Interview with Mike Fratantoni, Chief Economist, Senior Vice President, Research and Industry Technology, Mortgage Bankers Association

Feb 21, 2019

Radding's Rapport welcomes Mike Fratantoni to share his views on current economic trends.

Mike is MBA’s Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research and Industry Technology. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing MBA's industry surveys, benchmarking studies, economic and mortgage originations forecasts, industry technology efforts, and policy development research for both single-family and commercial/multifamily markets.

1. How were people affected by the government shutdown and the possible impending continuation? (:50) 
2. Interest rates have been volatile of late. With investors running back and forth from stocks to bonds, where do you see interest rates heading as we enter the 2nd and 3rd quarter of 2019? (2:17) 
3. By all accounts refinancing is dead. However, I’ve been pushing my sales force to not give up on refis. Are you seeing the effect of expanded home equity positions giving an uptick to cash out debt consolidation and refinances for renovation? (4:47) 
4. Millennials. They are the so-called saviors of our current market. Do you think that this is true, and how much of an impact on this year and the next few years to come? Will the Millennial home buyers save our industry? (7:06) 
5. Do you think that the GSE reform for Fannie and Freddie will happen anytime soon, and if this happens, what real effect will this have on our industry moving forward? (8:52) 
6. Embracing technology is something all mortgage lenders/brokers need to do. What real effect do you think the digital mortgage will have on mortgage industry. What opportunities or perils does that offer us as an industry? (10:52)