2019 HW Vanguard: Les Acree

Les Acree manages all aspects of Freedom Mortgage’s correspondent and wholesale lending operation, which is among the largest in the mortgage industry. A career-long mortgage professional, he began with Irwin Mortgage in Indianapolis, Indiana and joined Freedom Mortgage in September of 2006 when Freedom Mortgage acquired the mortgage assets and

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2019 HW Vanguard: Rick Bechtel

When Rick Bechtel joined TD Bank in October 2017, the bank’s residential lending business was the 88th largest provider of mortgage loans in the country. Within two years, Bechtel was able to help raise TD through the ranks to where it now sits – No. 49 by size. In getting

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2019 HW Vanguard: Mark Hanson

Mark Hanson’s leadership was essential to the successful 2019 launch of the Uniform Mortgage-Backed Security, the most significant change to the $4 trillion To-Be-Announced market in a generation. As Freddie Mac senior vice president of securitization, Hanson helped conceive the UMBS, which combines aspects of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae

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Tech-based home insurance provider Openly launches

Just in time for the holidays, Openly launched on Tuesday, equipped with $7.6 million from its seed round of funding. The tech-enabled home insurance provider likely has Gradient Ventures on its list of things to be thankful for, as Google’s AI-focused venture fund led the funding round.  According to Openly,

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When is the best time to buy a house?

Despite spring commonly being thought of peak homebuying season, there’s actually another time of year when it makes the most sense to buy a home. And it’s coming right up. According to new analysis from ATTOM Data Solutions, there are only three days out of the year that see homes

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U.S. economy unexpectedly picks up speed

The U.S. economy grew at a 2.1% annualized pace in the third quarter, picking up speed from the second quarter’s 2% rate and surprising economists, who expected the Commerce Department’s second estimate to be unchanged at 1.9% on Wednesday. The upward revision was based on stronger readings for private inventory

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HUD looks to eliminate regulatory barriers to affordable housing

The Department of Housing and Urban Development published a request for information to dig into how regulations could be creating barriers to affordable housing. The RFI is seeking public comment on federal, state, local and tribal laws, regulations, land use requirements and administrative practices that raise the cost of affordable

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