A Dis-Integrating Industry Technology

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The credit crisis of 2007-2008 has loosened traditional corporate thinking among mortgage bankers. Information technology (IT) and operational decisions that have been on hold are now up for reconsideration.

Constraining market conditions

The changes that will influence capital allocation decisions are now present, and they are profound.

"I believe that we are seeing across the U.S. housing market--from borrowers, lenders and everyone with a stake in the future--what I would call a 'new realism.' Step by step, we are putting in place a new foundation for our industry. It's a foundation based on the right lending standards and on a broad re-examination of what constitutes sensible risk," said Mike Williams, president and chief executive officer of Fannie Mae, in a speech made at the Women in Housing and Finance …