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

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Ruby Hales

Loan Originator |NMLS 1691837

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Meet Ruby!

I’m a wife, mother and bonus grandma. I love living in Utah. Hiking, fishing, camping and reading are my favorite things to do. I have a deep love of helping people and a huge supporter of the American Dream so naturally I help people buy homes. I’m always looking for people who want to get in debt to build wealth through homeownership.

Serving Homebuyers In:

  • Kansas
  • Utah

Mortgage Calculators

Monthly Payment

Affordability

Refinance

VA Entitlement & Payments

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Housing Market Update | Week of October 20th

Last Thursday, the 10-year Treasury yield closed below 4% for the first time this year. The Federal Reserve hosts its October Fed Meeting next week and markets expect another 0.25% cut, just like the Fed did in September. However, because of the government shutdown, we haven’t gotten any of the usual economic data that helps markets accurately forecast potential Fed rate cuts. That changes this week. This Friday, we’ll get our September Consumer Price Index (CPI), which was originally scheduled to be released last week. Economists expect the report to show inflation increase by 0.4%. This report typically doesn’t move the needle much for mortgage rates, but rising inflation is always a concern for the Fed and its monetary policy. How this affects the decision to cut the fed funds rate next week is unclear but prepare for potential volatility on Friday just in case. Last Week's Mortgage Rate Recap Rates Dropped Slightly The second full week of the government shutdown once again prevented the release of any market-moving economic data. We did see the 10-year yield close below 4% for the first time this year, and as of this morning, it continues to sit around 3.99%. The reason the 10-year continued to dip is due to traders seeking safer returns with stocks struggling after declines in bank shares, trade tensions with China, and the ongoing government shutdown. This Week's Mortgage Rate Forecast Rates Could Be Volatile Economic data is back on the table this week with the release of our CPI inflation report coming on Friday morning. Economists forecast September CPI to come in somewhere between 0.3% and 0.4%, which would cause year-over-year inflation to increase from 2.9% to 3%. Although CPI doesn’t typically move the markets too much, it would be best to prepare our clients for potential volatility on Friday. The other factor that could impact mortgage rates this week would be the end of the government shutdown. Several key reports, including our pivotal BLS jobs report, have been held back due to the shutdown. When government employees return to work, these reports will be released soon after. Based on private payroll data from ADP, economists expect this BLS report to highlight a continually weakening labor market. If all those dominoes fall, rates could drop as well. Read this blog for more on the government shutdown’s impact on the housing market and mortgage process. If you have any questions or would like updates as we receive new developments on the government shutdown, follow this link to connect with a mortgage expert 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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