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November 2020
President’s Message
by Sherry Gallitz
President, MBA of Florida

Greetings,

As we continue to forge through and close the books on what has been an interesting year; the MBA of Florida remains dedicated to providing its members with the tools that will help prepare you for 2021’s uncertainty. While 2020 has been a year of unique experiences and unprecedented occurrences there does seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel:
  • The MBA recognized the Biden-Harris team on their historic election victory.
  • A COVID-19 vaccine appears to be on the horizon.
  • Starting on December 1, a new “Adverse Market Refinance Fee” will be imposed on most conventional refinances, excluding any refi below $125k and any HomePossible or HomeReady loans. 
  • FHA announced its Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund capital ratio ended fiscal year 2020 at 6.1%, well above its congressionally mandated 2.0% capital ratio to its highest level since 2007.
  • FHFA Proposed a Rule to Increase Transparency of New GSE Products and Activities.
  • The CFPB Extended the GSE Patch ‘Indefinitely’.
  • Mortgage loans in Forbearances continues its steady decline.
  • MBA Forecasts 2021 Purchase Originations to Increase to Record $1.54 Trillion.
The MBA will continue to play a pivotal role in spearheading advocacy for our industry. As President & Chief Executive Officer Robert Broeksmit, CMB has said, “while we have achieved tremendous things this year for our members and consumers, our work is not done. We will continue to lead. We will continue to grow. We will continue to get it done.”
How has the Florida MBA supported you and how will we support your organization?
Advocacy – The MBA is your voice! When the GSE’s suddenly added an additional .5% fee on refinance mortgages, the MBA gave us a platform to send messages to the Hill in a moment’s notice.  Did you know that our association has a lobbyist to bring issues we have throughout the state to Tallahassee to represent our collective concerns? Our Florida Political Action Committee ensures the financial impact is made so our Florida concerns are heard.
               Click here to join MAA
Education – Our association brings online education and resources to you on the state level with national speakers and trainers and timely news you need to know; while our local chapters also host educational meetings allowing comraderies amongst our members. You can find us on our website and like us on Facebook and LinkedIn for our calendar of events.
               Click here for education opportunities 
Conferences – Our Annual Secondary Conference and Convention is second to none. With National speakers and State representatives and a chance to catch up the latest happenings in our industry and with our members, this is a must-see event.
 Since June 2020 your Executive Committee has been busy working to support you and our industry:
  • The Education Committee, chaired by Tim Bazell and Gina Dionisio, have hosted four Virtual Education sessions. Two National speakers and two of our MI Partners. Don’t forget to register for one of the two session in our next event with Doug Smith on Jan. 20th @ 10am or 2pm.
  • Our Membership Committee, chaired by Yvette Clermont, CMB and Dawn Henshaw, have renewed existing members while recruiting new members who need to be part of our association. If you are a mortgage banker or vendor working in our industry, you should consider supporting the MBAF membership.
  • Our Secondary Market and Convention Committees are getting ready to begin the planning process for the 2021 "Back to Back" event. Please mark your calendars now! June 22-24, 2021 17th Annual Secondary Market Conference and the 67th Annual Convention to be held at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando.
  • Robert Villalon and Ben Fant, our MPAC co-chairs, have been working hard with our legislative consultant, Eric Prutsman in Tallahassee, to ensure our voices are being heard on mortgage industry legislation and the political campaigns who can help our industry most.
In closing, I would like to thank all our members who support the MBA of Florida and our industry. More than ever, we need each other to have a strong, sustainable marketplace and have our Florida concerns heard in Tallahassee and DC. If you are not a member, please consider joining the association today and help support the industry that supports you!
Working together to support our industry. Together – we are powerful! 
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Legislative Update
by Eric Prutsman, Esq, MBAF Legislative Representative, Tallahassee, FL
 
With the elections now in the rearview mirror, the Florida Legislature moved forward on November 17th with the Organizational Session, naming Senator Wilton Simpson from Pasco County as Senate President, and Representative Chris Sprowls from Pinellas County as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Both legislative leaders will preside over larger Republican majorities than their predecessors, with the House Republicans picking up five seats in the November elections, giving them a 78 to 42 majority, and the Senate Republicans picking up one seat, giving them a 24 to 16 majority.

Although the 2021 Legislative Session is three months away, legislators are preparing for interim committee meetings throughout January and February. COVID-19 protocols will be announced soon that will guide interaction of the public with the Legislature during both interim and session weeks.
The major issues facing the Legislature are primarily budgetary. The economic downturn created by the pandemic has turned into an economic recovery and the fiscal outlook for Florida has improved over the past few months. Further growth in the economy could delay an anticipated special session on the current fiscal year budget in January. However, the outlook for fiscal year 2021-2022 continues to indicate that Florida will have a deficit in the coming year unless cuts are made this upcoming session. The good news is that although there may need to be some budget belt-tightening, Florida’s budget situation is much better than many other states.

Also on the agenda for the Legislature is COVID-19 related legislation to address liability reforms for businesses. More than a dozen states have enacted COVID-19 liability reforms to protect businesses. The House has indicated it will establish a Pandemic & Public Emergency Committee to address any issues connected with COVID-19 and the Senate is expected to also have a similar committee. Both the House and Senate will continue to have Banking & Insurance Committees.
Of particular interest to MBAF members, there will be another push this year for affordable housing funds in the Sadowski Trust Fund. Although the Legislature agreed to fund the Trust Fund, the Governor vetoed a portion of the housing funds and replaced them with CARES Act dollars. The vetoed funds remain unused in the Local Government Housing Trust Fund and will be available to the Legislature for funding. MBAF will be advocating again for full funding of the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund.

MBAF will also be keeping a close eye on insurance, taxation, and regulatory issues as the new Legislature begins filing what is expected to be nearly three thousand legislative bills prior to Session. We will keep you informed of significant developments as soon as we know.
Mark Your Calendars!
2021 Eastern Secondary Market Conference and
Annual Convention
June 22-24

Eastern Secondary Market Conference Committee is Looking for Committee Members
Mike Azzarello, CMB and Michelle Knoebel, CMB are Co-Chairing the MBA of Florida’s Eastern Secondary Market Committee and would like to invite all interested members with expertise or interest in Secondary Marketing to sign up and join our committee. The committee can use your brain power and contacts to help plan another successful Secondary Conference back to back with our Annual Convention in June 2021. The committee will start meeting soon to will put together a great program with awesome speakers so come join us and add your touch!

Email Brenda Thomas at mbaf@mbaf.org and we will add you to our committee.
Local Chapters Upcoming Events
MBA of South Florida 45th Annual Holiday Toy Drive
MBA of Tampa Bay Annual Children's Home Event
NEW! MBAF Annual Sponsorships
We are excited to announce an additional opportunity for you to better network with our members while supporting our association at a time in need. Our Annual Sponsorship Program and is available for a limited number of member partners to better connect you with our members. The MBAF leadership is working hard to help our association stay on track so your association can continue to support and represent our industry at the state level. We can’t do it alone and need your support so please consider this win/win opportunity to be an Annual Sponsor with the MBA of Florida.
  
Benefits for MBAF Annual Sponsors: 
 
  • Promoted and recognized on MBAF Member Communications
  • Logo and recognition on each mailing
  • Publish article or content in our quarterly Newsletter
  • Sponsor and host a Member Webinar
  • Member of MBAF Advisory Board
 
Please support the industry that supports you and become an Annual Sponsor for only $1,500!
 
If interested, please contact Brenda Thomas, MBAF Executive Director at MBAF@MBAF.org
Introducing our First Annual Sponsor
The MBA of Florida would like to thank and recognize one of our Annual Sponsors, Vice Capital Markets!   
 
When it comes to maximizing secondary marketing execution, experience matters. Since 2001, Vice Capital Markets has successfully managed interest rate risk and maximized profitability on over half a trillion dollars in mortgage-backed security trades and mortgage-related transactions. Their expertise and familiarity with the variety of executions and end investors available has yielded superior results for mortgage lender clients throughout long market rallies as well as swift declines. In all interest rate environments, their fallout models and risk management strategies have successfully handled market fluctuations to maintain consistent results for their clients.
 
With an average of 10+ years’ experience behind each of the traders on their team, Vice Capital Markets has helped clients realize, on average, a 25 to 55 bps improvement over their best effort execution. Whether its providing full-service interest rate risk management or simply supplying reporting and analytics along with market insight to help guide internally-driven activities, Vice Capital delivers the same level of care and attention to ensuring the success of their clients, creating lifelong raving fans. To learn how Vice Capital can help your organization maximize its execution, contact Scott Colclough, SVP of Business Development at (720) 201-9673 or scolclough@vicecapitalmarkets.com.
 
Please support those members who support our association!
TWO WEBINARS January 20, 2021
Selling to Realtors in Today's Market
The landscape of the real estate world is changing, and smart originators see it. This fast-paced 45-minute webinar presents ten powerful “do and don’ts” for targeting and working with Real Estate agents effectively and successfully in 2021.

Building a Winning Team
Managers with the best loan origination talent on their teams always out-produce and out-perform everyone else. This fascinating 45-minute webinar presents the 8 core competencies managers need to develop in their originators if their goal is to have a high volume “winning” team.

This presentation is designed and delivered by Douglas Smith, president of Douglas Smith & Associates. Doug is a 37-year mortgage industry veteran, a nationally-known speaker, author and sales training expert. Doug has delivered more than 2,000 presentations and workshops for banks, mortgage companies and lender association events across the country. He has published over 300 feature articles in national business magazines and is the author of Climbing the Ladder of Success and Green Zone Selling. Learn more if you like on his website at www.DougSmithOnline.com
Important Links Below!
Have You Renewed?
If you are not on the list below we have not received your payment. You can log in to renew online Click Here or email mbaf@mbaf.org for a hard copy of your invoice. (Bold and * are ALL Chapter Members!) If you are interested in joining CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION AND THE APPLICATION
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION MEMBERS
Academy Mortgage Corporation
Acopia Home Loans
A&D Mortgage LLC
American Bancshares Mortgage
Ameris Bank
AmeriHome Mortgage Company LLC
Assurance Financial Group, LLC
bankprov. Warehouse Lending
Capital City Home Loans
Centennial Bank
Chase
Christensen Financial
Drummond Community Bank
Eagle Home Mortgage, LLC
Embrace Home Loans
Envoy Mortgage
Fairwinds Credit Union
Farm Credit of NW FL
First Community Mortgage
First Federal Bank
First Home Bank
Flagstar Bank
Florida Capital Bank
Franklin American Mortgage Company
Freedom Mortgage
Group One Mortgage
Hamilton Group Funding
Home Point Financial
*Homebridge Financial Services, Inc.
*iberiabank
Inlanta Mortgage
K Hovnanian
New American Funding
PENFED Credit Union
Paramount Residential Mortgage
Planet Home Lending
Plaza Home Mortgage
Regions Bank
South State Bank
Synovus
TC Federal Bank
*The Mortgage Firm
TIAA Bank
*Truist Bank
Union Home Mortgage
United States Automobile Association
*US Bank
VyStar Credit Union
Waterstone Mortgage Corp
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Affinity Five Search Group
*Arch MI
Black, Mann & Graham, LLP
Capital Markets Cooperative
CATIC
Essent
Factual Data
Fannie Mae
*Genworth Mortgage Insurance
Home Captain, Inc.
Marketwise Valuation Services
MERSCORP
Mortgage Capital Trading, “MCT”
*Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corp.
*National MI
Optimal Blue
Radian Guaranty
ServiceLink
Southern Title Holding LLC
SupportLink3
The Compliance Group
The StoneHill Group
XINNIX, Inc.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
 Michael Azzarello, CMB
Scott Bailey
Brian Chibbaro
Scott Colclough
Michelle Glass, Esq.
Matthew Goldman, CLO, CRO
Doug Leever
Katerina Rodriguez
Alan Verch, CMB
Becoming a CMB
Earning the Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB®) designation is the best way to learn about the entire mortgage lending industry, and I am very grateful to the MBA of America for creating this program. It symbolizes respect, credibility, ethics, and achievement within real estate finance. Earning a CMB instantly places you at the top of our dynamic industry and makes you a part of the elite group that has achieved the highest level of professional success. If you are willing to put the work into it, becoming a CMB® is achievable, and you, too, can obtain the highest professional designation available in the real estate financing industry!
 
I passed my CMB® orals at the MBA in DC during the financial crises in December of 2008 when I was president of the MBA of Florida. If you live or work in Florida and want to earn the CMB designation, MBAF’s Certified Mortgage Bankers Society of Florida is here to assist you. https://lnkd.in/gmdJEk7
Thank You Sponsors!
Title Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
WHAT IS MPAC AND WHAT IS IT'S PURPOSE?

  1. To promote and strive for the improvement of government in Florida by encouraging mortgage bankers and others to take a more active and effective role in governmental affairs.
  2. To encourage mortgage bankers and others to know and understand the nature and actions of their state government; the important political, social, and economic issues of the day; and the role of office holders, and candidates in meeting these issues.
  3. To assist mortgage bankers and others in organizing themselves for more effective political action that they might more intelligently carry out their civic and social and economic responsibilities.
  4. To raise funds for the foregoing purposes and from such funds to make contributions to or for the benefit of those who are candidates for appropriate elective offices without regard to party affiliation. We have superior representation with Eric Prutsman in Tallahassee and we need the continued support of our Florida mortgage bankers to insure that
  5. we can continue to have an audience with our elected policy makers.