Every year, December follows the same pattern: listings taper off, buyers vanish, and agents brace themselves for the predictable winter slowdown.
But this year?
Everything is upside down.
But this year?
Everything is upside down.
The recent government shutdown created a backlog of valuations that lenders still need to clear — and the ripple effect is hitting the BPO world in a huge way. Instead of winding down, valuation orders have exploded right into December.
And here’s the truth…
If you’re not plugged into BPOs right now, you’re missing the biggest December income wave in years.
Shutdown Aftershocks = Massive Demand
When the government hits pause, lenders can’t process loan mods, loss mitigation, deferrals, portfolio reviews, or compliance-driven valuations.
The second the shutdown ended, that dam broke.
The second the shutdown ended, that dam broke.
Lenders released:
- Pending loss-mitigation reviews
- Loan mod valuation requests
- Delinquency updates
- Portfolio spot-checks
- Foreclosure pipeline assessments
- Servicing audits
- And thousands of “we need this yesterday” BPOs
Normally, this kind of surge eases up heading into the holidays.
Not this year.
Each week has triggered a new batch of catch-up orders across multiple platforms.
Not this year.
Each week has triggered a new batch of catch-up orders across multiple platforms.
December Slowdown? Not Even Close.
In a typical December, most agents are focused on:
- Wrapping up the year
- Holiday travel
- Closing out the last few files
- Hoping their pipeline doesn’t dry up
But this year’s valuation cycle is different.
I’m seeing:
- Higher volumes than November
- More interior requests
- More rush orders
- More “urgent” flags from lenders
- Higher fees on certain platforms
And this isn’t just talk — I’m in it every day.
I personally hit $2,500 in the first three days of December alone.
That doesn’t happen in a normal December.
That happens when the industry is playing catch-up.
That doesn’t happen in a normal December.
That happens when the industry is playing catch-up.
What This Means for Agents
If you’ve ever wanted a predictable income stream that doesn’t depend on buyers, listings, or market moods, this is the window.
Because right now:
- Appraisers are overloaded
- Turn-times are tight
- Lenders can’t afford delays
- And BPOs are filling the gap fast
This is why BPO-trained agents are stacking income while everyone else is assuming the market is quiet.
Opportunity Favors the Ready
The shutdown backlog won’t last forever — but the flow is still heavy right now.
Take advantage of it.
Even if you:
Even if you:
- Only do evenings
- Only do weekends
- Only knock out a few orders a day
This December surge can become the most profitable month of your year if you lean into it.
Final Thought
When the market shifts, there are two types of agents:
- Those who wait for things to “go back to normal,”
- And those who capitalize on what’s happening right now.
This December, BPO orders are telling a clear story:
The slowdown skipped us.
The opportunity didn’t.
The slowdown skipped us.
The opportunity didn’t.
If you want help getting plugged into this surge or building a steady weekly income from valuation work, I’m here.
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