Credentials & Education
Certified Divorce Lending Professional® (CDLP®) — Divorce Lending Association2023
Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE)June 2022
NMLS Licensed Mortgage Originator — NMLS #11092572014 – present
B.S., Journalism — Bowling Green State University1998 – 2002
Professional Experience
Forward Mortgage · NMLS #2401169 · Bloomfield Hills, MI
Independent mortgage brokerage serving Michigan homeowners with purchase, refinance, and divorce mortgage planning solutions. CDLP®-certified specialty practice in divorce lending strategy.
Rockwood Mortgage · NMLS #1792262
Envoy Mortgage · NMLS #6666
Direct Home Mortgages · NMLS #1522405
Capital Processing
Owned and operated an independent mortgage processing company serving broker clients throughout Michigan.
National Mortgage Access Center
Awards & Recognition
Ambassador of the Year, Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce2022
President's Club, Rockwood Mortgage2020, 2021, 2022
Top Producer's Club, Direct Home MortgagesJuly 2018
Memberships & Affiliations
Divorce Lending Association2023 – present
Association of Independent Mortgage Experts (AIME)2019 – present
Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce, Ambassador2019 – 2026
Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce2018 – 2024
Published Writing
All articles independently researched and written. Published at goforwardmortgage.com/newsletter and brianmutter.substack.com.
2026
"2026: What's in Store for Mortgage Interest Rates?" January 2026
"Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and Your Mortgage Rate" April 2026
"The Latest on Rates — and Why the Middle East Matters" March 2026
2025
"What's Been Going on with Mortgage Rates, and What Comes Next?" December 2025
"Is a 50-Year Mortgage Really the Fix?" November 2025
"The FED Finally Cut Rates — Now What?" October 2025
"Mortgage Rates are Falling: Without the FED's Help" September 2025
"Refinance Now?" August 2025
"Mortgage Rates: Still Held Up by the Labor Market" July 2025
"Housing is Still Tight. Rates Remain Stubborn. Why, and What's Next?" June 2025
"Opportunity or Caution? The Latest Twist in Mortgage Rates after Tariff Talks" May 2025
"Tariffs Rattle Markets, but Lower Rates & Refinance Opportunities Await!" April 2025
"Trump, Tariffs, and the 10-Year Treasury Tangle" March 2025
"Is 2025 a Good Time to Buy a Home?" January 2025
"The 2025 Housing Market Decoded" January 2025
2024
"Where Are Interest Rates Headed in 2025?" December 2024
"Who Really Controls Interest Rates?" November 2024
"Mortgage Rates Were Steadily Declining — Until Friday" October 2024
"Waiting for Mortgage Rates to Drop? Here Are 3 Ways That Could Happen" September 2024
"Market Update: Is a Refinance Opportunity On the Horizon?" August 2024
"100+ Experts Predict 2028 Home Prices: Fannie Mae Survey Reveals Insights" July 2024
"First-Time Buyers in Michigan: Must Read!" June 2024
"Home Prices, Inventory, and Interest Rates — A Delicate Balance" April 2024
"Are We Entering a New Normal in Housing?" March 2024
"Housing 2024: Competition Continues to Increase, but it's Not Just Among Buyers" February 2024
"2024 Housing Industry Forecasts" January 2024
2023
"Rates Are Starting to Fall — Hooray! So it Must be Time to Refinance Then, Right?" December 2023
"Housing Affordability: It's a Challenge Everywhere, But it's All Relative" November 2023
"Housing Affordability — What's Happened & What's Being Done?" October 2023
"In Its Fight Against Inflation, Has the FED Met Its Match?" September 2023
"The FED's Trouble: A Stubborn Labor Market" August 2023
"Will Lower Rates Bring More Inventory to the Housing Market?" July 2023
"Summer 2023 Housing Update: Rates and Inventory" June 2023
"Mid-Year Housing Update" June 2023
"Have Higher Rates Cooled the Housing Market?" May 2023
"Housing Trends: National Headlines vs. Local Reality" April 2023
"How the Government Broke the Housing Market, Part II" March 2023
"How the Government Broke the Housing Market, Part I" February 2023
"Is a More Normal Housing Market on the Horizon for 2023?" January 2023
2022
"Hooray for Rental Units!" December 2022
"What Are the Industry Trade Groups Forecasting for 2023?" December 2022
"All Over Again? Not So Fast!" November 2022
43 articles published, 2022–2026