If there’s one thing lenders and underwriters hate, it’s uncertainty. After all, it’s their job to determine the riskiness of any given borrower, and decide whether or not it makes sense to move forward with lending relationships. But if the coronavirus pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we can’t really predict the near-term future with certitude.

This issue’s cover story delves into how loan officers and mortgage companies are dealing with that volatility and the impact that it may have on your clients, whether they’re searching for a home, refinancing or looking into forbearance options.

But we also feature the voices of agents in this issue. Learn how one broker is working to reverse the trend of lending disparities in Chicago, and hear from another on how financing issues might impact the multifamily market. In the latest Chicago Agent magazine survey, you’ll hear our readers sound off on how COVID-19 has changed their relationship with their favorite lenders.

We do all this because bringing together the various pieces of the transaction puzzle is part of our editorial mission. And that’s also why I hope you’ll join in the conversation to develop a richer understanding of how everything is fitting together in these changing times.

Email me at meg.white@agentpublishing.com if you have any thoughts to share. Because if there’s one thing that is certain about where we are today, it’s that we all need to work together to ensure real estate keeps moving ahead in Chicagoland.