Why the Fed Expects Fewer Rate Cuts Next Year
As expected, the central bank made a quarter-point cut in its benchmark interest rate Wednesday, but signaled fewer cuts in 2025 than previously predicted.
Special Sections
Four CT Cities Make List of 2024’s Top Markets
According to a new ranking by listings portal Zillow, Connecticut has four of nation’s 10 most-trafficked local housing markets of 2024.
Refi Boom Helped Vault LOs to Top of Charts
While low interest rates kept the refinance boom going through the second year of the pandemic, purchase activity boosted the volumes of many of last year’s top loan originators.
Staff and Technology Key to Record Loan Volumes in 2020
Lenders saw refinance activity in Connecticut double in 2020 compared to 2019, with more than $26.25 billion in residential refinancing, according to The Warren Group, publisher of The Commercial Record. The number of loans originated in the state rose by 74 percent compared to 2019 to more than 89,000 loans.
Wholesaler Seeks Customers for Life
With historically low rates driving Connecticut’s mortgage activity in the first half of the year to its highest levels since 2013, new lenders had opportunities to grab a share of the market.
Before COVID-19 Hit, Lenders Flooded with Refis
Once mortgage rates dropped by more than 50 points over May and June last year, whatever lenders had forecast at the beginning of the year, they soon pivoted, leading to one of the biggest surges in refi activity since the Great Recession.
Fast-Growing Mortgage Lenders Meet Customer Where They’re At
One of Connecticut’s small lenders is using fintech to prove it can play the same game as big, national lenders and win.
Not All See A Lagging Real Estate Market in Connecticut
The strength of demand for homes in the Hartford area helped push one local loan originator into the top ranks of his colleagues statewide.
Despite Economic Troubles, Banks Succeed in Some Pockets of the State
We’ve compiled the top 10 mortgage lenders among Connecticut’s credit unions, banks and mortgage companies, ranked by number of loans and loan volume in several origination categories. Was your bank, credit union or mortgage company a Top Lender in 2018?
Lenders See Growth in First-Time Homebuyer Market
While economic conditions in the state of Connecticut are certainly not ideal, lenders are finding success in the residential and commercial sectors by taking community-driven approaches and following through on strategies they put into motion in previous years.
CR’s Best 2017
Welcome to the results of our 10th annual Commercial Record readers’ poll, in which our readers have cast their votes for the best providers of services and goods in the banking and real estate industries. The Commercial Record has since early September conducted an...Growth In Lending Fueled By Big Banks
Although as of this writing the state legislature had yet to approve a budget for fiscal year 2018 – an issue that is starting to impact future development and loan growth – Connecticut lenders are finding success in pockets of the state.
Celebrating Outstanding Women
The Commercial Record asked its loyal readers to nominate deserving women in the finance, insurance and real estate sectors for its 2017 Women of FIRE awards. From dozens of nominations, the judges narrowed it down to 14 women who stood out from the crowd. They have shown substantial success in their fields, they have demonstrated a commitment to professional and personal growth, and their work has enriched and advanced their fields of endeavor.
Amy Arcano
“There’s Amy, and then there’s everyone else,” reads one of Amy Arcano’s nominations for this year’s Women of FIRE Awards. Another nomination likens her to the protagonist in the TV series “MacGyver,” the top agent who rights all wrongs of the world, mostly through ingenuity.
Diane Arnold
A career banker, Essex Saving Bank’s Diane Arnold is not exactly someone you’d expect to find climbing ladders on construction sites. But Arnold, vice president, senior commercial loan officer and senior loan administration manager, counts many contractors among her clients, described the work zones as “incredibly enjoyable.”
Carolyn Augur
Homebuyers need details – and not just property details.
Susan Friedlander Calzone
One of the most important driving factors behind Susan Friedlander Calzone’s life – personally and professionally – is the ethical pursuit of purpose. She’s been fortunate to have a league of influential leaders in her life to help her work toward making an impact, but she also strives to connect with great leaders.
Sharon Castelli
What would drive a fourth-grade teacher to become the CEO of a real estate holding company that currently has over $20 million in assets?
Virginia Giuffre
Virginia Giuffre is well aware that women are a rarity in finance. During her 21-year career as a financial adviser operating within Merrill Lynch, she’s actively sought to recruit women financial advisers to expand her practice. The problem? They’re very hard to find.
Kathleen Godwin
Bringing a genuine sense of caring to the demographic she serves, Kathy Godwin, New England team manager at Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, oversees a group of 17 in the Medicare division. Through client interactions, community outreach and presentations, her group keeps the public informed of the services and products available to seniors and those living with disabilities, and helps eligible clients to make the best choices.
