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UMortgage Earns Second Consecutive Inc. 5000 Ranking for America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies

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Jerad Brereton

Loan Originator |NMLS 1769648

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Meet Jerad!

As your trusted UMortgage Loan Originator, my goal is to simplify the mortgage process to make your home loan experience easy to navigate! Please reach out so I can help start your home financing journey.

Serving Homebuyers In:

  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Florida
  • Idaho
  • Illinois

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Housing Market Update | Week of November 3rd

Just as we expected, the Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate by 0.25% during last week’s October Fed Meeting. Despite the hawkish tone of Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s post-meeting press conference, mortgage rates remained relatively flat. The 10-year Treasury yield rose from 3.97% before the Fed meeting to 4.08% by the end of the day on Friday. The good news is that the bond market and mortgage rates aren’t acting the same way they did after back-to-back Fed rate cuts in 2024. Several factors have contributed to this decline in rates, but none more so than the deterioration of the labor market. To see rates drop further, though, we’ll need the government shutdown to end so we can receive the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) monthly jobs report before the next Fed Meeting on December 10th. Last Week's Mortgage Rate Recap Rates Were Flat The Federal Reserve slashed the fed funds rate by 0.25% last week, marking back-to-back rate cuts at Fed Meetings for the first time since the end of 2024. Unlike last year, though, mortgage rates haven’t risen out of control directly following the rate cut. There are a few reasons for this. A lot can be attributed to improved mortgage spreads, but the biggest reason is a different economic complexion. This year, five of our eight reports have reported more than 100k jobs created, but only one exceeded 200k; the three reports between June and August reported just 88,000 combined jobs created. Compare that to last year, where 10 months reported six-figure job growth, with eight at +200k. Without our September jobs numbers (initially scheduled for release on October 3 and delayed due to the government shutdown), the Fed is partially flying blind. Because of this, Powell was quick to push back on expectations of a third straight rate cut during the December Fed Meeting. His hawkish tone sent rates higher and confirmed what we already knew: we need to see more weak labor market data for rates to keep falling. To get those numbers, we need the government shutdown to end as soon as possible. This Week's Mortgage Rate Forecast Rates Could Move Slightly After minimal movement following last week’s Fed Meeting, it will be important to see how the market reacts early this week. We’re on day 34 of the government shutdown, and if it extends to Wednesday, it will be the longest on record. Every day this continues is another day without labor metrics crucial to the Fed’s monetary policy, and with many government workers now going through another pay period without a paycheck, the economic impact of this shutdown is becoming more widespread. We will, at the very least, see private payroll data in Wednesday’s ADP Employment Report. Although this doesn’t tell the whole story for the labor market, it’s still our de facto jobs report in the absence of BLS data. Markets are expecting a meager 24,000 jobs created in the ADP report, up from last month’s negative report, but still exceptionally low. Another wrinkle throughout the week will be speeches from various Fed members. Ten of the 12 members voted to lower the federal funds rate by 0.25%, but Powell suggested less unanimity for another cut in December. If these speeches match Powell’s hawkish tone from last Wednesday, we could see the 10-year go higher. If you have any questions or want some real-time market analysis from a mortgage expert, follow this link to connect with a UMortgage Loan Originator near you!

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How the 2025 Government Shutdown Affects the Housing Market

On October 1st, 2025, a shutdown of the federal government began. Believe it or not, government shutdowns can have a multifaceted impact on the housing industry and mortgages. To help you be prepared and stay in the know, here’s how the mortgage process and the housing market are affected. Quick Answer Closings haven’t stopped, but some files will move more slowly. FHA and VA are largely operating (with some limits), conventional loans continue to move under GSE guidance, USDA loans for new approvals are paused, and a lapse in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) can block some flood-zone closings. Key economic reports are delayed, which can make mortgage rates prone to increased volatility when the shutdown ends. How a Government Shutdown Impacts Mortgage Rates During a shutdown, we get a “data blackout” from federal statistical agencies. For example, the September BLS labor report, which is typically one of the bigger market movers, was not released as scheduled on October 3rd. Other reports have been delayed; for example, our September CPI inflation report has been pushed to October 24, 2025. With no economic data leading up to our next Fed Meeting on October 29, the markets can’t fully forecast whether the Fed will cut, which could result in fewer gradual movements and more rate swings. Loan Programs: What’s Running and What’s Slowed Non-government-backed loan programs, such as Conventional Loans, will not be impacted by the government shutdown. Specific government-backed programs, like FHA loans and VA loans, are largely unaffected, but delays may occur. This shutdown most heavily impacts USDA loans. USDA Rural Development’s Single-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program largely pauses new activity. If a valid conditional commitment was already issued, some closings may proceed; otherwise, new USDA approvals will wait until staff return. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) The NFIP’s authority lapsed on September 30, 2025. Existing policies remain in force until expiration, but because of the shutdown, no new or renewed NFIP policies can be issued during the lapse. This can halt closings in flood zones that require NFIP coverage until reauthorization. Underwriting & Operations Delays If you’re a federal employee or contractor affected by a furlough, your loan may still be eligible. GSE guidance allows temporary flexibilities around employment verification; some files may need extra reserves if the shutdown extends. If you’re a prospective homebuyer wondering if a government shutdown will impact your homebuying or refinance process, or a real estate agent concerned with the impact this shutdown may have on your buyers, get in touch with a UMortgage Loan Originator for expert advice. They’ll be able to tell you how to navigate the market, act proactively to avoid delays, and find alternate solutions to help you close on time or as quickly as possible.

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UMortgage Q3 Snapshot: Families Served, Industry Awards, & New Tech

The third quarter of 2025 was a big one for UMortgage as it continued to create life-changing opportunities through homeownership. Between new industry accolades, first-of-its-kind technology, and thousands of families served, Q3 gave UMortgage plenty of momentum to close out the year strong as mortgage rates continue to drop. UMortgage started the quarter with a reminder of the company’s continued growth when it was named to the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies for the second year in a row. This prestigious award was earned after UMortgage grew its revenue by 716% from 2021 to 2024, helping 21,639 families build generational wealth through homeownership along the way. When mortgage rates dropped in Q3, UMortgage Loan Originators were quick to help homebuyers and homeowners take advantage of newfound affordability and savings. They originated a combined 1,729 mortgages, including 508 VA loans and 410 refinances, in 41 different states across the country. Each of these families received industry-best service throughout their mortgage process as well. UMortgage’s Net Promoter Score (NPS) was 98 out of 100 in Q3. A company’s NPS is earned through single-question surveys sent to clients immediately after closing to gauge their experience when it’s freshest. Positive relationships with borrowers and real estate agents are at the center of UMortgage’s ethos. To help UMortgage Loan Originators track and improve their relationships, UMortgage launched the Referral Partner Relationship Tracker in Q3 on Tempo, its proprietary sales performance tracking app. The Relationship Tracker, launched on August 15, 2025, provides every LO with a simple way to log touchpoints (calls, meetings, texts, and emails), view relationship health at a glance, and receive alerts when they need to reach out, all within Tempo. It’s integrated with ARIVE and Salesforce, so activity is captured automatically, and follow-up never falls through the cracks. The Tempo team is actively working on the Lead Tracker, which provides similar resources to deliver a consistent and excellent experience for individuals seeking a mortgage. The results of these tools within Tempo are more proactive communication with borrowers and agents, stronger referral pipelines, and a better post-closing experience. UMortgage and its Loan Originators are committed to providing prospective homebuyers, homeowners, and real estate with a best-in-class mortgage experience. Ready to learn more? Click here to see the products and services UMortgage offers. If you’re a Loan Originator interested in unlocking the tools available on the UMortgage platform, like Tempo, watch our Loan Originators Powered by UMortgage presentation, and a member of my team will be in touch.

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