Recorded live at MBA Annual25 in Las Vegas, this special edition of the Equifax Market Pulse explores how data, workflow automation, and AI are reshaping mortgage lending. Tanja Cleve, SVP of Solution Sales at Equifax sits down with Craig Rebmann, Product Evangelist at Dark Matter Technologies, to discuss capturing data earlier in the process, automating complex borrower scenarios, managing costs in tight margin environments, and preparing lenders for the next market turn through smarter technology investments.

In this episode:

What is the biggest operational challenge mortgage lenders are facing right now?
Beyond rates and affordability, lenders are grappling with process inefficiencies, higher fallout rates, and rising costs. This makes automation and better data workflows essential.

How does capturing data earlier in the loan process help lenders?
Early data capture allows lenders to assess risk sooner, automate pre-approvals, reduce downstream surprises, and create more productive borrower conversations upfront.

How can automation support complex borrower profiles like self-employed income?
Automation helps identify complexity early and uses tax and income data to streamline calculations, reducing manual review and improving underwriting readiness.

How are lenders balancing innovation with cost control in a tight market?
Many are focusing on capacity management, which used technology to increase efficiency with existing staff while remaining scalable as volumes return.

What role does AI play in today’s mortgage technology stack?
AI is increasingly used to gather and prepare information, while humans remain essential for judgment, decision-making, and borrower communication.

What is “agentic AI” and why does it matter for lenders?
Agentic AI refers to systems that can take action—not just provide insights—while still operating within defined workflows and human oversight.

How do integrations and APIs improve borrower experience?
Connected systems allow data to flow in real time, trigger automations instantly, reduce back-and-forth, and give borrowers greater transparency throughout the process.