Are People Leaving The Mortgage Industry?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 2.9% employment growth for mortgage loan originators between 2022 and 2032. During that period, it is forecasted 10,400 jobs in the mortgage industry should open up. Licensed and registered mortgage loan originators advise, authorize and recommend loan approval for individuals and businesses. According to data from the U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS tens of thousands of loan officers LEFT the mortgage industry in 2023 due to inflation, surging mortgage rates, and housing shortage. In October, 2023, 67% of current mortgage loan officers produced less than one unit of closed loans in October. 21% of loan officers closed 1.5 units per month and only 12% of mortgage loan orignators closed greater than 2.5 units. The mortgage industry was decimated due to the economy, high rates, and inventory shortage. Very few from the work force sought work in the mortgage lending industry. According to the Nationwide Mortgage Multistate Licensing System, in the second quarter, there were 24.5 percent fewer individual licenses awarded for mortgage lenders. That means people are leaving the mortgage industry altogether permanently. More loan officers are expected not to renew their NMLS licenses or leave the mortgage industry.In all of 2022 and through the first half of 2023, the average mortgage lender was not profitable and lost money on every mortgage it originated. In first quarter of this year, the average loss was $1,972 per mortgage loan. In the second quarter, the size of the loss improved to $534 per loan.Realtor.com, the real estate listing and informational website forecasts the housing market will continue to struggle in 2024 and mortgage rates will average 6.8% in 2024, and possibly drop to 6.5% by the end of 2024. This is not promising news because mortgage rates were at 2.5% just two years ago. Loan officers are expected to have a tough road ahead because consumers have not adapted to this sudden hike in rates. Until the mortgage rate of 6.5% is accepted as the new normal, the mortgage industry will continue to struggle and more loan officers and mortgage companies are expected to leave the mortgage industry. There were a total of 160,000 licensed and registered mortgage loan originators. 50,000 loan officers have exited the mortgage industry and more are expected to leave this year by the second quarter. There are 90,000 mortgage loan originators left in the mortgage industry today but that number is forecasted to drastically get reduced to as much as 40,000 so only 50,000 loan officers is forecasted to remain in business. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9BdPHXKHfE

Are People Leaving The Mortgage Industry?

Dawn Krueger