The cold, hard truth is lending isn't what it used to be. Everything has changed in recent years, forcing lending institutions to change too. As rates continue to increase and the financial landscape keeps evolving, credit unions must acquire new lending strategies to remain competitive in the industry. So, how should CUs adapt to these rapid changes? One of the most critical things you can do is take advantage of data analytics, which can help identify and target the right individuals based on a number of factors, from behavior and demographics to specific life events. In this article, we'll outline what's currently trending in the market and how your credit union can effectively harness the power of data analytics to benefit your members and bottom line.

There is no doubt that major shifts have taken place in the mortgage market over the past couple of years. An increase in competition and the transformation to digital mortgage lending solutions have had a huge effect on how credit unions and other institutions that depend on mortgage lending do business.

Competition is high when it comes to purchasing a home. Prices have increased due to the pandemic, making it a seller’s market. An increase in demand and a decrease in inventory means buyers have to act fast. Multi-offer scenarios and bidding wars have become the norm. Buyers watch prices rise and see their offers rejected. Credit unions must find ways to pave an easier path for home purchasing members. One solution is transforming the home buying experience with best-in-class technology.

With the lowest mortgage rates in years, it’s no surprise that mortgage originations and refinancings are soaring around the nation. This is good news for credit unions. However, advancement in digital technologies and the rise of fintech companies into the lending space also means that the competition in the mortgage lending market is as tough as ever.

Credit unions know their members--all 125 million of them and counting--better than anyone, and the right analytical tools and market intelligence can help your credit union gain market share in a competitive mortgage environment. It is always a good time for CUs to expand their offerings and use technology to streamline the process.

Although credit unions in the U.S. hold a small share of the total mortgage volume, mortgage lending is an important part of doing business for credit unions of all sizes. Since the pandemic and the lowering of interest rates has no doubt put a squeeze on the mortgage lending business and made it more competitive, credit unions that wish to thrive in this environment must leverage their digital technologies, data, and member services to attract new members, generate loans and continue their growth.

With a booming housing market and the challenges facing credit unions to keep up, simplifying the home buying process is critical to delivering outstanding member service and growing the loan origination business for your credit union.

In this digitally competitive day and age, where everyone wants and expects an answer “yesterday,” being efficient is imperative. The mortgage market in particular has grown more and more crowded as home prices soar and interest rates continue to decline. In fact, Interest rates have been dropping since late 2018, recently dipping below 4% in June for a 30-year mortgage, the lowest in about two years. Leveraging your credit union's technology to streamline the loan decision-making process can reduce the turn-around time for the member's application, provide members answers quickly, and potentially be the difference in whether a new loan closes with your credit union or at another financial institution.

For the first time in seven months, the demand for homes is stabilizing. In October the sale of previously owned homes increased, which indicates that existing properties are becoming less scarce. While this bodes well for those in the buyer’s market, mortgage rates have yet to budge. More properties are available, yet the prices continue to rise. The mortgage rate is the highest it has been in eight years, and the Federal Reserve is expected to increase interest rates again in 2018 and into 2019. Although NAR Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun, has urged the Fed to pause interest rates to avoid stunting growth in the housing market.