Earlier this month, I had the privilege of attending the Texas Mortgage Bankers Association’s (TMBA) Summer Board Meeting in beautiful Newberg, Oregon. This is the second year I’ve attended the summer board meeting as co-chair of the TMBA regulatory compliance committee, and the first year in my capacity as President of the Dallas Mortgage Bankers Association.
The Summer Board Meeting is an opportunity for reflection and discussion of the trajectory of the TMBA. In the words of CEO Scott Norman, “it’s the most critical three days of the year” for the TMBA. There’s a palpable feeling of unity as we come together as volunteers aligned with one goal of making the Texas MBA the best it can be. Below are a few of the notable discussion points, highlights, and a preview of upcoming TMBA events.
Successful Advocacy Efforts, and More to Come. The TMBA general counsel, Meredyth Fowler, provided a detailed summary of recent advocacy efforts from 89th Texas Legislature. As arguably the most important function of the TMBA, these efforts shape Texas legislation to protect homeowners, promote financial education, and support the mortgage industry. TMBA made meaningful progress on multiple fronts this year, including:
- Financial Literacy. Legislation was passed mandating that school districts and charter schools offer personal financial literacy courses as part of high school curriculum;
- Insurance Transparency. Legislation was passed requiring insurance companies to provide notice and reasons for declination, cancellation, or nonrenewal of policies;
- Combatting Deed and Financial Fraud. Legislation was passed involving several anti-fraud measures.
There was also discussion devoted to monitoring developments with the Foreign Ownership Bill passed (SB 17), which aims to restrict foreign ownership of Texas real estate. A class action lawsuit has been filed seeking to strike down SB 17 in Wang et al. v. Paxton, Case No. 4:25-cv-3103 (S. Dist. Tex.).
Membership is Trending Upward. The Texas MBA has seen a 23.2% increase in membership since the 2024 Annual Convention. This is a fantastic result, and at a time when other state MBAs may be experiencing member attrition. This upward trend, however, must continue in order to ensure the success of the Texas MBA and the support it provides member companies (like the advocacy efforts above). Some companies with a significant Texas presence remain notably absent, and bringing them into the fold would benefit all Texas mortgage lenders. If your company is included in that group, I’d humbly ask that you consider becoming a member: https://www.texasmba.org/membership.html You won’t regret it.
Upcoming TMBA Events/Reminders:
Applications for the Certified Mortgage Leader (CML) Program are due September 1, 2025. As a graduate of the 202-2023 CML class, the value of this program cannot be understated. I’d encourage anyone interested in developing their leadership skills, building their professional network, or expanding their knowledge of our great industry to consider applying. Don’t delay, the deadline is this week! https://www.texasmba.org/cml/docs/application.pdf
Texas Housing Summit. A change in the TMBA schedule of events this year that I’m particularly excited about is the Texas Housing Summit, scheduled for November 4, 2025, at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, TX. This event is in lieu of the symposium normally held around the same time, and the tentative schedule and speakers look fantastic. The broad range of topics and speakers should appeal to Realtors, Lenders, Brokers, and Builders alike. You won’t want to miss this opportunity! https://www.texasmba.org/summit/default.html
Personal Highlight – Winetasting with Friends/Colleagues. As a final note, it’s no surprise that proximity to some of the best wineries in the world was a bonus to the location of the Summer Board meeting. The ability to network and enjoy the company of friends and colleagues is always a highlight for me, and this board meeting was no exception. In addition to sampling wineries with Texas MBA friends, my wife and I explored some hiking nearby and some fantastic Oregon cuisine/coffee. We had a fantastic time!