In this episode of Mortgage Tech Intelligence, host Joey McDuffee sits down with Peter Benjamin, President of ACUMA (the American Credit Union Mortgage Association), fresh off the organization's Make Your Mark annual conference. Peter explains why mortgage should be a strategic priority for credit unions, why the average credit union originates mortgages for only about 3% of its members, and how shifting incentives from product growth to household growth can help credit unions become their members' primary financial institution.

The conversation also covers ACUMA's new advocacy platform and first-ever Advocacy Day, where credit union mortgage lenders will take their story to Washington. Peter and Joey discuss how AI can streamline underwriting, data validation, and quality control, why vendor management concerns are holding some credit unions back, and why starting small is the best way to begin. They close with the need to develop the next generation of mortgage leaders and a look at what credit unions should plan for in 2027.

Whether you're a credit union executive, mortgage leader, or technology professional, this episode offers a practical look at how credit unions can grow their mortgage business through relationships, technology, and talent.

About Peter Benjamin
Peter Benjamin is President of ACUMA, the American Credit Union Mortgage Association, and a Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB). He leads ACUMA's efforts to support credit union mortgage lenders through education, events, networking, and advocacy, including the association's Young Professional Network and Women's Professional Network.

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See how Blue Sage Solutions is helping credit unions and other mortgage lenders modernize their mortgage technology with embedded AI, intelligent workflow automation, and a better member experience.

In this episode of Mortgage Tech Intelligence, host Dee Khullar sits down with Diego Sanchez, President of HousingWire Media, fresh off HousingWire's third annual AI Summit, to discuss how artificial intelligence is moving from experimentation to measurable business results across mortgage, real estate, and home building. Diego shares why the gap between AI hype and real ROI has narrowed over the past year, with AI now driving gains across the entire housing ecosystem rather than isolated pockets like servicing.

The conversation explores why the "harness" around AI, proprietary data, governance, and workflow guardrails, matters as much as the model itself, and why it's key to using the technology safely and effectively. Diego and Dee also discuss the rise of AI-informed borrowers and shopping agents, the coming "flight to quality" as AI increasingly directs referrals to top-performing loan officers and real estate agents, and how mortgage organizations may evolve into a "barbell" structure, with production and technology as the heavy ends and a thinner middle as AI absorbs more processing and underwriting work. Diego closes with predictions for the year ahead, including continued industry consolidation and the recent launch of HousingWire Intelligence, a new data and AI-powered platform for the housing market.

Whether you're a mortgage executive, technology leader, or industry analyst, this episode offers a grounded look at where AI adoption in housing stands today, and where it's headed next.

About Diego Sanchez
Diego Sanchez is President of HousingWire Media, where he oversees the company's newsroom, events, and data and intelligence products across mortgage, real estate, and housing. He plays a central role in HousingWire's flagship events, including the AI Summit and the upcoming Mortgage Banking Summit, and has helped lead the company's expansion into AI-powered content and market data through the recent launch of HousingWire Intelligence.

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See how Blue Sage Solutions is helping lenders modernize operations with embedded AI, intelligent workflow automation, and end-to-end mortgage technology designed to improve efficiency and enhance the borrower experience.

In this episode of Mortgage Tech Intelligence, host Ash Omar sits down with Rick Seehausen, President of Lenders One, to discuss how independent mortgage lenders can remain competitive during one of the industry's most transformative periods. With rising origination costs, evolving borrower expectations, and rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, Rick shares why collaboration, technology adoption, and operational efficiency have become essential for long-term success.

Drawing on more than 30 years of mortgage leadership experience, Rick explains how Lenders One is expanding its cooperative model to help lenders access best-in-class technology providers, strengthen capital markets opportunities, and reduce the cost to produce a loan. The conversation also explores where AI is already delivering measurable value—from intelligent document processing and data validation to marketing operations and servicing—and why finding the right balance between automation and human expertise will define the next generation of mortgage lending.

Whether you're a mortgage executive, operations leader, or technology professional, this episode offers practical insights into how lenders can modernize workflows, improve scalability, and prepare for the future of digital lending.

About Rick Seehausen

Rick Seehausen is President of Lenders One, one of the mortgage industry's largest national cooperative networks serving independent mortgage bankers, banks, and credit unions. Throughout his career, Rick has held executive leadership positions spanning mortgage origination, operations, capital markets, technology, and fulfillment, including leadership roles at Cherry Creek Mortgage, LenderLive, and other respected organizations. Today, he leads Lenders One's efforts to help members improve profitability through strategic partnerships, technology innovation, capital markets execution, and collaborative purchasing power.

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Discover how Blue Sage Solutions is helping lenders modernize operations with embedded AI, intelligent workflow automation, digital origination, and end-to-end mortgage technology designed to improve efficiency and enhance the borrower experience.

In this episode of Mortgage Tech Intelligence, host Dee Khullar sits down with Joe Wilson, Founder and CEO of SocialCoach, to discuss how loan officers and mortgage companies can build stronger digital relationships through social media, video, and AI. Joe explains why social media may be driving more mortgage business than lenders realize, the importance of tracking social-assisted loans, and why consistent video content is one of the most effective ways for loan officers to stay visible with referral partners and borrowers.

The takeaway is simple: technology can help mortgage professionals create and distribute content more efficiently, but authenticity still matters. The lenders and loan officers that combine consistent, human-centered content with smarter technology will be better positioned to build relationships and generate business in an increasingly digital market.

About Joe Wilson

Joe Wilson is the Founder and CEO of SocialCoach, a social media management platform built for mortgage and real estate companies. He has more than two decades of mortgage and fintech experience, including leadership roles at SimpleNexus and Ellie Mae, as well as experience in mortgage technology, sales, marketing, and loan origination. Today, Joe helps mortgage companies and loan officers build scalable, compliant social media strategies designed to strengthen relationships and generate business

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Learn how embedded AI, intelligent automation, and modern mortgage technology are changing lending workflows at Blue Sage Solutions.

In this In this episode of the Mortgage Tech Intelligence podcast, host Dee Khullar interviews Erin Wester, Chief Product Officer at Optimal Blue. Erin discusses the latest innovations in mortgage technology, including AI-driven products like the Virtual Economist and Ask OB. The conversation covers how these tools are transforming capital markets, automating workflows, and empowering lenders to make faster, smarter decisions.

In this episode of the Mortgage Tech Intelligence podcast, host Joey McDuffee interviews Melissa Langdale, founder and CEO of Praxis Lending Solutions. With over 20 years of experience in mortgage lending, Melissa shares her journey in the industry, the challenges lenders face today, and the impact of AI on mortgage operations. The conversation covers the importance of governance in AI, the need for comprehensive policies, and the future trends in mortgage lending, emphasizing the need for lenders to adapt to changing market conditions and technology advancements.

In this episode of the Mortgage Tech Intelligence podcast, host Dee Khullar speaks with Julienne Joseph, a prominent advocate for housing policy and access to homeownership. Julienne shares her journey from loan officer to chief of staff at HUD, discussing the lessons learned from the 2008 housing crisis, the importance of engaging communities in policy-making, and the challenges faced by first-time home buyers today. The conversation also explores innovative solutions for down payment assistance, the impact of student loan debt on homeownership, and the need for collaboration across the housing ecosystem to expand access to homeownership.

In this episode of Mortgage Tech Intelligence, Ed Furbee interviews Ross Diedrich, CEO of Covered Insurance, about the integration of homeowners insurance into the mortgage origination process. Ross shares his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges faced in the insurance industry, and how Covered simplifies the insurance shopping experience for borrowers. The conversation also covers the importance of automation, the partnership with Blue Sage and Prime Lending, and the future of embedded insurance in financial services.