As South Florida’s housing market recalibrates and national loan volume trends upward, one thing is clear: mortgage originators who adapt fastest will win. That’s the backdrop for the Coastal Connect Mortgage Expo, happening on May 28 in Fort Lauderdale — a one-day event built specifically to help brokers and loan officers sharpen their edge in a shifting market.
Recent data underscores the moment. Mortgage volume climbed to $258.7 billion across 654,311 loans in March 2026, a 14.8% year-over-year increase, even as Florida home prices show modest but consistent declines over the past two years. At the same time, 234 new MLOs entered the Florida market in March alone, intensifying competition. For LOs, that combination — more volume, tighter margins, and more players — demands smarter strategies, stronger relationships, and a broader product mix.
That’s exactly where the Coastal Connect Mortgage Expo delivers.
Turning Market Shifts Into Opportunity
The event is positioned as Southern Florida’s premier gathering for mortgage professionals, but more importantly, it’s designed as a working session for originators who need practical ways to keep pipelines full and businesses profitable.
Sessions like “Think Big — Act Small” from Newfi Wholesale’s EVP of National Production, John Wise, tackle one of the industry’s biggest challenges: converting hesitant borrowers in an uncertain economy.
“We will discuss a story we believe will help potential borrowers move past their hesitation and move forward,” Wise explains. “It addresses the current economy and historical price trends, but also speaks to the psychology of many younger people who are still waiting to pull the trigger.”
His session goes beyond theory, focusing on how small, intentional shifts in outreach and communication can produce outsized growth. “Making simple shifts in your outbound approach can lead to exponential growth,” Wise adds — an especially relevant message as originators compete for a more cautious borrower pool.
Why Non-QM Can’t Be Optional
Another major theme at Coastal Connect is product diversification — particularly the growing importance of Non-QM.
In a market where traditional agency volume remains rate-sensitive and borrower profiles continue to evolve, Non-QM is increasingly moving from niche to necessity. For brokers and loan officers, the ability to identify, structure, and confidently present Non-QM solutions is quickly becoming a defining edge — not just for capturing overlooked borrowers, but for maintaining consistent production in a more fragmented lending landscape.
Moises Bonet of Angel Oak will lead a session aimed squarely at helping originators rethink their pipelines. The session will be “a clear look at how Non-QM is changing — and what that means for your pipeline right now,” he says.
Bonet emphasizes that originators who ignore it risk falling behind. “This session helps brokers and originators spot opportunities others miss and better serve non-traditional borrowers,” he notes.
Attendees can expect practical takeaways: “Originators will walk away with clearer strategies, stronger borrower conversations, and understand that Non-QM has to be part of their product offering.”
With borrower profiles evolving and affordability pressures persisting, that message aligns directly with current market realities.
AI Is Already Reshaping The Workflow
Beyond products and sales strategy, Coastal Connect also dives into the operational future of the industry — starting with artificial intelligence.
The session “The Rise of AI — The Future of Mortgage” offers a real-world look at how automation is already transforming lending. Sun West Mortgage, powered by its Angel AI platform, has reduced underwriting timelines to minutes and automated much of the processing workflow.
The implications for originators are significant: less time managing files, more time building relationships and generating business. In a market where efficiency can directly impact profitability, understanding how to leverage AI tools is quickly becoming essential — not optional.
The Broker Playbook No One Talks About
“The Broker Playbook No One Talks About” brings together broker owners who are actively building, hiring, and adapting in real time — offering a behind-the-scenes look at what’s actually driving results right now.
Rather than theory, the panel is built around firsthand experience: what’s working, what’s changed, and what leaders have had to rethink as the market evolves.
The panel will explore the realities shaping brokerage performance today, including where business is coming from, what’s proving effective in recruiting (and what isn’t), and how teams are being kept productive in a more competitive, margin-conscious environment.
Speakers include Robert Bencomo, CEO of Elite Lending LLC, who leads one of the top five fastest-growing brokerages with 20 producing MLOs — completing 458 loans totaling $221.60 million over the past 12 months; Roy George, CMB, CEO of MOR Lending LLC, whose team scaled from just six loans in January 2025 to 26 units totaling $12.83 million in January 2026; and Nancy Aguirre-Fernandez, CEO of Your Better Mortgage LLC, whose company closed 273 units in the past year, with Nancy personally originating 85 of those loans while managing a team of 12 MLOs.
For attendees running a brokerage — or considering scaling one — the session offers a rare opportunity to hear unfiltered insights from leaders navigating the same challenges in real time.
A Market That Rewards Prepared Originators
The broader takeaway from both the data and the event agenda is this: the market isn’t slowing — it’s evolving.
Loan volume is rising. Home prices are adjusting. Borrower behavior is shifting. And competition is increasing.
For South Florida originators, that means success will depend on three things:
- Expanding product knowledge (especially Non-QM)
- Refining borrower engagement strategies
- Leveraging technology to improve efficiency and scale
The Coastal Connect Mortgage Expo brings those elements together in one place, offering not just insight, but actionable strategies from lenders and leaders actively navigating today’s environment.
For originators looking to stay competitive — or pull ahead — the question isn’t whether the market is changing. It’s whether they’re changing with it.
Don’t get left behind — register today with promo code NMPFREE for free admission.
Not in Florida? Explore Originator Connect's national event schedule for an event near you.
