December arrives with a jolt as the mortgage industry faces a wave of new challenges—from heightened market volatility to the alarming 35–40% spike in tri-merge credit reporting costs hitting lenders across the country. In this week’s episode of Lykken on Lending, David Lykken and the expert panel unpack what’s driving rate movement, how global forces like the Bank of Japan are influencing U.S. bonds, why affordability continues to erode, and what the MBA is doing to combat unsustainable credit reporting structures. With insights from Adam DeSanctis, Les Parker, Matt Graham, Alice Alvey, David Kittle, Bill Corbett, and more, this episode provides a timely and comprehensive overview of what’s happening now—and what lenders, IMBs, and mortgage professionals must prepare for next.