If I am not borrowing money, the impact of higher rates isn’t a big direct hit to my lifestyle or spending. But if I had a credit card from Kohl’s, paying 30 percent would sure dissuade me from buying something and putting it on “layaway.” Lowe’s? 28.99 percent. Nordstrom’s is over 31 percent! With credit card debt moving about $1 trillion for the first time ever, something has to slow down, right? Today I head to Las Vegas, forecast 103 degrees, and I have already been fielding emails about lenders are selling servicing, busy further cutting costs, or making sure they collect money that is due them (like appraisal fees, as noted in this STRATMOR piece). Some companies are looking to acquire or be acquired. Mergers and acquisitions don’t only happen with lenders. For example, yesterday, in the compliance consulting biz, Firstline Compliance announced that Mark Wilson, Managing Partner, and Dustin Pfluger, Partner and Mortgage Banking Practice Leader at mortgage banking audit, accounting, and tax specialists, CWDL, made a significant strategic investment in the company, joining Troy Garris, Co-Managing Partner of Garris Horn, LLP, and Josh Weinberg, President of Firstline Compliance, as investors in the company. (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s is sponsored by Richey May, a recognized leader in providing specialized advisory, audit, tax, technology and other services to the mortgage industry for almost four decades. Hear an interview with Richey May’s Seth Sprague on the servicing retain versus release decisions and the current environment.)