In its September Insights Report, mortgage advisory firm STRATMOR Group points to data that shows this year will be one of the biggest years for industry mergers and acquisitions activity (M&A). In “Mortgage Industry Consolidation: Fact, Fiction or Frenzy?” David Hrobon, STRATMOR Group principal and former chairman and CEO of Wintrust Mortgage, connects the dots between industry profitability and M&A activity.

Anchor Loans, the nation’s leading provider of financing to fix-and-flip entrepreneurs, announced that its total originations have passed the $10-billion mark. This makes the company the first fix-and-flip lender to achieve this milestone, according to Anchor Loans.

According to ATTOM’s second-quarter 2021 U.S. Home Flipping Report, 79,733 single-family homes and condos were flipped, representing 4.9 percent of all home sales. That’s up from 3.5 percent in the first quarter, the first increase in more than a year. But it was down from 6.8 percent a year ago.

In 2021, many Appraisal Institute exams are available though this format, and in 2022, all other exams will soon follow.

Recently, Valuation Review introduced its audience to a new hire. JLL Valuation Advisory welcomed structured finance specialist John Oates to its Renewable Energy Valuation team as a managing director to help build out a best-in-class infrastructure platform. We reached out to Oates for a more in-depth look at his role and how this side of valuations will work best for appraisers. Read on to learn more.

ForbesBooks author Tim Pagliara, who wrote “Another Big Lie: How the Government Stole Billions from The American Dream of Home Ownership, and Got Caught!,” detailed the plight of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and says the government “must fill gaps for minorities, middle class to access mortgages.” Pagliara, founder, chairman, and chief investment officer of CapWealth, an independent, SEC-registered investment advisory firm near Nashville, Tenn., reached out to Valuation Review to share his thoughts. Read on to learn what he had to say.

Williston Financial Group (WFG), a Portland-based, full-service provider of title insurance and real estate settlement services for commercial and residential transactions nationwide, released the findings of its 2021 survey of WFG Executive Roundtable members and other industry leaders. The results signaled a marked increase in concern over the impact lengthy turnaround times are having on real estate transactions. Read on to learn more.

United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) has launched UWM Appraisal Direct, giving clients another option when ordering appraisals on UWM loans. The program currently is in the pilot stage and was released in all 50 states on Oct. 1.

President Joe Biden has nominated Alanna McCargo, a senior advisor for housing finance within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, to be the new head of Ginnie Mae. If confirmed, McCargo would be the first permanent leader of Ginnie Mae in almost five years since President Ted Tozer resigned in 2017.