The Mortgage Bankers Association will get a new chief economist in February, when Michael Fratantoni, the current vice president of single-family research and policy development, steps into the role on Feb. 1, 2014.

Fratantoni is replacing Jay Brinkmann, who announced his retirement from the MBA in September. Brinkmann joined the trade group in 2001 and took over the chief economist role back in 2008.

Fratantoni is already well-known throughout the mortgage industry as a producer and presenter of residential real estate data and detailed economic forecasts. 

He currently manages the MBA’s industry surveys, forecasts, tech efforts and policy development research.

Fratantoni also serves as executive director of the MBA Research Institute for Housing America and is president of the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization.

"Mike has been an invaluable resource to MBA and its members as we try and navigate an ever-changing industry and economic environment," said MBA president and CEO David Stevens. "Mike’s ability to compile and analyze data and apply it to complex public policy discussions has been a major factor in MBA effectively representing its members as policymakers implement many post-crisis reforms.  His work has enabled us to make fact-based arguments about the impact of proposed rules, arguments that were critical in improving many of the Dodd-Frank reforms during the notice and comment period."

Prior to joining the MBA in 2010, Fratantoni served Washington Mutual’s Enterprise Risk Management Group as an economic strategist. In that role he dealt with macroeconomic, regional and housing market trends.

Fratantoni has a Ph.D in economics from John Hopkins University and a B.A. in economics from The College of William and Mary. He previously served as an adjunct professor at the University of Washington, John Hopkins, George Washington and Georgetown University.