Mortgage Tech Talks

By Tom HallTechnology

Mortgage Tech Talks episodes

January 02 E100: Best of 2025!
This is a milestone episode of Mortgage Tech Talks.
In this special 100th episode—and final episode of the year—I’m breaking down the best-performing Mortgage Tech Talks content of 2025 across podcasts, YouTube, Shorts, and Instagram.
Instead of just replaying clips, this episode looks at what actually worked, why it worked, and what it says about where mortgage tech and AI are heading. We dig into the biggest themes from the year: AI as a tool (not a shortcut), platform-specific content performance, tech adoption, and the irreplaceable role of human trust.
If you’re a mortgage broker, fintech professional, or just interested in how technology is reshaping the industry, this episode ties it all together.
Thanks for being part of the journey to 100 episodes.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Episode 100 milestone + why this is a “Best Of” recap
02:00 – Top podcast episode of the year: using ChatGPT as a thought partner
05:45 – Best-performing YouTube video & lessons from the Mortgage Conference
09:50 – Why short-form content performed best (Instagram & Reels)
12:15 – AI broker assistants, where they help—and where humans still win

18 min
December 12, 2025E99: The Secret Battle in AI: Programming vs. Consumers
In this episode, Tom Hall breaks down the hidden competition between major AI companies that most people don't see. Discover why programming has become the dominant use case for AI models—accounting for 50% of all API usage—and why Anthropic (Claude) is quietly dominating with 60% of this massive market.
📊 Key Insights:
Token usage has grown 14x in the past year
Programming went from 11% to 50% of all ChatGPT/Gemini usage in just 6 months
Anthropic controls 30% of the entire AI market through programming dominance
Google, OpenAI, and other competitors are playing catch-up
📌 Timestamps:
0:00 - Opening statement
0:28 - Introduction
1:38 - The problem: What's driving AI growth?
1:55 - How AI companies make money (subscriptions vs. API)
2:46 - Understanding tokens and APIs
4:19 - Shocking token usage data (500B → 7T)
5:29 - Analyzing prompt vs. completion growth
7:31 - Which use cases are driving growth?
8:32 - Programming reveals itself as the leader
11:38 - 50% of AI usage is programming
12:10 - Anthropic's surprising market dominance
13:35 - Market share breakdown
14:18 - The strategic choice for AI CEOs
15:00 - Implications for the next 2-3 years
16:11 - Bold predictions
17:30 - Closing
18 min
December 05, 2025 E98: How AI Could Stifle the Mortgage Industry
What if the biggest threat to mortgage brokers over the next decade isn’t AI replacing your job — but something far more subtle?
In this episode of Mortgage Tech Talks, we break down a 4-step scenario that has already played out in other financial industries… and could reshape the mortgage landscape in the next 5–10 years if we’re not careful.
This isn’t fear-mongering. It’s a realistic look at how technology adoption, lender expectations, and regulator pressure could quietly divide the industry into two branches — one that thrives, and one that slowly gets left behind.
You’ll hear:
The two “branches” brokers will fall into as AI becomes standard
Why trust at scale could create a massive performance gap
How lenders and regulators might tighten requirements
What happened in the home & auto insurance industry (and why it matters now)
The one thing brokers can control to prevent the mortgage channel from losing innovation
If you care about the long-term health of this industry — and your place in it — this is a conversation you should hear.
Timestamps
00:00 – Why the future of the broker channel may split into two branches
01:14 – The real risk facing the industry (it’s not job loss)
02:03 – Step 1: The new technology wave begins
03:27 – Step 2: Tech adopters vs. non-adopters
08:48 – Step 3: How lenders & regulators might elevate one branch
13:18 – Step 4: What happens if non-adopters fall behind
17:36 – The insurance industry example — and the warning it gives us
19:00 – The silver lining and how brokers can protect innovation
21 min
November 28, 2025 E97: Is it time to move on from ChatGPT?
Should mortgage brokers stick with ChatGPT — or is it time to explore the new AI tools that are suddenly outperforming it?
In this episode of Mortgage Tech Talks, we break down whether brokers should consider switching to alternatives like Google Gemini 3, Grok 4.1, and Claude, all of which are now ranked above ChatGPT in real user preference tests.
We cover what’s changed, why these new models matter, how the AI landscape is shifting, and what this means for your daily workflow as a mortgage professional.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve and get the most out of AI in your business, this episode is worth your time.
Timestamps
00:00 – Why brokers are questioning ChatGPT’s dominance
01:26 – The major AI competitors you should know
03:43 – How new models like Gemini and Grok are performing
08:21 – The shocking ranking: ChatGPT drops to fourth
14:48 – Lessons from past tech giants and what it means for AI today
20 min
November 21, 2025 E96: Tech is a Key Ingredient in the Biggest Acquisitions in Mortgages
In this episode, I break down a trend that caught me off guard at the Canadian Mortgage Conference — and honestly, I didn’t fully believe it until I dug into the numbers myself.
Technology isn’t just supporting Canadian lenders… it’s becoming the core reason they’re getting acquired, merging, or expanding their reach.
From the Neighborhood x Fisgard deal, to NSO acquiring CMS, to Alta West merging with Premier — the pattern is undeniable. And if you're a broker choosing lender partners or a lender trying to stay competitive, understanding this shift is critical.
16 min
October 31, 2025E95: How Purelend Uses AI to Turbocharge Mortgage Apps w Lucas Scheer
AI in mortgages that actually saves time, not hype.
On this episode of Mortgage Tech Talks I sit down with Lucas Scheer, co-founder of Purelend. We dig into what AI can do today for brokers, why trust still wins in real estate and lending, and how document collection, usable income, and down payment verification can be automated without losing the human touch.
What you’ll learn
The real advantage for brokers who use AI vs those stuck in manual review
How Purelend structures down payment checks, stated income analysis, and doc organisation for lenders and brokers
Where full automation fails and why a copilot model makes more sense
Accuracy, hallucinations, and how to combine human review with AI to raise overall quality
Practical privacy and workflow considerations when rolling AI into your shop
Chapters
00:00 AI will not replace you. People using AI will
00:26 Set up for the episode
00:40 Intro and guest welcome
01:01 What Purelend does for brokers and lenders
02:24 Lucas’ background, NEO Financial, and the path to Purelend
03:10 The 60,000 km motorcycle detour and lessons
04:10 Building applied AI before ChatGPT
05:13 Pre-2020 AI adoption vs the post-ChatGPT shift
06:19 Focusing on outcomes over buzzwords
07:33 Media hype, fear, and what actually matters to a brokerage
08:28 Useful analogies for explaining AI to clients
09:03 Common fears brokers raise
10:11 Two brokers, two results. Why leverage wins
11:26 Excel analogy and why AI is the new table stakes
12:07 Privacy, data, and realistic risk
12:46 Will AI do prospecting and client calls
13:39 Why trust and emotion keep humans in the loop
15:14 Where automation helps and where it breaks
16:20 Purelend elevator pitch
16:46 Duplicate effort across brokers and lenders
17:46 Speed, cost basis, and winning deals
18:10 Why this only became feasible recently
19:18 Feature set: down payment, usable income, organising docs
20:02 Stated income launch and common gotchas
21:06 Borrower alerts without adding friction
21:39 Full auto vs copilot. Drawing the line
24:12 Specific knowledge that AI cannot replace
25:38 Borrower portal vision and UX tradeoffs
30:44 Accuracy, hallucinations, and safeguards
32:27 Probabilistic vs deterministic and hitting 92 to 96 percent
35:04 Benchmarking against human accuracy
38:50 Supervisors, different error patterns, and combined accuracy
40:38 Where to learn more
40:55 Close
42 min
October 24, 2025 E94: Recap from Conference
There’s no magic button for AI in the mortgage industry — and that’s exactly what I talk about in this episode.
In this week’s Mortgage Tech Talks, I share my full recap of the National Mortgage Conference — what I saw, what I learned, and why so many brokers are still chasing shortcuts instead of building real systems that last.
I also unpack the biggest question I kept hearing: “What’s the one AI tool I should be using?” The truth? There isn’t one. But there are ways to use AI that actually move the needle — and I walk through a few real examples of that in action.
You’ll also hear my thoughts on privacy, security, and how tech is making a real comeback in the mortgage space right now.
If you’re a mortgage broker who’s tired of surface-level “AI hacks” and wants to understand what’s actually working in our industry — this one’s for you.
Timestamps:
00:00 – There’s no magic button for AI
00:23 – Welcome back to Mortgage Tech Talks
00:39 – National Mortgage Conference recap
01:04 – Why this topic matters now
01:15 – Key takeaways from the event
02:24 – PSA: There’s no silver bullet
03:09 – The myth of the “Use AI” button
05:07 – Why brokers still want the easy answer
06:00 – Trust as a broker’s real edge
06:34 – How to choose the right AI tools
07:09 – The “one tool” question
07:27 – Real examples: AI note-takers and OCR
09:27 – The danger of “magic button lite” talks
10:09 – Why most brokers fall into the same loop
11:18 – A call to focus on solving real business problems
11:53 – Revisiting privacy and security concerns
13:19 – Regulation, risk, and gray areas
14:32 – Tech perception vs. regulatory precedent
15:10 – Mortgage tech is making a comeback
15:28 – Shoutout: Penalty Mentor
15:43 – Shoutout: Ownwell
15:58 – Shoutout: BrokerBot
16:48 – Shoutout: PureLend
17:19 – Final thoughts and outro
18 min
October 17, 2025 E93: What I'm Excited About for the National Mortgage Conference
In this episode of Mortgage Tech Talks, Tom Hall shares a special pre-conference breakdown of the Canadian National Mortgage Conference — including what to expect, which sessions to prioritize, and his own upcoming keynote, “If AI is Already Here, Why Does My Job Feel Exactly the Same?”
Tom covers three major highlights — from economic forecasts by CIBC’s Benjamin Tal, to Doug Adams’ new book on scaling your brokerage, to his own deep dive into the real state of AI in the mortgage industry.
Whether you’re attending the conference or following from afar, this episode gives you a quick, insightful preview of the ideas shaping the future of mortgages, technology, and business in Canada.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – If AI is already here, why does my job feel exactly the same?
00:53 – Welcome to Mortgage Tech Talks
01:37 – Overview: What to expect at the National Mortgage Conference
02:14 – Highlight #1: Benjamin Tal, CIBC Chief Economist
03:12 – Canada’s weak economy and rate predictions
04:18 – Inflation insights: Why slowing inflation doesn’t mean lower prices
05:02 – The shift toward rental demand and what it means for brokers
06:15 – The rise of commercial financing and industry implications
07:11 – Highlight #2: Doug Adams’ session on The Business of Brokering
08:06 – How systems and CRMs are shaping modern brokerages
09:08 – Highlight #3: Tom Hall’s keynote — If AI is Already Here, Why Does My Job Feel Exactly the Same?
10:58 – Why most AI presentations miss the point
11:43 – How technological revolutions actually unfold
12:20 – What AI really means for mortgage professionals
12:45 – Closing thoughts and conference invite
👉 Subscribe for weekly conversations on mortgage technology, automation, and the future of the Canadian mortgage industry.
🎙️ Host: Tom Hall
📍 Presented by: BluMortgage
#MortgageTechTalks #MortgageBrokers #AIMortgage #CanadianMortgages #MortgageTechnology #BluMortgage #MortgageConference #RealEstateCanada #Fintech #MortgageAutomation
14 min
October 10, 2025E92: Future-Proofing Mortgage Brokers with AI
In this episode, we break down a McKinsey report on how global organizations are adopting AI—and what it means for mortgage brokers right now. From marketing and sales to compliance and service operations, we explore where AI is already transforming financial services and how you can leverage it to futureproof your business.
You’ll also hear about Rob Macalister’s take on “vibe coding” and why AI may soon make developing your own tools as common as using email. If you’ve ever wondered whether AI will replace jobs or actually create more opportunities, this episode gives you a clear look at both the risks and the upside.
Timestamps
00:00 – Why mortgage brokers need to develop new skills
00:40 – Introduction and overview of the McKinsey AI report
01:26 – Who McKinsey is and why their data matters
02:36 – Breaking down the first chart: AI use in financial services
05:11 – What brokers actually do (sales, service, legal, marketing, IT)
07:06 – How to start using AI in day-to-day broker activities
08:38 – Report data: hiring challenges in AI-related roles
11:17 – Why this matters for mortgage brokers (Rob Macalister’s article)
13:52 – How AI unlocks opportunities for brokers to build tech
15:35 – The job loss question: what the survey really shows
18:28 – Which roles and functions will actually grow with AI
20:27 – Where brokers should focus to futureproof their careers
21:17 – Final thoughts and call to action
Listen if you’re a mortgage broker who wants to:
Understand how AI is reshaping the industry
Learn which skills will be critical in the next 3 years
See how to apply big-picture trends directly to your business
👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights on mortgage technology and the future of the industry.
#MortgageBroker #AI #MortgageTech #RealEstate #FutureOfWork
22 min
October 03, 2025 E91: AI Clones for Mortgage Brokers? How This Tech Could Change the Industry
AI Clones for Mortgage Brokers? How This Tech Could Change the Industry
In this episode of Mortgage Tech Talks, we dive into a futuristic—but very real—idea: AI clones. Imagine a digital version of you that clients can interact with online, ask questions, and even hear your voice respond back.
We’ll cover what AI clones are, how they work, and how mortgage brokers and financial advisors can use them today for lead generation, nurturing, and building client trust. This isn’t sci-fi. People in the Canadian financial space are already using this technology.
⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: What’s an AI clone?
00:23 – Why mortgage brokers should care
01:04 – How the idea came about
01:22 – What an AI clone actually is
01:58 – Example: Delphi AI and how it works
03:11 – Real-world example with Balaji (ex-CTO of Coinbase)
04:12 – How suggested questions work for clients
05:11 – Exploring blockchain Q&A with an AI clone
06:20 – Voice cloning: live phone calls with AI
07:22 – Using an AI clone for lead generation
08:29 – Training your AI clone with content
08:48 – Business applications for mortgage brokers
09:57 – AI clones as nurturing tools
11:04 – Privacy, compliance, and risk considerations
12:27 – Who’s already using this in Canada
13:45 – Addressing the “Will AI replace me?” question
15:24 – Where human expertise always wins
16:13 – The legacy and future of AI clones
16:38 – Final thoughts and wrap-up
👉 If you’re a mortgage broker, financial advisor, or just curious about how AI is reshaping client relationships, this episode is packed with insights you can’t ignore.
🎧 Listen to Mortgage Tech Talks on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
17 min