The real estate market is notorious for slowing down during the holiday season. As a loan officer, you may be wondering whether you should take your foot off the gas pedal too.

Digital lending startup Social Finance, better known as SoFi, has held talks with blank-check companies about going public. So reports Reuters.

Cheryl from Florida asked: "I read the forecast by the MBA which says there will be less refinances next year. I have been doing mostly refinances and I have no idea how to get back to focusing on purchases. What do you recommend?"

Flagstar Bank has selected the startups Home Lending Pal, Stavvy and RealKey to take part in its Flagstar MortgageTech Accelerator program.