The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC) has released results from a recent survey, Pulse of the Network, offering a detailed snapshot of how mortgage lenders are navigating persistent market pressure, while positioning for long-term competitiveness. The survey captures insights from 38 TMC member organizations that responded to the survey, including independent mortgage banks and depository institutions operating across the U.S.
According to the findings, technology implementation stands as lenders’ top strategic priority for 2025–2026. Respondents cited rising origination costs, operational inefficiencies, and borrower expectations as key drivers behind increased investment in APIs, automation, and digital closing tools. Lenders are seeking to modernize the loan lifecycle end-to-end, with a clear focus on scalability and cost containment.
“The Pulse of the Network gives us a clear, unfiltered view of what’s shaping lender decision-making right now,” said Jodi Hall, president and CEO of The Mortgage Collaborative. “Our members are balancing cost discipline with long-term competitiveness, and the data shows that technology, people, and partnerships are central to that equation.”
Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) adoption continues to accelerate, as more than half of surveyed lenders reported active use of APIs and automation for functions such as income and asset verification and compliance workflows. At the same time, AI-powered platforms are being deployed to improve borrower engagement, enhance decision-making, and streamline internal processes, signaling a shift from experimentation to practical application.
Beyond technology, workforce strategy is gaining prominence, with more than 75% of respondents having identified leadership development and employee engagement as key initiatives, underscoring the importance of talent optimization, succession planning, and performance measurement in a constrained volume environment. Lenders appear increasingly focused on strengthening management capacity as a lever for resilience and growth.
Revenue diversification also remains central to lender strategies. Survey participants reported expanding offerings in Non-QM lending, down payment assistance programs, and home equity products as they seek to capture market share and reinforce purchase-driven business models amid subdued refinance activity.
On the capital markets side, secondary execution is under closer scrutiny, as nearly half of respondents are prioritizing post-close process improvements, investor diversification, and data-driven analytics to reduce execution risk and protect margins.
While compliance ranked lower among overall priorities, risk management concerns persist, as more than 50% of respondents cited fraud prevention and cybersecurity as their most significant challenges, reflecting heightened vigilance as digital adoption expands.
