A wave of texts and mailers warning that California politicians are targeting retirement savings for taxation has sparked confusion among voters, but experts say the claims mischaracterize a broader fight over competing ballot initiatives. At issue is a proposed measure called the Retirement and Personal Savings Protection Act, one of several initiatives tied to an […]
Loan officer mobility is continuing to decline even as the overall pool of active producers rebounds from recent low points. This appears to signal a shift in how originators are weighing risk, compensation and opportunity, according to a recent mortgage market intelligence report from RETR. Loan officer movement has long served as a proxy for […]
The window for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to be returned to the private sector “appears to be narrowing,” with a low probability of it happening before the midterms election in November, according to analysts at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW). With the Trump administration’s focus having shifted to the Middle East conflict and housing […]
Florida-based Atlantic Avenue Mortgage became the top reverse brokerage firm in the U.S. in 2025, less than four years after its founding, and it sees more room for growth in 2026. “We just had our best month ever. We’ve done over $90 million in loan volume in Q1. We expect to certainly be at the […]
As automation reshapes mortgage operations, the industry’s next challenge is to help borrowers navigate the complex decisions that shape their lives—not just to close the loan faster. For the better part of a decade, the mortgage industry has been obsessed with a single metric: speed. We have poured billions into “Sales Infrastructure”—digital applications and lead […]
I became a grandma recently, which has been equal parts magical … and also mildly humiliating. Because apparently, everything we did thirty years ago is now wrong. Like, way wrong. I marvel that my daughter survived to age one. Put the baby on their stomach? Wrong. Kiss that baby on the face? Not yet, Grandma. […]
Homeowners associations (HOAs) filed 284,933 liens against U.S. homeowners in 2025 — an 8.6% increase from the 262,446 filings in 2024 and the equivalent of roughly one lien recorded every 90 seconds — according to property records compiled by Benutech. An HOA lien is a legal claim placed on a property when an owner falls […]
While the mortgage industry lobbies to reduce credit report costs, the idea of allowing borrowers to use the same file across multiple lenders has slowly emerged. In this consumer-controlled portable credit report model, borrowers would authorize the use of a single credit report during their mortgage search across different lenders. The concept mirrors tenant screening […]
On Thursday, Dark Matter Technologies announced the promotion of Vikas Rao from chief technology officer to CEO, with Rao replacing Sean Dugan. At the same time, the Florida-headquartered company announced layoffs impacting 5% of its workforce. The roles affected were not immediately announced. Rao, just one day into his new role heading the technology company, […]
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) released its April 2026 enforcement actions on Thursday, which included a consent order against a Chicago-based bank. The consent order against The Federal Savings Bank of Chicago is tied to alleged violations of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, and involve deceptive acts or […]
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) on Friday submitted a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to support the bureau’s proposed 2026–2030 strategic plan, backing efforts to reduce regulatory burdens while urging the agency to go further in easing mortgage rules that expand credit access. The draft strategic plan, which the CFPB published for […]
The mortgage industry is no longer debating whether AI has a role to play. That part is over. The real conversation now is about what kind of AI can work inside a business where decisions must be documented, policies must be followed, and every workflow may eventually be reviewed by risk, audit, or compliance. That […]
Foreclosure activity accelerated in the first quarter of 2026, with signs of mounting operational pressure for mortgage servicers and downstream vendors, according to ATTOM’s latest U.S. Foreclosure Market Report and insights from industry executives. While overall foreclosure volumes remain below pre-Great Recession peaks, starts, completions and real estate-owned (REO) inventories are climbing, timelines are shrinking […]
UWM Holdings Corp. tied its acquisition of Two Harbors Investment Corp. to its stock price, ultimately failing to complete the deal even after adding a cash portion. When CrossCountry Intermediate HoldCo emerged as the seller’s preferred option, UWM suggested potential litigation, according to a public filing by TWO. UWM revised its original proposal — an […]
Three in four homebuyers assume artificial intelligence already plays a role in the homebuying process, but most still want humans making or verifying key decisions, according to a new global survey from property data firm Cotality. Its AI in Housing 2026 Report, released Thursday, finds that 75% of buyers expect AI to be embedded somewhere […]
Vikas Rao Dark Matter has emphasized product innovation and early adoption of Dark Matter Technologies on Thursday appointed Vikas Rao as CEO, elevating him from the role of chief technology officer as the mortgage technology firm is poised to accelerate its AI-driven strategy and growth plans. Rao succeeds Sean Dugan and will lead the company’s […]
A borrower’s age should shape every financing recommendation, yet it is often treated as a secondary detail when a senior wants, or needs, access to a portion of their equity. Consider that most mortgage advice is built on the assumptions that the borrower will continue working and has time and resources to recover from financial […]
Mortgage industry veteran Jeremy Moreithi has joined Waterstone Mortgage Corp. as branch manager of its office in Ashburn, Virginia, the company announced Wednesday. Moreithi, who has more than 20 years of mortgage lending experience, will be based in Ashburn but will primarily serve homebuyers in the Greater Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia metropolitan areas. He […]
Mortgage lenders and servicers are facing strict new artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning guidelines from the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) that industry attorneys warn will significantly impact daily operations. The requirements apply well beyond obvious applications like underwriting engines or credit decisioning models. They extend across multiple business areas and stakeholder touchpoints, creating new liability […]
Mortgage applications increased 1.8% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ending April 10, 2026. On an unadjusted basis, the index increased 2% compared with the previous week. The refinance index increased 5% from the previous week and was 15% higher than […]
As interest rates remain elevated compared to historic, pandemic-era lows, many homeowners are rethinking how to access cash without giving up the favorable rates they locked in just a few years ago. For originators, that shift is creating a clear opportunity. Demand for home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) is gaining momentum, as borrowers seek […]
The American Dream has a math problem. Millions can’t afford homes. Those who can, can’t find them. And many who already own don’t have enough saved to retire. It’s gridlock, compounding and dangerous enough to stifle homeownership as a pathway to stability, wealth creation, and retirement longevity. There’s been no shortage of possible fixes suggested, […]
Mortgage rates and inflation are expected to remain elevated through 2026 as pressures tied to geopolitical tensions keep Federal Reserve rate cuts on hold. That’s according to Mike Fratantoni, chief economist and senior vice president of research and business development at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Speaking during an economic outlook session at the MBA’s […]
Brenda Tracy, who reported sexual harassment against former Michigan State University head football coach Mel Tucker, is suing United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) and CEO Mat Ishbia. Tracy claims the mortgage lender and its chief executive inserted themselves into a matter that was “none of their business.” UWM called the lawsuit fabricated, stating it “is about […]
Veterans United Home Loans, owned by Mortgage Research Center, filed a motion to dismiss a class-action lawsuit that accuses the lender of falsely presenting itself as affiliated with the federal government and steering borrowers toward more costly loans. The lender argues that the plaintiffs failed to present “any concrete and particularized injury” and to state […]
Big banks JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo saw mortgage volumes decrease more than expected in the first quarter of the year despite a regulatory push to make them more active in the space. JPMorgan Chase’s origination volume hit $13.7 billion in the first quarter, down 14% from the prior quarter and up 46% from the […]
Shant Banosian doesn’t believe that retail mortgage lenders are at a cost disadvantage when pitted head-to-head against wholesale competitors. Banosian, the Massachusetts-based originator and president of Chicago-based Rate, pointed to data showing that independent mortgage banks (IMBs) and their retail-heavy presence are responsible for 84% of single-family mortgages in the U.S. Although wholesale lenders do […]
Mortgage activity remained resilient as purchase demand strengthened, despite interest rates climbing, according to Optimal Blue’s March 2026 Market Advantage report, released on Tuesday. Total rate-lock volume increased 13% from February and 26% from a year earlier. Purchase activity drove the gains, with purchase lock volume rising 38% month over month and 20% year over […]
If you’re a Realtor or loan officer advising today’s homebuyer, your role has never been more important, or more misunderstood. Many buyers are sitting on the sidelines with the same belief: “I’m going to wait until interest rates come down.” On the surface, that sounds reasonable. But as professionals, it’s our responsibility to help clients […]
Real estate valuations have customarily leaned heavily on historical data as one of the most important factors used to determine the appraised value of homes. This data includes comparable transactions and cap rates from prior years, along with historical real estate market data. However, there are a few areas that the past-anchored valuation system fails […]
Americans ages 60 and older filed 201,266 complaints with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) in 2025. And they reported losses totaling $7.75 billion — a 59% increase over the prior year, according to the agency’s annual report. The average loss per senior victim was $38,500, with more than 12,400 older complainants losing more […]
Seattle-based Friday Harbor, an AI-powered mortgage underwriting platform, has hired two mortgage industry veterans, naming Kate Schilling as director of sales and Melina Stayton as customer success manager, the company announced Monday. Schilling brings more than 13 years of mortgage experience to the newly created sales role. Stayton adds nearly 15 years of banking and […]
Denver-based Mortgage Cadence on Monday announced the appointment of industry veteran Joe Zeibert as chief revenue officer, tasking him to align sales, customer success and go-to-market strategies as the company expands under new ownership. The move comes as Mortgage Cadence, now part of PartnerOne, pushes to grow adoption of its Mortgage Cadence Platform (MCP) and […]
As consolidation reshapes the mortgage landscape, Bayview Asset Management’s acquisition of Guild Mortgage is emerging as a case study in how to scale without disruption, particularly in the often-misunderstood reverse mortgage space. In a conversation with HousingWire‘s Reverse Mortgage Daily, Jim Cory, managing director of reverse mortgages at Guild Mortgage and co-chair of the board […]
Mortgage servicers and their partners need dashboards for speed and transparency. Interactive dashboards are a practical application of business intelligence (BI) technology, designed to make data accessible and actionable for day-to-day decisions. Microsoft Power BI and similar platforms allow users to filter, drill, and visualize data in an interactive way. Many leading dashboard platforms also […]
America’s workers are clinging to their jobs at a decade-low quit rate of 2%, driven by fear rather than fulfillment, new data shows. The research from Economist Enterprise surveyed 2,063 full-time employed Americans ages 18 to 62 across industries, including energy, manufacturing, media, financial services and government. It found that 62% of workers now prioritize […]
A newly filed class-action lawsuit accuses home equity investment (HEI) company Unison of misleading homeowners and structuring its products in ways that leave customers with far less equity than expected. The complaint, filed April 6 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado by plaintiffs Katharine and Charles Kane, alleges that Unison and […]
New American Funding (NAF) expanded its Midwest footprint with the launch of One Goal Mortgage powered by NAF, a new branch serving the Omaha, Nebraska, metro area and southwest Iowa, the company announced this week. The move gives the California-based independent mortgage lender its first physical branch presence in Nebraska. The One Goal Mortgage team […]
Earlier this week, Rocktop Technologies announced the formation of Rocktop Digital, a new business focused on digitizing and tokenizing mortgage and private credit assets. As part of the launch, Brett Benson was promoted to CEO of Rocktop Digital. Benson, the former co-president of Rocktop Technologies, is stepping into his new role with the mindset that the […]
A new report released on April 6 found that community lenders could play a larger role in attracting institutional investment for climate and infrastructure projects, despite longstanding concerns around risk, scale and liquidity. The report, “Bridging Institutional Capital and Community Climate Investments,” published by Ceres and the Justice Climate Fund, argues that community-based financing institutions […]
A new appraisal management platform is aiming to upend the traditional role of appraisal management companies (AMCs) by allowing mortgage lenders to oversee the process internally while maintaining regulatory compliance. The platform, known as PAM, or Private Asset & Management Group LLC, is designed as a web-based system that enables lenders to manage appraisal workflows […]
Surge, a partner intelligence platform for wholesale mortgage lenders, has been acquired by New Cheval Holdings as the wholesale channel faces tighter scrutiny on broker oversight and market share pressure from retail and direct-to-consumer lenders. The transaction brings dedicated ownership and institutional backing to a platform used by wholesale lenders that are regularly ranked among […]
loanDepot announced Thursday that it has formed a strategic partnership with Figure Technology Solutions to power a new “express-path” home loan product through loanDepot’s mello platform. Under the agreement, loanDepot will integrate Figure’s proprietary credit and loan underwriting engine into its mello technology stack and point-of-sale system. The integration is designed to allow loanDepot to […]
Mortgage credit availability increased in March, reaching its highest level since August 2022, as lenders modestly eased standards across conventional and government loan programs. That’s according to the Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI) released Thursday by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). The MCAI, which analyzes data from ICE Mortgage Technology, rose 1.1% to a reading […]
Florida-based AD Mortgage on Thursday announced the launch of Quick Pricer Pro, an advanced version of its existing Quick Pricer tool, now available at no cost to mortgage brokers through the company’s AIM Partner Portal. Built as an AIM-native solution, Quick Pricer Pro pulls partner-specific data directly into the pricing workflow. This allows brokers to […]