The under-the-radar trends quietly reshaping the next phase of housing finance
 | Michael Tannenbaum CEO Figure |
 | Diego Sanchez President HousingWire |
Overview
Join Figure CEO Michael Tannenbaum and HousingWire’s Diego for a provocative conversation on the shifts most people aren’t talking about yet. They’ll use Figure and industry data to discuss:
- What will have an outsized impact on lenders, borrowers and capital markets in the years ahead
- Assumptions worth questioning
- What’s working and not working at the intersection of mortgage, the economy and technology
Session Notes
Key takeaway
Michael Tannenbaum said the next phase of mortgage technology will require more than AI layered on top of legacy workflows. He said Figure is building around verified data and blockchain infrastructure, paired with a capital markets model intended to lower costs, speed up lending and increase trust across the loan lifecycle.
What leaders need to know:
- AI won’t fix broken workflows. Tannenbaum said digitizing a bad process can simply make the problem move faster.
- Figure is focused on verified data. Tannenbaum said Figure uses blockchain technology to verify loan attributes upfront and create an immutable record that can support the rest of the lending process.
- Blockchain isn’t a “crypto mortgage.” Tannenbaum said Figure’s use of blockchain is infrastructure-focused — aimed at reducing fraud, increasing speed and lowering cost — rather than offering a niche crypto-backed mortgage product.
- Home equity is the beachhead. Tannenbaum said Figure is scaling in home equity while also looking at broader mortgage opportunities, including first-lien loans.
- Lower origination costs are part of the pitch. Tannenbaum said the platform can reduce the cost to originate, particularly on smaller-balance loans that are often underserved or difficult to do profitably.
- Capital markets infrastructure is central. Tannenbaum said Figure is building an alternative ecosystem that includes origination partners, securitization buyers and liquidity support.
HousingWire perspective
The session highlighted a different technology bet in housing finance. While many lenders are focused on AI, Tannenbaum argued the bigger unlock is trusted, verified data that can move through the system without being revalidated at every handoff. For mortgage leaders making long-term tech decisions, the question isn’t only how fast a tool can operate — it’s whether the underlying infrastructure can reduce risk, lower costs and support a more efficient secondary market.
Presentation Materials
The under-the-radar trends quietly reshaping the next phase of housing finance
Download the full presentation from the session including charts, data visualizations, and key takeaways.
