Mark Witte Truth and Lending Team

08/01/2026

"Protection that matters" isn't just about our clients.

It's about you.

It's the peace of mind that comes with weekend and overnight lock protection—so when you're off the clock, you're actually off the clock. It's competitive pricing and a product suite deep enough that you never have to tell a client "we can't do that." It's technology built to work with you, not against you—so you get your time back instead of chasing admin.

We talk a lot about protecting clients and transactions. But here's the truth: We protect the people who protect them.

If you've been at a shop where you felt like you were on your own, where the tech was an afterthought, or where protecting your own peace of mind meant working 24/7—let's talk.

Highland isn't built that way.

Explore what it looks like to work somewhere that has your back.

HighlandCareers.com

07/25/2026

This weekend my son and I drove to Chattanooga to meet my dad, my brother, and my nephew while they were on their way to a summer baseball tournament in Louisiana. As we walked through the Tennessee Aquarium, we came across an exhibit about the Vancouver Island totem poles. One question on the display stopped me in my tracks:

“What would make up your totem pole?”

It made me think—not just about life, but about our industry.

Every loan officer has a different totem pole. For some, it’s culture. For others, it’s leadership, products, technology, marketing, operational support, compensation, flexibility, or simply being surrounded by people who genuinely want to help them grow.

Then I started watching the families around us. Every person was drawn to something different. Some couldn’t leave the interactive exhibits. Others stood mesmerized by the jellyfish. We spent extra time waiting for the river otters to wake up. What captured one person’s attention wasn’t necessarily what mattered to someone else.

The same is true when choosing where you build your career.

So here’s my question:

If you built your mortgage career into a totem pole, what would the pieces be? And more importantly… does your current company reflect what’s most important to you?

There’s no perfect mortgage company. But there is a place where your priorities, values, and goals align with the people you’re building alongside.

If your totem pole and your company no longer look the same, it may be worth having a conversation.

No pressure. No hard recruiting pitch. Just an opportunity to explore what’s important to you and whether your current environment is helping you become the loan officer you want to be.

If that conversation sounds worthwhile, I’d love to connect.

🔗 https://highlandcareers.com

04/15/2026

Today was one of those simple moments that says more than any pitch ever could.

We showed up early to an agent caravan—catered lunch, brought financing flyers, supported the preview. Nothing flashy. Just doing what we said we’d do.

While waiting, I asked the listing agent why he enjoys working with our team. His answer was simple:

We’re dependable.
We have options.
We keep him informed.
And most importantly—we get to the closing table without surprises.

That last one matters more than people say.

It gave me a chance to share something that doesn’t get talked about enough…

At Highland Mortgage, the decision-makers are still in the trenches. We’re producing loan officers. We’ve had the same conversations, solved the same problems, and carried the same pressure our partners face every day.

We built this company because we knew we could do it better—with more accountability and without answering to a board removed from reality.

We answer to our clients.
We answer to our agents.
We answer to our team.

And that changes everything.

You don’t have to say you’re different.
Just show up consistently—and people notice.

If you’ve felt the gap between what you want to deliver and what your platform allows… let’s talk.

01/01/2026

In Southern Italy, there’s a New Year’s tradition called buttare le cose vecchie—literally throwing old things out the window. It’s a symbolic clearing out of the past to make room for blessings, wealth (lentils), and love (red underwear). It’s a bold and messy way to reset… and honestly, we could use a little of that energy in the mortgage and real-estate world too.

As we step into 2026, what if we tossed out the old narratives around homeownership that no longer serve us or our clients? Not the data. Not the strategy. The stories we tell ourselves and repeat without questioning:

🪟 Narrative 1: “It’s too expensive.”

Yes, affordability has been a challenge—but the last quarter of 2025 brought improvement in rates, inventory, and buyer opportunity. Something can be expensive and still affordable with the right plan.

A high price tag doesn’t automatically make a goal impossible—it just means the conversation has to start earlier and the strategy has to be smarter.

🪟 Narrative 2: “I don’t have the down payment.”

This one hurts the most, because it’s usually paired with not knowing the options:

* Gifts from family

* Loans against retirement accounts

* Grants

* Repayable or forgivable down-payment assistance programs

* Forgivable second mortgages for teachers, first responders, and community heroes

There are more low and no-down-payment paths today than at any other time in modern lending. Most people just haven’t been told the full story yet.

🪟 Narrative 3: “The housing market will crash.”

Markets shift, but housing doesn’t obey the laws of gravity—home values don’t have to fall just because they rose.

History backs this up: from 5th-century Rome to today, real estate has consistently rebounded, recovered, and moved higher after periods of volatility.

A dip isn’t a collapse. It’s a chapter—not the ending. The Bigger Truth

Homeownership isn’t just a transaction: It’s stability in a world that feels anything but stable

A vessel for long-term financial security

A foundation for family legacy and future opportunity

A place where life happens, dreams form, and plans take shape

But we can’t step into a new future while clinging to old assumptions. Progress starts when we open our minds, ask better questions, and begin the conversation about what’s possible.

So let me ask you this—because this is the real reset moment:

What barriers or narratives are you committing to throw out the window this year? And even more importantly: How can we, as mortgage and real-estate professionals, help rewrite the narrative for those who don’t even know where to start? If 2026 is the year of clarity, possibility, and action, then it starts with the conversations we choose to have today.

Let’s throw out what was… And make room for what can be.

12/30/2025

🎉 Exciting News! I’m Now a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist (CMPS®)! 🏡📊

I’m thrilled to share that I’ve officially earned my CMPS® (Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist) certification — a designation that elevates how we serve our clients, and expands the value we bring to referral partners like CPAs, financial planners, and other advisors.

So, what does that mean?
As a CMPS®, I’ve completed advanced training in mortgage planning that goes beyond traditional loan origination — integrating mortgage decisions into long-term financial and tax planning. This credential is designed to ensure I can help clients:

✅ Understand how their mortgage fits into their overall financial strategy — not just today, but over decades of homeownership.
✅ Navigate the tax implications, cash-flow impacts, and investment outcomes tied to mortgage choices.
✅ Make smarter decisions about debt management, retirement planning, real estate investing, and more.

This isn’t just about closing loans — it’s about helping clients build wealth and confidence by treating their mortgage as a strategic financial tool.
momentifi.com

📚 And there’s more: I’ll be offering a series of 7 one-hour Continuing Education (CE) classes tailored for professionals who need credit for the CFP® program. These sessions will cover topics at the intersection of mortgage planning and financial planning — giving advisors the tools and insights to better guide their clients.

👉 If you’re a CFP, CPA, financial planner, or advisor who works with clients on long-term financial goals — these classes are designed for you. Let’s explore mortgage planning strategies together that contribute to stronger financial outcomes for the people you serve.

Thank you to everyone who’s supported me on this journey — I’m excited to put this knowledge to work for you and your clients! 🚀

08/01/2025

Some pretty slick calculators for your use:

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05/28/2025

Daily Bond Market Update

11/26/2024

New conforming loan limit for 2025 set for $806,500

BREAKING NEWS! The conforming loan limit for 2025 has increased to $806,500 for 1-unit, single family homes in most metro areas. Join Megan Ritchie as she hits…