loanDepot Partners with Betenbough to Launch Olive Branch Home Loans
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 5 days ago
0mins
Should l Buy LDI?
loanDepot announced a strategic partnership with Betenbough Companies, to launch Olive Branch Home Loans, a new mortgage company led by Paul Boecker that will serve homebuyers across West Texas. This model marks the first of its kind under loanDepot's newly expanded partnership channel that offers home builders and their affiliates a pathway to develop their own mortgage operations while leveraging loanDepot's infrastructure.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy LDI?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on LDI
Wall Street analysts forecast LDI stock price to rise
3 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
1 Hold
2 Sell
Moderate Sell
Current: 1.410
Low
1.75
Averages
2.38
High
3.00
Current: 1.410
Low
1.75
Averages
2.38
High
3.00
About LDI
loanDepot, Inc. provides a customer-centric, technology-empowered residential mortgage platform. It is engaged in the origination of conventional and government mortgage loans, servicing conventional and government mortgage loans, and providing ancillary services. It engages in originating, financing, selling, and servicing residential mortgage loans and provides title, escrow, and settlement services for mortgage loan transactions. Its proprietary technology platform, mello, serves as a lead generation tool for these loan officers, particularly focusing on purchase originations. It has a loan product suite, including conventional agency-conforming loans, conventional prime jumbo loans, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, and home equity lines of credit. Its ancillary business includes settlement services, real estate services and insurance services. mello Home Services, LLC is its wholly owned captive real estate referral business.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
loanDepot Partners with Betenbough to Launch New Mortgage Company
- Strategic Partnership Launch: loanDepot has announced a strategic partnership with Betenbough Companies to launch Olive Branch Home Loans, aimed at serving homebuyers in West Texas, marking the first initiative under loanDepot's expanded partnership channel.
- Innovative Lending Model: Led by Paul Boecker, the new company combines Betenbough's deep understanding of local homebuyers with loanDepot's operational and customer service expertise, aiming to streamline the process from application to closing, enhancing accessibility and efficiency in homeownership.
- Market Impact Enhancement: This collaboration is expected to deliver faster loan closings, improving the buyer experience while providing a reproducible model for builders nationwide to develop in-house lending capabilities, thereby strengthening market competitiveness.
- Company Background Overview: Founded in 1992, Betenbough Companies delivers over 2,100 homes annually as one of the top 50 U.S. home builders, and its extensive industry experience will provide robust support for the new mortgage company.
See More
Fannie Mae Accepts Crypto-Backed Mortgages, Paving New Path for Homebuyers
- Crypto Mortgage Innovation: Fannie Mae's collaboration with Better Home and Finance and Coinbase introduces a crypto-backed mortgage product, allowing homebuyers to use Bitcoin or USD Coin as collateral, marking a significant first under government conservatorship and likely attracting a large pool of younger buyers.
- Loan Structure Innovation: Borrowers must open a Coinbase account and apply for a standard mortgage with Better alongside a second loan backed by crypto assets for the down payment; although this requires paying interest on two loans, Better offers lower rates than most competitors, enhancing affordability.
- Significant Market Potential: This product aims to assist younger individuals with sufficient crypto assets who prefer not to sell to avoid tax liabilities, potentially driving innovation in the real estate market, especially as cryptocurrency becomes more mainstream, with Fannie Mae's backing likely facilitating the launch of more similar products.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The Federal Housing Finance Agency, overseeing Fannie Mae, has shown a bullish stance on cryptocurrency, suggesting that more asset classes (like Ethereum and Solana) may be included in mortgage products, with Tony Giordano predicting that the entire real estate industry will be blockchain-based within the next decade.
See More
Mortgage Rates Surge, Causing Application Volume to Decline
- Mortgage Application Decline: According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, total mortgage application volume fell by 10.9% last week, primarily due to mortgage rates reaching their highest level since the end of last year, which slowed the market's refinancing demand.
- Rising Rates Impact Refinancing: The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages increased from 6.19% to 6.30%, causing a 19% week-over-week decline in refinancing applications, although they remain 69% higher than the same week last year.
- Home Purchase Loan Applications Increase: Despite the overall market slowdown, mortgage applications for home purchases saw a 1% gain and were 12% higher than the same week last year, indicating potential vitality in the upcoming spring housing market.
- Market Dynamics and Fed Influence: While most analysts do not expect the Federal Reserve to cut rates at the upcoming meeting, the market's focus on geopolitical factors may lead to volatility in rates, impacting the stability of the mortgage market.
See More
loanDepot (LDI) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
See More
US Mortgage Applications Rise 3.2% Amid Market Volatility
- Mortgage Application Growth: According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, total mortgage application volume rose by 3.2% last week, indicating the kickoff of the spring market despite ongoing volatility from the Middle East situation.
- Increased Buyer Demand: The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased by 7.8%, 11% higher than the same week last year, demonstrating heightened buyer activity as winter weather improves.
- Refinancing Applications Slightly Up: Refinance applications rose by just 0.5% last week but were 81% higher than the same week a year ago, suggesting that borrowers are still seeking lower rates despite market fluctuations.
- Popularity of Adjustable-Rate Loans: The share of adjustable-rate mortgage applications increased to nearly 9%, reflecting consumer interest in lower rates, albeit with higher associated risks.
See More
loanDepot Reports Q4 2025 Earnings with Mixed Results
- Loan Origination Growth: loanDepot achieved a loan origination volume of $8.0 billion in Q4 2025, representing a 23% increase from $6.5 billion in Q3 2025, indicating strong market performance despite a decline in overall revenue.
- Widening Net Loss: The company reported an adjusted net loss of $21 million in Q4 2025, a significant increase from a $3 million loss in Q3 2025, reflecting rising costs and intensified market competition pressures.
- Rising Expenses: Total expenses increased by $8 million or 3% compared to the previous quarter, primarily driven by higher personnel costs, which negatively impacted the company's profitability and cash flow.
- Cash Flow Decline: The company's cash position decreased to $337 million at the end of Q4 2025, down $122 million from Q3 2025, reflecting investments in loan inventory and repayment of unsecured notes, which may affect future liquidity.
See More
loanDepot Partners with Betenbough to Launch New Mortgage Company
- Strategic Partnership Launch: loanDepot has announced a strategic partnership with Betenbough Companies to launch Olive Branch Home Loans, aimed at serving homebuyers in West Texas, marking the first initiative under loanDepot's expanded partnership channel.
- Innovative Lending Model: Led by Paul Boecker, the new company combines Betenbough's deep understanding of local homebuyers with loanDepot's operational and customer service expertise, aiming to streamline the process from application to closing, enhancing accessibility and efficiency in homeownership.
- Market Impact Enhancement: This collaboration is expected to deliver faster loan closings, improving the buyer experience while providing a reproducible model for builders nationwide to develop in-house lending capabilities, thereby strengthening market competitiveness.
- Company Background Overview: Founded in 1992, Betenbough Companies delivers over 2,100 homes annually as one of the top 50 U.S. home builders, and its extensive industry experience will provide robust support for the new mortgage company.
See More
Fannie Mae Accepts Crypto-Backed Mortgages, Paving New Path for Homebuyers
- Crypto Mortgage Innovation: Fannie Mae's collaboration with Better Home and Finance and Coinbase introduces a crypto-backed mortgage product, allowing homebuyers to use Bitcoin or USD Coin as collateral, marking a significant first under government conservatorship and likely attracting a large pool of younger buyers.
- Loan Structure Innovation: Borrowers must open a Coinbase account and apply for a standard mortgage with Better alongside a second loan backed by crypto assets for the down payment; although this requires paying interest on two loans, Better offers lower rates than most competitors, enhancing affordability.
- Significant Market Potential: This product aims to assist younger individuals with sufficient crypto assets who prefer not to sell to avoid tax liabilities, potentially driving innovation in the real estate market, especially as cryptocurrency becomes more mainstream, with Fannie Mae's backing likely facilitating the launch of more similar products.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The Federal Housing Finance Agency, overseeing Fannie Mae, has shown a bullish stance on cryptocurrency, suggesting that more asset classes (like Ethereum and Solana) may be included in mortgage products, with Tony Giordano predicting that the entire real estate industry will be blockchain-based within the next decade.
See More
Mortgage Rates Surge, Causing Application Volume to Decline
- Mortgage Application Decline: According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, total mortgage application volume fell by 10.9% last week, primarily due to mortgage rates reaching their highest level since the end of last year, which slowed the market's refinancing demand.
- Rising Rates Impact Refinancing: The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages increased from 6.19% to 6.30%, causing a 19% week-over-week decline in refinancing applications, although they remain 69% higher than the same week last year.
- Home Purchase Loan Applications Increase: Despite the overall market slowdown, mortgage applications for home purchases saw a 1% gain and were 12% higher than the same week last year, indicating potential vitality in the upcoming spring housing market.
- Market Dynamics and Fed Influence: While most analysts do not expect the Federal Reserve to cut rates at the upcoming meeting, the market's focus on geopolitical factors may lead to volatility in rates, impacting the stability of the mortgage market.
See More
loanDepot (LDI) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
See More
US Mortgage Applications Rise 3.2% Amid Market Volatility
- Mortgage Application Growth: According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, total mortgage application volume rose by 3.2% last week, indicating the kickoff of the spring market despite ongoing volatility from the Middle East situation.
- Increased Buyer Demand: The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased by 7.8%, 11% higher than the same week last year, demonstrating heightened buyer activity as winter weather improves.
- Refinancing Applications Slightly Up: Refinance applications rose by just 0.5% last week but were 81% higher than the same week a year ago, suggesting that borrowers are still seeking lower rates despite market fluctuations.
- Popularity of Adjustable-Rate Loans: The share of adjustable-rate mortgage applications increased to nearly 9%, reflecting consumer interest in lower rates, albeit with higher associated risks.
See More
loanDepot Reports Q4 2025 Earnings with Mixed Results
- Loan Origination Growth: loanDepot achieved a loan origination volume of $8.0 billion in Q4 2025, representing a 23% increase from $6.5 billion in Q3 2025, indicating strong market performance despite a decline in overall revenue.
- Widening Net Loss: The company reported an adjusted net loss of $21 million in Q4 2025, a significant increase from a $3 million loss in Q3 2025, reflecting rising costs and intensified market competition pressures.
- Rising Expenses: Total expenses increased by $8 million or 3% compared to the previous quarter, primarily driven by higher personnel costs, which negatively impacted the company's profitability and cash flow.
- Cash Flow Decline: The company's cash position decreased to $337 million at the end of Q4 2025, down $122 million from Q3 2025, reflecting investments in loan inventory and repayment of unsecured notes, which may affect future liquidity.
See More
