Lenders are keeping their chins up entering 2026 after a year HomeLight Homes President Nick Friedman described as “not great” while speaking with Keys to Real Estate host Mary Schuster. Expanding on the results of his company’s recent survey of lenders across the country, Friedman explored why lenders said they expect the year ahead to see a notable uptick in mortgage originations and what role the evolving real estate landscape may play in making that a reality. He emphasized the importance of understanding debt-to-income ratios first-time homebuyers are facing as they ponder creative solutions to get a foothold in the market. The conversation also steered into AI and its potential pros and cons, with respect to streamlining the lending workflow to make for a faster and smoother customer experience without losing sight of the significance of building strong relationships with buyers.

Chapters:

0:00 Lending Insights and Predictions for 2026

2:52 Interest Rates and Market Dynamics

5:37 Buyer Categories and Market Movement

8:33 Creative Solutions for First-Time Home Buyers

11:14 Loan Types and Market Growth

14:03 Refinancing and Home Equity Utilization

17:00 The Role of AI in Lending

19:35 Buy Before You Sell Programs

22:40 Counseling First-Time Home Buyers

25:17 The Importance of Relationships in Lending

Download the report: Lender Insights & Predictions for 2026

To learn more about HomeLight Buy Before You Sell: https://www.homelight.com/buy-before-you-sell

Get In Touch…

Host email: Mary Schuster - mschuster@octoberresearch.com

To find more episodes of “Keys to Real Estate” or learn more about October Research – the nation’s leading independent provider of market intelligence, industry news, expert analysis and regulatory information for professionals in the real estate, title, financial and settlement services industries – visit https://www.octoberresearch.com.

Episode sponsored by Closinglock – https://www.closinglock.com

Episode produced by October Research – https://www.octoberresearch.com