Housing Policy, Inflation Trends & June Market Advantage | July 14, 2026

Welcome to this week's episode of Optimal Insights.In this episode, Jim Glennon is joined by James Cahill and Alex Hebner for a market update covering housing policy developments, Middle East tensions, inflation expectations, Federal Reserve dynamics, and the economic pressures facing consumers.The conversation then shifts to Mike Vough and Brennan O'Connell for a review of the latest Market Advantage report, highlighting June mortgage market performance across origination volume, refinance activity, product mix, secondary market trends, mortgage servicing rights (MSR) values, and investor demand.The team shares their expert perspectives on the economic forces influencing mortgage rates, lender activity, and housing market performance as the industry moves through the summer buying season.Subscribe to Market Advantage:https://www2.optimalblue.com/market-advantage/Key PointsHousing policy updates, Middle East geopolitical tensions, and their impact on rates and market sentimentCPI and PPI expectations, Federal Reserve policy outlook, and consumer economic pressuresJune Market Advantage data showing stronger lock activity, growing non-agency lending, and healthy investor demandChapters00:01 – Welcome and market overview01:45 – Housing legislation and housing supply initiatives05:44 – Middle East developments and market implications07:30 – Federal Reserve outlook, inflation, and economic trends18:13 – Market Advantage review: June origination and rate trends22:45 – Secondary market execution, MSR values, and investor activity28:03 – Closing remarksOptimal Insights Team:Jim Glennon, SVP, Hedging and Trading OperationsJames Cahill, MSF/MSR Account ManagerAlex Hebner, Hedge Account ManagerMike Vough, SVP, Corporate StrategyBrennan O'Connell, Director of Data SolutionsProduction Team:Executive Producer: Sara HoltzProducers: Matt Gilhooly & Alex KreuterCommentary included in the podcast shall not be construed as, nor is Optimal Blue providing, any legal, trading, hedging, or financial advice.Mentioned in this episode:Is Your PPE Helping – or Holding You Back?Small delays can become everyday obstacles. If your team relies on workarounds, extra verification steps, or manual processes to keep loans moving, it may be time to rethink your pricing engine. Discover what a modern PPE should deliver – from real-time accuracy and intelligent automation to seamless workflow execution. Learn more today. Explore the Optimal Blue PPE - https://www2.optimalblue.com/optimalblueppe