Well, it’s that time of year again. And while, like you, we’re all really busy—especially as 2021 draws to a close—we’re grateful that the Thanksgiving holiday forces us to slow down and reflect. As a society, we don’t do that well or really even make it easy to do. But we think it’s something we could all use a bit more of. So let’s start by being grateful that we have an opportunity to be….well, grateful!

It’s been another great year in the mortgage industry. Different from 2020, to be sure, but great. Let’s all be grateful that, to this point, we’ve made it through some challenging times and that many of us are even thriving. That won’t last forever, and not everyone made it through unscathed. But if you’ve been blessed enough to get through what we hope will prove to be the worst of the pandemic, there’s a lot to be thankful for.

Although some may be wringing their hands with the onset of a more competitive market; or because of increased production costs or with a more aggressive mortgage compliance environment, the fact is that most forecasters are calling for a relatively high origination volume again in 2022. Refinance volume has miraculously stayed high through most of the current year, when some were suggesting we’d be in a primarily purchase market before we got to the Fourth of July. Let’s all be grateful that there’s business to be had; opportunities to grow through competition and innovation and the continued desire to help Americans realize the American Dream.

On a personal note, we have a lot to be grateful for this year at LodeStar as well. A brand-new office. A number of amazing new teammates. A number of award and accolades. A host of incredible clients and partners. And new opportunities on a daily basis. We thank you, our readers, partners, peers and clients, for helping this humble little firm that started off simply from a small apartment in New York as a start-up producer of a closing cost calculator to become a national brand, and all of the opportunities that, in turn, come with that. We wouldn’t have had another great year in 2021 without you, and for that, we are grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Got an idea for a future Deeper Thoughts or LLL? Let me know at jpaolino@lssoftwaresolutions.com.