Closing Market Weekly

The Closing Market Weekly
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Closing Market Weekly brings you up-to-date insights on the U.S. mortgage and real estate closing space. Hosted by Phillip Hogan, CEO of Signing Services of America, each episode breaks down trends, challenges, and expert tips from contract to close.

  1. 3d ago

    EP 57: Why This Loan Officer Runs His Team Like McDonald’s

    A closing issue gets harder to manage when the team hears about it late. Wendall King joins Phillip Hogan to discuss proactive communication, shared playbooks, and the routines behind a coordinated mortgage closing. For title, mortgage, and escrow operations leaders, the takeaway is practical: make issues visible early and give the team a repeatable way to respond. ⏰ CHAPTERS * 0:13 - Closing Market Weekly Introduction and Host Welcome * 1:05 - Introducing Mortgage Professional Wendall King * 3:11 - Wendall King’s Path into Mortgage Lending * 6:48 - Proactive Communication for Smooth Mortgage Closings * 9:09 - Discipline Consistency and Persistence in Mortgage Work * 13:50 - Building Repeatable Systems for Mortgage Teams * 18:10 - Wendall King’s Outlook on Mortgage Technology and Remote Closings * 21:16 - Connecting with Wendall King and His Purpose in Helping Others * 23:23 - Closing Market Weekly Wrap Up and Call to Action ---------------------------------------- Signing Services of America (SSA) is a national managed notary signing service with 50-state coverage and notary placement in under 60 minutes. One team owns the signing from assignment to completion, with full process ownership and single-point accountability. GUEST CONTACT Wendall King YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wendallkingmortgageprofess9809?utm_source=youtube_spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-king-company-pending X: https://x.com/kingthacloser?utm_source=youtube_spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-king-company-pending Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586847075140&utm_source=youtube_spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-king-company-pending Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendallthalcloser/?utm_source=youtube_spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-king-company-pending Book a conversation with Phillip: https://calendly.com/phogan-signingservicesofamerica/meeting-w-phillip-hogan?utm_source=youtube_spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-king-company-pending SSA website: https://signingservicesofamerica.com/?utm_source=youtube_spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-king-company-pendingSSA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/signing-services-of-america/?utm_source=youtube_spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-king-company-pending New episodes of Closing Market Weekly every week. Like, subscribe, and share with someone in the industry. ---------------------------------------- mortgage closing coordination | title operations | mortgage operations | escrow operations | closing issue resolution | closing workflow management | managed signing services #ClosingMarketWeekly #MortgageOperations #TitleOperations #EscrowOperations #ClosingCoordination

  2. Oct 28

    Episode 56: Is apostille notary work for you?

    A notarized document may still need authentication before it can be used abroad. Finding that out late can leave a closing team coordinating documents, signatures, and delivery under pressure. On Closing Market Weekly Ep. 56, Phillip Hogan speaks with Corinne Jones, owner and lead apostille agent of Maryland Prime Notary and Apostille, about the questions that surface those needs early. For title, mortgage, and escrow operations leaders, the discussion covers document origin, destination requirements, RON acceptance, and the work hidden inside a simple request. ◷ CHAPTERS * 0:00 - Apostille Authentication and Closing Market Weekly Introduction * 1:53 - Meet Corinne Jones of Maryland Prime Notary and Apostille * 2:18 - From Loan Signings to Apostille Services * 5:24 - Translation and Delivery in Document Authentication * 8:24 - Answering Client Requests and Solving Problems * 9:12 - Spotting Foreign-Use Documents Before Closing Day * 12:52 - Remote Online Notarization and Apostille Acceptance * 14:17 - Why Apostille Requests Require Specialized Coordination * 18:13 - Apostille Intake Checklist for Closing Professionals * 20:38 - Scoping and Billing for Additional Document Services * 22:48 - Guest Contact Discussion * 24:18 - Closing Takeaways and Show Outro Signing Services of America is a national managed notary signing service with 50-state coverage and notary placement in under 60 minutes. One team owns the signing from assignment to completion, with full process ownership and single point accountability. No handoffs and no gaps. Follow Corinne Jones on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinnefjones/ Book a conversation with Phillip Hogan: https://calendly.com/phogan-signingservicesofamerica/meeting-w-phillip-hogan?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-jones-maryland-prime-notary-and-apostille Visit Signing Services of America: https://signingservicesofamerica.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-jones-maryland-prime-notary-and-apostille Follow SSA on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/signing-services-of-america/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-jones-maryland-prime-notary-and-apostille New episodes of Closing Market Weekly every week. Like, subscribe, and share with someone in the industry. apostille coordination for title companies | international document authentication | closing operations | mortgage operations | escrow operations | foreign-use document intake | RON acceptance review | managed signing services #ClosingMarketWeekly #TitleOperations #MortgageOperations #EscrowOperations #DocumentAuthentication

  3. Oct 20

    Episode 55: Everything in Mortgage Is Digital Except This One Thing

    Going digital can leave a closing team managing two workflows, because paper doesn't fully disappear. Eddie Oddo, Director, Settlement/Closing Services at DocMagic, Inc., joins Phillip Hogan to examine why e-closing adoption depends on people, document preparation, and process design. For title, mortgage, and escrow operations leaders, the question is how to manage both paths without creating avoidable work. ⏰ CHAPTERS * 0:00 - Closing Market Weekly and Eddie Oddo Introduction * 1:19 - Eddie Oddo on Settlement and Closing Services at DocMagic * 2:14 - Why Eddie Oddo Joined DocMagic * 2:26 - A Career in Title and Mortgage Technology * 3:08 - Rebooting DocMagic's E-Closing Solutions * 4:25 - Finding Purpose in Title and Mortgage Operations * 6:20 - Why DocMagic Added Remote Online Notarization * 7:53 - Designing E-Closing for Every Closing Participant * 12:50 - E-Closing Adoption Challenges in People and Processes * 15:25 - Managing Digital and Paper Closing Workflows * 16:30 - What Focused E-Closing Adoption Can Change * 19:15 - The Born-Digital Document Mindset * 20:37 - Preparing Documents That Never Need Printing * 22:30 - Planned Settlement and Notary Portal Enhancements * 23:28 - RON for Individual Title and Settlement Documents * 25:03 - Expanding Who Can Initiate a RON Transaction * 27:30 - DocMagic's Focus on Mortgage and Real Estate * 28:50 - Leading the E-Closing Reboot at DocMagic * 30:23 - Connecting With Eddie Oddo on LinkedIn * 31:12 - AI and Mortgage Process Digitization * 33:10 - Closing Operations Lessons and Takeaways ---------------------------------------- Signing Services of America (SSA) is a national managed notary signing service with 50-state coverage and notary placement in under 60 minutes. One team owns the signing from assignment to completion, with full process ownership and single-point accountability. GUEST CONTACT Eddie Oddo | DocMagic, Inc. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddieoddo/?utm_source=youtube_spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-oddo-docmagic Book a conversation with Phillip: https://calendly.com/phogan-signingservicesofamerica/meeting-w-phillip-hogan?utm_source=youtube_spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-oddo-docmagic SSA website: https://signingservicesofamerica.com/?utm_source=youtube_spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-oddo-docmagic SSA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/signing-services-of-america/?utm_source=youtube_spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-oddo-docmagic New episodes of Closing Market Weekly every week. Like, subscribe, and share with someone in the industry. ---------------------------------------- e-closing adoption | title operations | mortgage operations | escrow workflows | remote online notarization | digital closing implementation | settlement technology #ClosingMarketWeekly #TitleOperations #MortgageOperations #EscrowOperations #EClosing #DigitalClosing #RON

  4. Oct 7

    Episode 54: Beyond Your Desk: What the Rest of the Mortgage Industry Can Teach You

    The people keeping deals moving need time to learn, too. In this solo episode, Phillip Hogan pauses to thank the listeners, guests, and production team behind Closing Market Weekly. For leaders in title, mortgage, and escrow operations, it’s an invitation to help shape the conversations ahead. Hogan reflects on the show’s beginnings, its early production challenges, and the industry perspectives guests have shared. He also asks listeners what the show should cover next. 🕒 CHAPTERS * 0:00 - Closing Market Weekly: The People Behind the Work * 0:23 - Real Estate Closing Trends, Tools, and Timing * 0:46 - How Closing Market Weekly Began * 1:13 - Starting a Podcast Without Every Answer * 1:34 - Behind the Scenes of Podcast Production * 1:55 - Thanking Closing Market Weekly Listeners * 2:27 - Thanking Guests Across the Mortgage Industry * 2:48 - Recognizing the People Who Support the Show * 3:12 - Making Time for the People Serving Clients * 3:43 - Industry Conversations for Mortgage and Title Teams * 4:04 - Perspectives Across the Closing Industry * 4:23 - Lending, Loan Servicing, and Title Perspectives * 4:40 - Revisiting a Conversation About Wire Fraud * 5:03 - Recognizing Guests and Their Industry Work * 5:34 - Improving the Show Through Early Production Challenges * 5:55 - Inviting Audience Feedback and Topic Ideas * 6:22 - Turning Audience Requests Into Future Conversations * 6:42 - A Show Shaped by Its Industry Audience * 7:06 - Perspectives Across Real Estate, Mortgage, and Title * 7:25 - Looking Ahead to Future Episodes * 7:51 - Subscribe and Share Closing Market Weekly ________________________________ Signing Services of America (SSA) is a national managed notary signing service with 50-state coverage and notary placement in under 60 minutes. One team owns the signing from assignment to completion, with full process ownership and single point accountability. No handoffs. No gaps.Discuss your signing operations: https://calendly.com/phogan-signingservicesofamerica/meeting-w-phillip-hogan?utm_source=youtube_spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-hogan-signing-services-of-americaSSA website: https://signingservicesofamerica.com/?utm_source=youtube_spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-hogan-signing-services-of-america SSA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/signing-services-of-america/?utm_source=youtube_spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-hogan-signing-services-of-americaNew episodes of Closing Market Weekly every week. Like, subscribe, and share with someone in the industry.________________________________ managed signing services | title company operations | mortgage lending operations | escrow operations | signing process accountability | national signing coverage #ClosingMarketWeekly #TitleOperations #MortgageOperations #EscrowOperations #SigningServicesOfAmerica

  5. Sep 29

    Episode 53: Why This Mortgage Loan Servicing Supervisor Wants Fewer Customer Calls

    Every borrower call is an operations signal. When customers don't understand a payment change, escrow notice, or loan transfer, the question isn't just how to answer the call. It is what the call reveals about the process that created it. Ray Mueller joins Phillip Hogan to discuss borrower communication, clean servicing transfers, escrow administration, process improvement, and why leaders should understand a workflow before changing it. 🕒 CHAPTERS * 0:00 - Why borrower calls reveal servicing problems * 0:16 - Closing Market Weekly introduction * 1:28 - Meet Ray Mueller and his mortgage servicing background * 2:01 - What mortgage loan servicing covers after closing * 2:48 - Managing the long-term borrower relationship * 3:14 - Borrower satisfaction and Net Promoter Score * 3:39 - When mortgage servicing begins * 4:23 - Why loan servicers can change * 4:43 - How loans move between lenders and servicers * 6:06 - How Ray entered mortgage servicing * 7:14 - Building better processes with data * 8:30 - Why borrowers misunderstand escrow * 9:43 - Clear communication in escrow servicing * 10:02 - Making escrow statements easier to understand * 11:57 - What makes a clean servicing transfer * 12:38 - Why data clarity matters between servicers * 13:40 - Communicating tax and insurance changes * 15:14 - Borrower satisfaction as an operating priority * 15:43 - Why the best customer call may never happen * 16:16 - What borrower calls reveal about process gaps * 17:19 - Turning customer questions into policy improvements * 19:42 - Escrow administration red flags * 21:29 - Why extreme payment changes require review * 24:07 - Leadership advice for mortgage servicing * 24:27 - Why 'we've always done it this way' is not enough * 26:02 - Understand the process before changing it * 27:05 - Listening to understand as a leadership skill * 28:19 - How to contact Ray Mueller * 29:11 - Closing thoughts ──────────────────────────────────────── Signing Services of America is a national managed notary signing service built around full process ownership and single-point accountability. One team owns the signing from assignment through completion, with 50-state coverage and notary placement in under 60 minutes. GUEST CONTACT Ray Mueller on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-mueller-b918ab237/ CONNECT WITH SSA Book a conversation with Phillip Hogan: https://calendly.com/phogan-signingservicesofamerica/meeting-w-phillip-hogan?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-mueller-sunwest-federal-credit-union Visit Signing Services of America: https://signingservicesofamerica.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-mueller-sunwest-federal-credit-union Follow SSA on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/signing-services-of-america/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-mueller-sunwest-federal-credit-union New episodes of Closing Market Weekly every week. Like, subscribe, and share with someone in the industry. ──────────────────────────────────────── mortgage servicing operations | escrow administration | borrower communication | loan servicing transfer | mortgage operations leadership | title operations | closing operations | process improvement | borrower satisfaction | servicing data quality #MortgageServicing #MortgageOperations #EscrowOperations #ClosingOperations #ProcessImprovement #OperationalExcellence

  6. Sep 22

    Episode 52- Loan Officer’s secret to on-time closings

    A clean closing is won before anyone reaches the signing table. The earliest document, fee, timeline, and communication gaps are the ones most likely to create downstream friction. Jeff Anderson joins Phillip Hogan to explain why every participant must be ready before the file reaches them. They discuss clear to close versus funding, proactive communication, accurate loan estimates, contingency timelines, and the discipline required to prevent last-minute surprises. Operations leaders will hear a practical case for shared visibility, early escalation, and accountable execution across lending, title, escrow, and signing. 🕒 CHAPTERS * 0:00 - Why unprepared closing teams create risk * 0:19 - Closing Market Weekly introduction * 1:11 - Jeff Anderson and Rancho Capital Home Loans * 1:51 - Three decades in the mortgage industry * 4:43 - What a clean mortgage closing looks like * 6:03 - Where closing process friction begins * 10:17 - Clear to close versus loan funding * 12:32 - Loan officer, title, and closing collaboration * 15:41 - How service and trust shape closing outcomes * 16:51 - Preventing closing-day surprises * 21:20 - Connect with Jeff Anderson * 23:02 - Closing thoughts ──────────────────────────────────────── Signing Services of America is a national managed notary signing service built around full process ownership and single point accountability. One team owns the signing from assignment through completion, with 50-state coverage and notary placement in under 60 minutes. CONNECT WITH JEFF ANDERSON Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffmortgagepro/ X: https://x.com/JeffMortgagePro YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jeffmortgagepro LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffanderson12/ BOOK A CONVERSATION https://calendly.com/phogan-signingservicesofamerica/meeting-w-phillip-hogan?utm_source=youtube-spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-anderson-rancho-capital-home-loans VISIT SSA https://signingservicesofamerica.com/?utm_source=youtube-spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-anderson-rancho-capital-home-loans FOLLOW SSA ON LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/signing-services-of-america/?utm_source=youtube-spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-anderson-rancho-capital-home-loans New episodes of Closing Market Weekly every week. Like, subscribe, and share with someone in the industry. ──────────────────────────────────────── mortgage closing operations | clean closing process | closing process accountability | title operations | escrow operations | clear to close | loan funding process | closing workflow | proactive closing communication | mortgage operations leadership #ClosingMarketWeekly #MortgageOperations #TitleOperations #EscrowOperations #ClosingProcess #OperationalExcellence

  7. Sep 15

    Episode 51: Fraud Finds the Gaps in Your Closing Process

    Fraud does not need to defeat an entire closing operation. It only needs one gap between teams, systems, or handoffs. In Episode 51 of Closing Market Weekly, Chris Morton, Chief Executive Officer of the American Land Title Association, joins Phillip Hogan to discuss why fraud prevention has to be layered, coordinated, and supported by professional judgment across the real estate transaction. The conversation also examines seller impersonation fraud, wire fraud, industry advocacy, and the risk of reducing protections in refinance transactions without understanding where that risk moves. ⏰ CHAPTERS * 0:00 - Introduction to Closing Market Weekly and episode stakes * 2:12 - Chris Morton joins Phillip Hogan * 4:01 - How the CEO seat changes the view of the title industry * 6:37 - Grassroots advocacy and the Title Action Network * 9:34 - Cyber crime, wire fraud, and layered closing safeguards * 12:26 - Seller impersonation fraud research preview * 17:55 - Refinance title insurance and hidden risk transfer * 22:32 - Why protecting consumers requires a coordinated team * 24:30 - Where to follow ALTA industry updates * 26:07 - Closing thoughts and outro ———————————————————————————————————————— Signing Services of America is a national managed notary signing service built around full process ownership and single point accountability. One team owns the signing from assignment to completion, with 50-state coverage and notary placement in under 60 minutes. Book a meeting with Phillip Hogan: https://calendly.com/phogan-signingservicesofamerica/meeting-w-phillip-hogan?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-morton-alta Visit Signing Services of America: https://signingservicesofamerica.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-morton-alta Follow Signing Services of America on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/signing-services-of-america/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-morton-alta Follow Chris Morton on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-morton-5707881a7/  New episodes of Closing Market Weekly every week. Like, subscribe, and share with someone in the industry. ———————————————————————————————————————— closing fraud prevention | title operations risk | wire fraud prevention | seller impersonation fraud | title insurance operations | mortgage closing risk | closing process controls | title company operations | lender operations | escrow operations | real estate transaction security | managed notary signing service #ClosingMarketWeekly #TitleIndustry #MortgageOperations #EscrowOperations #FraudPrevention #WireFraud #TitleInsurance #RealEstateClosings

  8. Sep 8

    Episode 50: Why This National Commercial Sales Executive Will Never Go Back to Residential

    Commercial closings became more efficient when the industry learned to work without everyone at the same table. But Tom Baughman explains the trade-off: faster execution can also remove the relationship-building that used to happen naturally inside a closing room. The conversation moves from remote versus table closings into office culture, customer service, and why commercial title may be less complicated than many people assume. For operations leaders, the through line is simple. Service is the differentiator, and the culture behind the process shapes how clients experience the work. 🕒 CHAPTERS * 0:00 - Why Office Culture Shapes Service * 0:31 - Closing Market Weekly Introduction * 1:16 - Meet Tom Baughman * 1:41 - Career Background and the SSA Connection * 3:08 - Growth Across the Title Industry * 3:52 - Moving From Residential to Commercial Title * 5:00 - How Commercial Closings Change the Client Dynamic * 5:39 - How COVID Changed Commercial Closing Workflows * 7:03 - Efficiency Versus Relationship-Building * 8:15 - Flexibility and Connecting Deal Participants * 9:38 - Customer Service as the Real Value-Add * 10:05 - The Biggest Misconception About Commercial Closings * 11:12 - Working With Experienced Commercial Deal Teams * 12:16 - Why Tom Prefers Commercial Title * 13:19 - Building Office Culture That Improves Service * 15:20 - Why People Remember How You Treat Them * 16:22 - The Service Industry Mindset * 17:47 - Why People Skills Matter in Settlement Services * 19:02 - Career Growth, Pivots, and Closing Thoughts * 19:55 - How to Connect With Tom * 20:14 - Final Remarks * 20:51 - Like, Subscribe, and Share ------------------------------------------------------------ Signing Services of America is a national managed notary signing service built around full process ownership and single point accountability. One team owns the signing from assignment to completion, with no handoffs and no gaps. SSA provides 50-state coverage and notary placement in under 60 minutes. Book a conversation with Phillip Hogan: https://calendly.com/phogan-signingservicesofamerica/meeting-w-phillip-hogan?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-baughman-chicago-national-title Visit Signing Services of America: https://signingservicesofamerica.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-baughman-chicago-national-title Follow SSA on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/signing-services-of-america/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=cmw-baughman-chicago-national-title Follow Tom Baugman on Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-baughman-a32b9423  New episodes of Closing Market Weekly every week. Like, subscribe, and share with someone in the industry. ------------------------------------------------------------ commercial real estate closings | commercial title services | title company operations | settlement services leadership | closing workflow efficiency | office culture | customer service | commercial title | real estate settlement services | operations leadership #ClosingMarketWeekly #CommercialTitle #CommercialRealEstate #TitleOperations #SettlementServices #OperationsLeadership #CustomerService

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About

Closing Market Weekly brings you up-to-date insights on the U.S. mortgage and real estate closing space. Hosted by Phillip Hogan, CEO of Signing Services of America, each episode breaks down trends, challenges, and expert tips from contract to close.

Information

  • Creator
    The Closing Market Weekly
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Closing Market Weekly
  • Show Website
    Closing Market Weekly