The Federal Reserve on Wednesday paused its recent string of interest rate cuts, holding benchmark rates steady at a range of 4.25% to 4.5%. The move was widely expected considering recent employment and inflation data showing that the U.S. economy continues to run hot. Market analysts were nearly unanimous heading into the day that the […]
Michigan-based United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) has extended its 60 basis points (bps) pricing incentive until March 31 “due to its strong success and the substantial competitive edge it’s offered independent mortgage brokers in today’s market,” a spokesperson from UWM confirmed. The original program, dubbed “60bps for 60 Days,” was originally only available through January 31 […]
BEIJING — Lunar New Year festivals and prayers marked the start of the Year of the Snake around Asia and farther afield on Wednesday — including in Moscow. Hundreds of people lined up in the hours before midnight at the Wong Tai Sin Taoist temple in Hong Kong in a bid to be among the first […]
The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 2.0% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) latest weekly mortgage applications survey. This week’s results for the week ending Jan. 24, 2025, include an adjustment for the Martin Luther King holiday. […]
No one can know what, exactly, will change in 2025 for the mortgage servicing industry’s quality control units, but experts agree there will be changes. Rohit Chopra, head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), is unlikely to remain at the bureau’s helm after the new presidential administration is inaugurated, which will probably mean new […]
Last week, business-purpose residential mortgage lender Dunmor announced that it received a minority equity investment from Newfi Lending, a nonagency mortgage lender owned by funds managed by Apollo Global Management. Dunmor CEO Franck Ruimy spoke with HousingWire‘s Sarah Wolak on why he anticipates 2025 will be a strong sales year, and he highlighted the recent […]
Personal finance website WalletHub this week released its rankings of the best and worst states to retire in 2025. It determined that Florida, Minnesota and Colorado are the friendliest states for retirees, while Mississippi, Louisiana and Kentucky are at the opposite end of the spectrum. The company compiled its rankings through 46 metrics, including living […]
Nationstar Mortgage — currently doing business as Mr. Cooper — has agreed to settle a lawsuit which alleges that the company violated mortgage servicing laws and forced borrowers into foreclosure. Attorneys general and mortgage regulators in 50 states, as well the District of Columbia, agreed to a settlement that requires Mr. Cooper to provide $5.8 […]
TAIPEI, TAIWAN — As pet parents in China usher in the Year of the Snake and host Lunar New Year’s Eve dinners with their loved ones, some are also making sure that their fur babies, or “mao hai zi,” are not left out. Over the past month, a growing number of consumers have been ordering pet-friendly […]
Mortgage rates have been static in the first month of 2025. The long-term costs of a home loan are keeping borrowers on the sidelines as rates have been above 7% since Christmas — the longest such stretch since July 2024 when they were in the middle of a long and steady decline. But lenders and […]
This week, the Community Home Lenders of America (CHLA) released our latest annual CHLA Report on Independent Mortgage Banks (IMB). As the only national trade group that exclusively represents IMBs, we are taking this opportunity to explain what IMBs are, the role they play in mortgage markets, the issues that are critical to them, and […]
Against the backdrop of a new presidential administration and a new Congress, Mortgage Bankers Association President and CEO Bob Broeksmit laid out the trade group’s priorities during the opening session of the MBA’s IMB25 conference Monday. First on the list? A smooth exit from conservatorship for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. “We can’t let the […]
Today’s new home sales report beat market expectations, just like last week’s existing home sales report. However, a detailed analysis of the data explains why housing permits continue to remain at recession-level figures. Builders are struggling to get clarity on how many homes they can sell in this rate environment in the future. Without more […]
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) this month published an issue spotlight that takes a closer look at home equity contracts, or what the industry refers to as home equity investments (HEIs) that offer a lump sum payment to clients in exchange for a stake in their home equity. At the time the contract is […]
Members of the U.S. home remodeling industry report that while market conditions are stalling larger-scale remodeling projects, consumers seeking remodeling work are focused on efforts that could serve to increase home values and to “future-proof” homes for later life and aging in place. This is according to a report at Kitchen & Bath Design News, […]
The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are set to face off in the National Football League’s Super Bowl, with the Chiefs looking to become the first team to win three consecutive championships and the Eagles trying to avenge their loss from two years ago. The Chiefs reached the Feb. 9 championship game in New […]
NEW YORK — For author Percival Everett, libraries have long been a source of knowledge and discovery and pleasure, even of the forbidden kind. “I remember making friends at age 13 with the librarian at the University of South Carolina, and she used to let me go through the stacks when I wasn’t supposed to,” Everett, […]
New York — Critics lambasted it and audiences didn’t grade it much better. But despite the turbulence, Mel Gibson’s “Flight Risk” managed to open No. 1 at the box office with a modest $12 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. On a quiet weekend, even for the typically frigid movie-going month of January, the top spot […]
TAIPEI, TAIWAN — As the Year of the Snake approaches, a pet store in Taipei is offering adventurous customers an opportunity to enjoy the company of snakes while sipping coffee, hoping to break down some of the prejudice against the animal. Taiwan has been plastered with images of the reptile ahead of the start of the […]
Mr. Cooper announced the appointment of Jason Cave as its new SVP of Government Affairs, which was confirmed with HousingWire today. Cave, who started on Jan. 21, confirmed the news on his LinkedIn today. Cave will report directly to Kurt Johnson, the company’s EVP and CFO. Cave joins the company with more than three decades […]
In 2016, Herschel Hepler was browsing Google Images to practice his paleography — the study of historical writing systems — when he stumbled upon an eerily familiar photo that would lead to a groundbreaking discovery. “I recognized it immediately and said, ‘That’s a manuscript in our collection,’” Hepler, a curator at the Museum of the […]
In this week’s episode of the Power House podcast, HousingWire President Diego Sanchez is joined by Newrez President Baron Silverstein. In this informative conversation, the duo touch on Newrez’s growth and acquisition strategies, the use of technology and artificial intelligence for client retention, and finding balance between mortgage servicing and origination activities. This conversation has […]
There were a total of 298 consumer complaints submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in 2024 that were related to the reverse mortgage industry, according to a database maintained by the bureau. This was 63 fewer complaints than in 2023. Of the total, about 43% were related to “trouble during the payment process.” […]
A state senator in Washington, citing dwindling enrollment numbers at an Olympia college and the impending “silver tsunami” of population trends, wants to close an existing college campus and transfer its control to the University of Washington to repurpose it for health sciences studies. This is according to an announcement from the senator’s office, along […]
Business-purpose residential mortgage lender Dunmor announced Thursday that it has received a minority equity investment from Newfi Lending, a nonagency mortgage lender owned by funds managed by Apollo Global Management. According to Dunmor, the investment is an extension of an original partnership initiated in June 2024. “Our team has created a remarkable platform and brand, […]
Fitch Ratings reported this week that recent natural disasters that have damaged thousands of homes and businesses — including the Southern California wildfires and hurricanes Milton and Helene in the Southeast — are not expected to heavily impact paid claims experience or credit ratings for mortgage insurers. The ratings agency said in commentary released Thursday […]
The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), a member network comprised of independent mortgage banks, federally insured banks, credit unions and mortgage service providers, on Friday announced its appointment of Jodi Hall as CEO and president. Hall, who has nearly 30 years of mortgage industry experience, is the founder of DandaRoad Consulting, a firm that specializes in advising […]
China’s annual mass migration ahead of the Lunar New Year will peak with billions of trips anticipated during this year’s holiday, which begins Tuesday. An estimated 9 billion trips are expected. This year’s holiday lasts from Jan. 28 through Feb. 4 and marks the arrival of the Year of the Snake. Authorities in China extended […]
The MBA Opens Doors Foundation announced yesterday the launch of the MBA Opens Doors Disaster Relief Program, which aims to support children and families affected by the wildfires in the Southern California area. The foundation will provide an additional $100,000 to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). As one of Opens Doors’ 13 hospital partners through […]
In the Rocky Mountain state of Colorado, the National Western Stock Show hosts nearly 30 professional rodeo events. VOA Correspondent Scott Stearns takes us to a stock show competition for younger riders. And sheep. details ⇒ BusinessMediaguide.Com portal received this content from this noted web source: VOANews.Com
Hu Ge, a Chinese actor who is well-known in China for dramas including Flowers, was recently confirmed to serve as the deputy director of the Central Propaganda Committee of the China Democratic League. He was invited to Taiwan in June 2024 to participate in a film exchange activity. Click here for the full story in […]
Ginnie Mae’s complementary Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)-backed Securities (HMBS) program, dubbed “HMBS 2.0,” released a final term sheet in November which proved to be the final major policy work of former acting Ginnie Mae President Sam Valverde prior to his departure from the company. It has been roughly one year since Ginnie Mae announced […]
As older Americans run into more challenges with the cost of living on a fixed income, a coalition of advocacy groups in and around New York City are calling for action. Led by LiveOn NY, more than 50 organizations are rallying the city’s government for additional support for older residents as they navigate these challenges. […]
Thursday marks the third full day of the second Trump administration, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) still has a director that was nominated and confirmed under President Joe Biden. How long that will last is anyone’s guess, but for right now, Rohit Chopra is continuing to work until he is notified by the […]
Housing professionals have been waiting for a change of administration to see how mortgage rates will respond, but in the first week of President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, things have been quiet when it comes to the long-term costs of a home loan. HousingWire’s Mortgage Rates Center showed that 30-year conforming rates […]
LOS ANGELES — Transgender cartel musical “Emilia Perez” topped this year’s Oscar nominations, earning 13 nods in an announcement on Thursday postponed by the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. French director Jacques Audiard’s Mexico-set musical, released by Netflix, shattered the record for the most Academy Award nominations for a non-English-language movie. It was followed by epic immigrant […]
What if the story of declining loan officer numbers is just that — a story? If you’ve been around the mortgage industry awhile, you’ve surely heard of a sharp decline in licensed loan officer (LOs) numbers. Some reference a 50% drop in the LO population. Worse yet, other believe that license renewals are down 60%. […]
Reverse mortgage lender and servicer Longbridge Financial, which offers both Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-backed Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) loans as well as proprietary reverse mortgage products, announced that it has lowered the minimum home value for its fixed-rate proprietary products. Previously, the proprietary product line — which Longbridge calls “Platinum” — had its minimum […]
Home renovation projects could bring a variety of safety and efficiency improvements to older construction, but anxiety is a key element keeping many homeowners from exploring renovation projects. This is according to a report conducted by Renewal by Andersen, a home improvement company. The study surveyed 2,500 homeowners across four generations: Gen Z, millennials, Gen […]
Online real estate marketplace Auction.com announced Wednesday that it is launching SmartSale, a technology-powered option to foreclosure that lets distressed homeowners list and sell their property. SmartSale allows homeowners to sell their homes through direct offers from buyers or an auction process. For those who are struggling to repay their mortgages, the process aims to […]
Mortgage escrow accounts are an important, yet widely misunderstood asset in the housing market. Although 80% of mortgage holders have escrow accounts, only 60% fully understand them, up from 52% in early 2024. And those who don’t understand are paying dearly. That finding comes from a survey released Tuesday by tax and flood services provider […]
Data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ending Jan. 17 show mortgage applications increased 0.1% from a week earlier on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an unadjusted basis, applications increased by 3% compared with the previous week. The refinance index decreased 3% from the previous week and was […]
The Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) for Purchase (H4P) program has long been positioned by reverse mortgage professionals as a viable path for expanding the base of reverse mortgage business. It would allow older homeowners to use a reverse mortgage to purchase a new home. While the required down payment on a home purchased with […]
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s education division, MBA Education, recently launched its Mortgage Banking Bound (MBB) program at Cleveland State University. The program, which is led by adjunct professor Debbie Hoffman — a visiting assistant professor at the Cleveland State University College of Law — offers a three-credit undergraduate course on residential mortgage origination and […]
An Afghan author’s latest book is a generational call to remember the country’s recent violent past, he says. But Taliban rules mean publishers and bookstores are wary of stocking it. From Peshawar, Pakistan, Muska Safi has the story, narrated by Bezhan Hamdard. Roshan Noorzai contributed to this report. details ⇒ BusinessMediaguide.Com portal received this content […]