since the Federal Reserve initiated rate hikes in March 2022.
Stack Sports launches Stack Rewards to Save Youth Sports Families $100M
DALLAS, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Stack Sports, the leading provider of youth sports software has launched a new rewards program delivering significant savings to youth sports families in the United States and North America. With Stack Rewards, families can earn cashback on everyday shopping and access special offers and deals to help pay for sports, resulting in projected savings of $100 million annually.
Optimal Blue Director of Data Solutions Brennan O’Connell Named a 2024 HousingWire Rising Star
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today announced that Brennan O'Connell, director of data solutions, has been honored with the 2024 HousingWire Rising Stars award. The award program celebrates emerging leaders in real estate and mortgage who have demonstrated rapid career growth and an ability to lead, achieving remarkable milestones before the age of 40.
Optimal Blue Announces Promotion of Rick Allen to Chief Operating Officer
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today announced that it has elevated Rick Allen to chief operating officer (COO). Most recently serving as Optimal Blue's chief administrative officer, Allen brings more than 35 years of experience in the housing industry to his senior leadership role. Throughout his tenure at Optimal Blue, Allen has played an integral role in the enhancement and delivery of products to add exceptional value to the company's clients.
Average Homebuyer Credit Score Hits the Highest Mark in Years
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Today, Optimal Blue released its March 2024 Originations Market Monitor report, which reveals the average homebuyer credit score has reached 737 - an all-time high since the company began tracking this data in January 2018. Despite the potential buyer pool being somewhat limited to borrowers with higher credit, rate lock volume showed steady month-over-month growth of 17% in March as the spring buying season got underway.
Stack Sports Renews Partnership with USA Lacrosse
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Stack Sports, the leading provider of sports technology solutions, proudly announces the renewal of its partnership with USA Lacrosse, the governing body for the sport in the United States and a Recognized Sports Organization by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, for an additional two years. As part of this continued collaboration, Sports Connect will serve as an Official League Registration Partner of USA Lacrosse.
GOALS Council Welcomes Soccer Resilience to a Live Roundtable Discussing Youth Sports and Mental Health
PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- The GOALS Council, a strategic advisory body formed by Stack Sports and influential youth soccer leaders in 2021, will host their second virtual roundtable tailored for youth sports enthusiasts on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, featuring a distinguished panel of industry leaders discussing pressing topics identified by the GOALS Council.