A week from today is “Take Your Child to Work Day.” Something tells me that it won’t be observed in U.S. Government offices. While we’re on family issues, I received this note. “Rob, have you heard of originators sponsoring SPCA pet adoption days, since sometimes when a family welcomes a dog, it is a precursor to moving from an apartment into a house? And the LO wants to be in front of pet owners.” Yes, indeed I have, and it’s a good cause. There is talk that the traditional chain of, “College, job, marriage, children, home, pets” may be shuffled a little for starter families and starter homes for people in their 20s. Nearly everyone knows where the equator is, but polls indicate that 89 percent of people in the United States couldn’t identify Syria, Ukraine, or Gaza on a world map. Okay, I just made that statistic up, but I bet it is not far off. Hopefully they know where Omaha is, or at least Nebraska, since lenders may want to have a branch there because it is a fine place for people in their 20’s to afford a home. (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s are sponsored by BeSmartee, transforming mortgage lending with Bright Connect, its native mobile app designed to boost loan officer productivity, speed up referrals, and simplify the borrower experience. Hear an interview with Luxury Mortgage’s David Adamo on the strategic advantages of non-QM loans, and insights on how they can help lenders stand out, diversify their portfolios, and navigate today’s competitive lending landscape.)