ALTA Partnership Helps Bring CONVERGENCE Initiative to Baltimore
July 23, 2026
The effort to expand sustainable homeownership opportunities in underserved communities is gaining momentum as the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) announced the launch of CONVERGENCE Baltimore, the newest market in the growing CONVERGENCE network. While the initiative is managed through MBA, title professionals have a direct connection to the effort through ALTA's participation in the CONVERGENCE Collaborative, a coalition of housing industry organizations working to address barriers to homeownership.
Baltimore becomes the latest city to join the CONVERGENCE network, which brings together local lenders, housing counselors, real estate professionals, nonprofit organizations and community leaders to improve access to homeownership and wealth-building opportunities. The expansion is supported by the CONVERGENCE Collaborative, a group launched in 2024 that includes ALTA, MBA, the National Association of Realtors and other housing stakeholders committed to narrowing homeownership gaps. CONVERGENCE also operates in Columbus, Ohio; Memphis, Tenn.; and Philadelphia. Participants have access to resources such as homebuyer education, down payment assistance programs and counseling services. The original CONVERGENCE program was launched by MBA in 2019.
When ALTA joined the Collaborative in 2024, the association emphasized that expanding access to homeownership requires coordination across the housing ecosystem. The Collaborative committed to investing more than $1 million annually over three years to expand CONVERGENCE programs and develop new solutions for aspiring homeowners.
“ALTA's involvement reflects the title industry's longstanding role in supporting secure property ownership,” said ALTA CEO Chris Morton. “As policymakers and industry leaders continue searching for ways to improve housing affordability and expand access to homeownership, title professionals remain a key part of the process by helping protect property rights and ensuring consumers can purchase homes with confidence.
“The launch of CONVERGENCE Baltimore demonstrates how partnerships across the housing finance ecosystem—including title insurance, mortgage lending, real estate and housing advocacy organizations—are working together to create more pathways to sustainable homeownership,” Morton continued. “For ALTA members, it also serves as another example of the association's commitment to participating in national efforts that strengthen housing opportunities while protecting consumers and property rights.”
According to MBA's 2025 CONVERGENCE Annual Report, Baltimore was selected as the next expansion market as the Collaborative seeks to broaden its impact and create new opportunities for homeownership. The report notes that CONVERGENCE Baltimore will focus on increasing access to homeownership and the wealth-building opportunities that come with it. The Collaborative also recently launched a knowledge-sharing platform that will allow housing professionals to share best practices and successful strategies from CONVERGENCE markets nationwide.
Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or [email protected].