There is nothing quite like attending a Mortgage Bankers Association conference in person. But with the entire country still dealing with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, that on-site experience—for now—has to give way to the safety of your home. And MBA says it’s ready for you.

Commercial and multifamily mortgage loan originations decreased 2 percent in the first quarter from a year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Quarterly Survey of Commercial/Multifamily Mortgage Bankers Originations.

As the industry becomes increasingly digital, mortgage professionals must find a way to survive and keep up with demand at rapid speed. Unfortunately, the latest and greatest technology comes at a price. To truly succeed, mortgage professionals need to determine strategies that reduce expenses while offering a convenient relationship-based mortgage experience for borrowers.

We need branch advocates who step in and support branches after onboarding concludes. A branch advocate is an expert on how the company works. They are a single point of contact who collaborates with every department to remove obstacles, provide quick resolutions to requests and help with future growth opportunities.

(One of a continuing series of profiles of participants in the MBA Education Path to Diversity (P2D) Scholarship Program, which enables employees from diverse backgrounds to advance their professional growth and career development.)

Fitch Ratings, New York, said traditional “full” pre-close home appraisals, viewed to be best practice, are becoming less common in the mortgage origination process as homes are more difficult to access during the coronavirus outbreak.

(One in a continuing series of profiles of Premier Members of the Mortgage Bankers Association.)