Tag: PLANO, Texas
Optimal Blue Releases May Data Findings, Announces Expansion of Monthly Report for More Comprehensive 2025 Lender Profitability Insights
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today released the May 2025 edition of its now-expanded Market Advantage mortgage data report, which features newly added borrower profile and capital market datasets for a more comprehensive picture of early-stage mortgage activity and loan profitability. The enhancements come at a critical time for mortgage lenders navigating heightened interest rates, tighter margins, increased volatility and deepening affordability challenges.
Optimal Blue Launches New Lead Generation Tool for Mortgage Loan Originators
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today announced a new product that helps originators efficiently track and identify refinance opportunities so they can reengage borrowers with eligible refinance options at the right time. Available to Optimal Blue PPE users, Capture for Originators dramatically reduces the manual effort loan officers currently spend evaluating refinance potential by automatically analyzing entire portfolios each month and putting recapture opportunities directly into originators' hands.
Stack Athlete is the new name of CaptainU, Enhancing the College Sports Recruiting Journey for US Athletes
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- CaptainU, one of the leading online collegiate sports recruiting platforms, announced its relaunch as Stack Athlete on May 20, 2025. This change reflects Stack Athlete's ongoing commitment to empowering high school athletes, parents, and college coaches with the best tools to navigate the recruiting journey, now with an even stronger connection to the Stack Sports family.
Optimal Blue no-cost, AI-powered assistant is built for executive decision-makers seeking fast answers to complex profitability questions
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today announced that Ask Obi, an AI-powered assistant designed to help mortgage lending executives extract real-time insights from across Optimal Blue's capital markets platform, is now generally available to all PPE clients. Introduced at the company's inaugural user conference in February and refined through beta testing with select clients, Ask Obi provides executives with fast answers to complex profitability questions at no additional cost.
Optimal Blue’s April 2025 Market Advantage report shows stronger purchase activity, a shifting loan mix, and signs of investor caution
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today released its April 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report showing total loan lock volume rose 3.2% month-over-month (MoM) as the spring homebuying season progressed, with purchase locks up 7.5% despite ongoing economic pressures.
AI-Powered Originator Assistant launched by Optimal Blue to Help Originators Present Best Possible Loan Options to Borrowers
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today announced the general availability of Originator Assistant, a powerful addition to the Optimal Blue PPE. Leveraging generative AI, Originator Assistant eliminates human bias in the loan structuring process and helps originators identify all options for a borrower, providing more ways to help consumers realize the American dream of homeownership.
Optimal Blue today released its March 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- 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.
Stack Tourney Chosen to Power Iowa Soccer Events and Expand its Partnership with Stack Sports
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- 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 /New York Netwire - National News/ -- 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.
Cotality to Offer Optimal Blue’s Direct-Source Origination Data to Capital Markets, Research, and Investment Firms
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- 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.
Feb. 2025 Market Advantage report indicates stabilizing conforming loan share amid refinance growth and sluggish purchase activity
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- 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.
Optimal Blue’s January 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report highlights a softening purchase market, boost in refi demand among elevated rates
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- 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.
Stack Sports Names 2024 Stack MVP Awards Winners: Celebrating Youth Sports Heroes
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- 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.
Optimal Blue’s December 2024 Market Advantage report highlights annual mortgage production gains and record low conforming loan share
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- 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.
Driving Soccer Forward in 2025 New Mexico Youth Soccer Association Renews Longstanding Partnership with Sports Connect
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- 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.
To Drive the Sport of Flag Football Forward, Stack Sports and Gridiron Football ‘Team Up’
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- 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.
Optimal Blue’s November 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report finds overall rate lock volume down 25% month over month
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- 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.
Optimal Blue Announces Tony Hawk, Housing Industry Leaders to Headline Inaugural User Conference 2025
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- 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 Cracks in the Mortgage Market as Interest Rates Tick up 65 Basis Points
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- 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.
Erin Wester and Mike Vough Promoted to New Executive Roles at Optimal Blue
PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- 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.