In this episode of Lending Forward, host Hannah McManus welcomes Brian Vieaux, President of MISMO, for an in-depth conversation about the standards shaping the modern mortgage industry.

MISMO, the mortgage industry’s standards organization, plays a foundational role in creating consistency across the loan manufacturing process—from the Uniform Residential Loan Application to closing disclosures and regulatory reporting. Brian explains how standards reduce friction, improve interoperability between systems, and create efficiencies that ultimately benefit both lenders and consumers.

The discussion explores the recently released Mortgage Compliance Dataset (MCD), an industry collaboration between lenders, regulators, and technology providers designed to streamline multi-state regulatory data requests. Brian also shares insight into MISMO’s growing work around artificial intelligence, including the development of a responsible AI framework in partnership with MBA’s Residential Board of Governors.

Looking ahead, the conversation turns to adoption, awareness, and the opportunity to bring more mortgage professionals into the standards conversation. As digital transformation accelerates, collaboration and shared infrastructure will be critical to reducing manufacturing costs and improving the borrower experience.

Lending Forward is home to real conversations with the leaders shaping the future of housing finance.

So tell us—how are you lending it forward?

In this episode of Lending Forward, host Hannah McManus sits down with Dr. Jeremy Porter, Chief Economist and Head of Climate Implications Research at First Street Foundation, for a timely conversation on how climate risk is already reshaping housing, insurance, and mortgage affordability.

Drawing on years of peer-reviewed research and real-world data, Dr. Porter breaks down why insurance has become the most tangible way homeowners and buyers experience climate risk. From rapidly rising premiums and carrier exits to repeated disasters outside traditional FEMA flood zones, he explains how climate-driven risk is changing the true cost of homeownership—and why insurance now takes up a growing share of the average monthly mortgage payment.

The conversation explores how climate hazards like flooding, wildfire, wind, and extreme rainfall are becoming more frequent and widespread, impacting regions once considered “safe.” Dr. Porter also discusses climate-informed migration, the growing role of property-level risk data in real estate decisions, and why transparency—not avoidance—is key to serving homeowners responsibly.

For lenders, real estate professionals, and housing leaders, this episode offers practical insight into why climate risk belongs in modern risk assessment, how better data can support smarter decisions, and what the next five to ten years may hold for housing and affordability.

Lending Forward is the home for real conversations about the industry we love. Hear firsthand perspectives from mortgage professionals, real estate leaders, policymakers, and economists as we cultivate transparency around the future of lending.

So tell us—how are you lending it forward?

In this episode of Lending Forward, host Bill Hitchcock sits down with Julienne Joseph—former HUD Chief of Staff under Secretary Marcia Fudge and founder of JYJ Consulting—for a timely and thought-provoking conversation on the future of mortgage affordability.

Drawing on more than two decades of experience across origination, housing counseling, policy, and federal leadership, Julienne breaks down two of the most talked-about concepts in housing today: the proposed 50-year mortgage and the idea of portable interest rates. While both aim to address affordability, Julienne explains why longer amortizations and transferable rates may introduce unintended risks for borrowers, servicers, and the broader housing ecosystem.

The conversation goes beyond headlines, exploring sustainability versus access, the importance of equity-building, and why education and empathy are essential—especially for first-time and underserved buyers shaped by the lasting impact of the housing crisis. Julienne also shares personal insights from her career, including her proudest policy accomplishment and why expanding housing supply, not just new loan products, is critical to long-term affordability.

From FHA policy and servicing challenges to inventory, development, and HUD-approved housing counseling, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at what it really takes to move housing forward—responsibly.

Lending Forward is the home for real conversations about the industry we love. Hear firsthand perspectives from Mortgage Bankers, Realtors, Financial Advisors, policymakers, and industry leaders as we cultivate transparency around the future of lending.
So tell us—how are you lending it forward?