20 Questions With HousingWire Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler | Optimal Blue Summit | January 2025 Data

Market Advantage – Episode 5

Welcome to this month’s episode of the Market Advantage podcast by Optimal Blue, recorded on-site at the Optimal Blue Summit in San Diego. The hosts look at mortgage rate lock data from January 2025 before welcoming HousingWire Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler for a round of “20 questions” spanning her career journey, her role at HousingWire, her interests, and more.

Key Takeaways:

• January 2025 rate lock activity: The month saw a nearly 11% increase in overall volumes compared to December, predominantly attributed to a 16% MoM rise in purchase volume, alongside a 9% uptick in cash-out refi activity. However, YoY metrics indicate a slight decline in purchase lock counts, down 6% from January 2024, underscoring the evolving dynamics of the market.
• A day in the life of HousingWire editor in chief: Sarah Wheeler joins the hosts for a round of “20 questions” focused on industry matters, her career path, the HousingWire team, and more
• Optimal Blue Summit: Recorded on-site at the Optimal Blue Summit (Feb. 3-5, 2025), the hosts touch on major product announcements and the buzz at the event.

Links and Resources: 

• Subscribe to the Market Advantage data report: https://www2.optimalblue.com/market-advantage/ 
• View the latest Market Advantage data report: https://www2.optimalblue.com/market-advantage/ 
• Follow Optimal Blue on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/optimal-blue/  
• Subscribe to Optimal Blue’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Optimal-Blue
• Follow Sarah Wheeler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-tester-wheeler/
• HousingWire website: https://www.housingwire.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

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Optimal Blue Summit 2026 | February 23-25 | Scottsdale, Arizona

In case you missed it – Optimal Blue has announced the dates for its 2026 Summit! Join us February 23 – 25 at Talking Stick Resort and Conference Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, for a client-exclusive event packed with strategic insight and innovation. Attendees will gain early access to Optimal Blue’s latest generative AI and automation tools, dive into expert-led sessions on pricing, compliance and more, and experience hands-on demos of new capabilities. Plus, it’s a chance to connect with capital markets pros, integration partners, and mortgage insiders—all while gaining actionable strategies to maximize profitability and sharpen your competitive edge. The Optimal Blue Summit: where proven mortgage expertise meets modern innovation to shape what's next. Early bird registration is now open at Summit.OptimalBlue.com – space is limited, so register today!

News release: https://www2.optimalblue.com/optimal-blue-to-host-its-2026-summit-february-23-25-in-scottsdale

Registration: Summit.OptimalBlue.com

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