The mortgage industry moves fast, and staying ahead of it is becoming more difficult. So what will it take for mortgage professionals to succeed in 2027? To support our partners on their way, we set out to answer that question.
AD Mortgage surveyed 300+ mortgage professionals – including loan officers, mortgage brokers, processors, business owners, and branch managers – to find it out. The new report, Human Skills in an AI World: What Will Make Mortgage Professionals Win in 2027, breaks down which tasks AI is taking on, which skills still decide who wins the client, and how top performers are preparing for 2027.
Here’s what we found and how AD Mortgage is already putting these principles into practice through technology, education, and partner support.
Want the full picture? Download the complete report to see what’s driving success in 2027.
Finding 1: AI and Automation are the Biggest Expected Industry Driver
AI and automation now top the list of forces reshaping the mortgage industry, and were cited by 82% of surveyed professionals as the biggest driver of change ahead. Brokers already feel that shift with the Non-QM AUS, which turns underwriting into automated approvals on Non-QM files.
AIM, AD Mortgage’s AI-powered Partner Portal, is another example. AIM Assistant sits on every page, answering Non-QM guideline questions and handling loan change requests on the spot. It also connects brokers to the partner support team without pulling them out of their pipeline.
Finding 2: Relationship Building and Communication are the Top Skill for 2027
Relationship building and communication ranked as the most important skills for 2027 success, named by 82% of respondents. The theme carries through the rest of the survey. Trust and relationships also lead when respondents talk about what stays human and what separates top performers.
“While AI is transforming how mortgage professionals work, our findings show that it isn’t replacing what matters most. Across nearly every question, respondents came back to the same answer: trust, relationships, and communication remain the foundation of long-term success.” – Max Slyusarchuk, CEO of AD Mortgage.
At AD Mortgage, we understand the power of communication, and we work to keep that relationship strong long after the first deal closes. More than 1,000 brokers nationwide agreed, naming AD Mortgage a Top 5 Wholesale Lender.
We also help partners build strong professional relationships at Power Up events. Several times a year, partners fly to AD Mortgage’s Florida headquarters for an all-expenses-paid, two-day training program centered on hands-on workshops, structuring Non-QM loans, and direct time with company leadership. After these events, partners walk away with relationships they can use, with AD Mortgage and each other.
Finding 3: 8.5/10 is the Level of Confidence in the Profession’s Future
Confidence in the profession’s future averaged 8.5 out of 10 among survey respondents. Often, such steadiness comes from experience. At AD Mortgage, we have spent more than 20 years learning where brokers lose time on deals and building the fixes into our systems.
- The Non-QM AUS delivers automated approvals on Non-QM files in under five minutes, keeping the process fast and predictable for brokers.
- Disclosure packages used to mean chasing documents against a deadline. Now Self-Disclosure inside the AIM Partner Portal generates them with e-signatures directly, cutting turnaround by up to 95%.
- Appraisals previously came with scattered, unpredictable communication. Now, with our Appraisal Center, brokers pick from a shortlist of preferred AMCs and submit orders that auto-fill, with reviews back in one to two days.
None of this happens by accident. After two decades in the business, AD Mortgage has kept its hand on the pulse of the industry and developed the tools our partners need. That’s why confidence in this profession holds up even as the industry keeps changing.
Finding 4: Adaptability as the Defining Trait of Future Top Performers
36.1% of respondents picked adaptability as the trait that will define top performers, more than anything else on the list. For brokers, that often means staying ahead as market conditions keep shifting.
We understand that adaptability starts with staying informed. AD Mortgage supports partners with the Education Hub, which walks them through AD products and tools with step-by-step guides and video tutorials, so they can pick up new programs and features as they roll out. And with Mortgage Insights, we keep them current on market trends and shifting guidelines. When conditions change, partners already have what they need to adjust.
Conclusion
AIM, Power Up events, the Education Hub, and other tools covered here all exist because brokers need a lender that keeps up with them. AD Mortgage partners with more than 9,000 brokerage companies nationwide – they all have chosen us for support and consistency.
These four findings are only part of what shapes success in 2027. The full report adds the complete skills ranking, AI in mortgage workflow data, what separates top performers by role, and more. Download it to see where you stand.
