President’s Message

As we close out 2025, I find myself reflecting on a year that tested our adaptability, reaffirmed our resilience, and reminded us why Iowa’s mortgage community continues to stand out as one of the strongest in the nation. While interest-rate fluctuations, evolving regulatory shifts and rapid advances in technology kept our industry moving at a brisk pace, each of you met these challenges with professionalism and an unwavering commitment to the borrowers we serve.

This year, our association made significant strides in strengthening member resources and deepening our collaborative network. Your engagement has shaped an organization that is more responsive and more informed. I am grateful for your active participation and for the many voices that continue to guide our direction.

As we look ahead to 2026, the opportunities before us are substantial. Housing inventory remains a central conversation in communities across Iowa, and our role in supporting responsible lending, advocating for balanced policy, and educating consumers has never been more critical. The upcoming legislative session will bring important discussions about affordability, credit access, property tax reform and technology governance. The IMA will be at the table — representing your interests and championing the needs of Iowa’s homebuyers.

I am particularly excited about new partnerships designed to elevate our voice in local, state and regional housing conversations. These initiatives reflect our shared belief that a strong mortgage industry is built on knowledge, leadership and cooperation.

As you take time this holiday season to rest and be with family and friends, I hope you also take pride in the meaningful work you have accomplished. Every loan, every conversation and every act of guidance helps another Iowan take a step toward stability, security and the dream of homeownership.

Thank you for your continued trust and commitment to the IMA. I am honored to serve as your president, and I look forward to everything we will achieve together in the year ahead.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous new year.

Association Updates

As the new year approaches, it’s time to renew your IMA membership. By addressing current issues in government relations, public relations, professional development and more, the IMA connects the mortgage community through education and resources to promote homeownership. Please join the IMA for another successful year by renewing your membership. Through membership in the IMA, you will receive:



• Monthly updates through IMA Prime Times
• Discounts on IMA program registration fees, including the annual spring and fall conferences
• Legislative efforts to strengthen the industry
• Industry information and association updates via the IMA website

Contact Darcy Burnett with any questions.

The IMA Spring Conference will be held March 24-25 at the Hyatt Hotel in Coralville. Details on the agenda will be available soon. The IMA Spring Conference features an exhibit hall with vendors and the popular mortgage production awards.

At the IMA Fall Conference in October, closing speaker Jack Stahlmann shared a powerful message with fun and energy. In his presentation about looking at the upside of life, he highlighted a personal branding exercise. The goal of the exercise was to see if who you think you are matches others’ perceptions. Do you have a disconnect between who you think you are and how other people perceive you? This is a great exercise to see yourself through another lens.

Knowing how other people think about you can help you adjust to project the brand you would like to put out in the world. This can help you check in with yourself to see if you are who you think you are in the workplace. Learn more about your personal brand and how you can better connect with others.

IMA leadership thought this was a great idea and wanted to share Jack Stahlmann’s exercise with you. Learn more about the Connect Exercise. 

Industry News

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has increased the conforming loan limits for residential mortgage loans acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2026 to $832,750. For high-cost areas, and for Alaska, Guam, Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the loan limit for a one-unit home increased to $1,249,125. Read the FHFA announcement. 

The Nationwide Multistate Licensing System’s (NMLS) annual renewal period for registered mortgage loan originators will end Dec. 31. As part of the renewal process, each registered mortgage loan originator must review their registration information to ensure it remains accurate and complete. Confirm your institution and mortgage loan originators have successfully completed their renewal to ensure a seamless transition into the new year. For more information on renewals, visit the NMLS Federal Resource Center.