By now, ChatGPT is old news. Even in an industry sometimes slow to embrace new tech, using generative AI to draft emails and social posts is table stakes. “If you’re not embracing AI, you’ll quickly fall behind the eight ball,” TLOP host Dustin Owen said in early 2025. Six months later, his words are truer than ever.

The key to handling a refinance surge is operational excellence. Clear processes, automation, and real-time visibility are what separate the branches that ride the wave from those that sink.

What you build now—systems, processes, relationships—determines whether you’re still standing when the market inevitably turns. You don’t need to hustle harder; you need to work smarter, protect your energy, and focus on what moves the needle. Here’s what top LOs are using to close deals in 2025.