General World News

How EPM plans to win in the TPO channel after exiting retail

Posted on

Equity Prime Mortgage (EPM) has completely shifted to the TPO business after seeing growth opportunities in the wholesale channel, a distribution channel that’s been growing in recent years. The Atlanta-based lender has fully exited the retail channel, a change in strategy the company has been preparing for over the past few months. EPM’s CEO Eddy Perez […]

General World News

U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Resolves Restraint and Seclusion Compliance Review of Spectrum Academy in Utah

Posted on

Today, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) resolved a compliance review of Spectrum Academy in Utah to ensure that the Academy’s restraint and seclusion policies and practices do not deny students with disabilities their civil rights in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), Title II […]

General World News

How the buyer commission lawsuits could upend the relationship between agents and LOs

Posted on

For most real estate agents, working with a reliable lending partner is essential to a smooth and successful transaction. “That partnership is everything,” Amy Breach, a Seattle-based Keller Williams agent, told HousingWire in late 2022. “The lender and LO can make or break the transaction.” Finding reliable lending partners takes time and some trial and […]

General World News

Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona Stresses Importance of Kindergarten in Early Childhood Education Remarks

Posted on

Thank you.  I’m pleased to be here at Beyer Early Childhood Center in Rockford, Illinois, with Representative Eric Sorensen and National Education Association President Becky Pringle to visit an incredible early learning program here and talk about why we believe early childhood is so critical to raising the bar for education in this country. I […]

General World News

Sudanese Artists Work to Heal From Trauma of War

Posted on

It has been nearly five months since civil war erupted in Sudan. The U.N. refugee agency estimates that by year’s end, 1.8 million people will have fled to neighboring countries. VOA’s Nairobi Bureau Chief Mariama Diallo reports on a group of Sudanese artists who came together recently to deal with the trauma of the war […]

General World News

Ishbia urges FHFA to step in on GSE loan buyback issue

Posted on

Mat Ishbia, president and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage, has echoed the frustration of mortgage industry experts and leaders with the increased volume of loan buybacks from the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  In a recorded video distributed on Tuesday, Ishbia claimed the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which oversees the GSEs, “is going to have to step in […]

General World News

UWM expands its hard credit reports program

Posted on

United Wholesale Mortgage (UMW) has enhanced its Safe Check program, which provides credit reports without initiating unwanted trigger lead solicitations to brokers’ competitors. In some cases, the lender will provide a hard credit report at no additional cost to borrowers.   The program was launched in October 2022 to provide brokers $10 single-bureau soft credit checks for conventional […]

General World News

FundingShield partners with Tata Consultancy Services on wire fraud prevention

Posted on

FundingShield, the fintech provider of plug-and-play solutions to manage risk, compliance and fraud prevention, has partnered with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a technology services and consulting company.  The partnership comes amid an increase in wire and title fraud risk. FundingShield and TCS aim to protect more lenders, homebuyers, sellers from wire and title fraud, both […]

General World News

U.S. Department of Education Announces National HBCU Week Conference

Posted on

Today, the Biden-Harris administration is announcing that it will host the 2023 National HBCU Week Conference in Arlington, Virginia on September 24-28th. The annual National HBCU Week Conference is the nation’s premier convening of key influencers in the HBCU space. details ⇒ BusinessMediaguide.Com portal received this content from this noted web source: Website of U.S. […]

General World News

Mortgage demand falls to lowest level since 1996

Posted on

Despite a slight drop in mortgage rates last week, mortgage applications fell to their lowest level since December 1996. For the week that ended Sept. 1, mortgage applications dropped  2.9% from the prior week, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association.  “Both purchase and refinance applications fell, with the purchase index hitting a 28-year […]

General World News

With rates at a 22-year high, the $3,000 monthly mortgage payment becomes the norm

Posted on

In the face of spiking interest rates and historically high home prices, $3,000 monthly mortgage payments are common in today’s housing market. According to Black Knight’s mortgage monitor report, the average principal and interest payment among borrowers purchasing a home using a 30-year fixed-rate loan hit its highest point ever in July at $2,306. That’s […]

General World News

Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than 4 Million Student Loan Borrowers Are Enrolled in the New SAVE Plan

Posted on

The U.S. Department of Education today announced more than 4 million student loan borrowers are enrolled in the Biden-Harris Administration’s new Saving on A Valuable Education (SAVE) income-driven repayment (IDR) plan, including those who were transitioned from the previous Revised-Pay-As-You-Earn (REPAYE) plan. details ⇒ BusinessMediaguide.Com portal received this content from this noted web source: Website […]

General World News

ICE President Tim Bowler on mortgage automation

Posted on

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) completed its acquisition of Black Knight Tuesday, making the combined company the biggest player in the mortgage tech space. I sat down with Tim Bowler, president of ICE Mortgage Technology, a business unit of ICE, to talk about the company’s mortgage automation strategy — and what keeps him up at night. Sarah Wheeler: ICE’s acquisition of Black […]

General World News

In Photos: Nevada Burning Man Festival Exodus

Posted on

Thousands of Burning Man attendees readied to make their “exodus” on Monday as the counter-culture arts festival in the Nevada desert ends in a sea of drying mud instead of a party around its flaming effigy namesake, Reuters reported. Rain over the weekend turned the once hard-packed ground to pudding. One person died at the event […]

General World News

ICE completes $11.9B acquisition of Black Knight 

Posted on

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) completed its acquisition of Black Knight in a $11.9 billion deal that dragged on more than a year due to antitrust concerns. It’s now easily the biggest player in the mortgage tech space. “Since our founding over 20 years ago, ICE has steadfastly adhered to our founding principle, demonstrated throughout our history, that […]

General World News

U.S. Department of Education to Promote Educator Diversity Through National Convenings

Posted on

Extending its commitment to support school systems as they find new and innovative ways to encourage, invest in, and support teachers across America, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) will host two convenings focused on educator diversity. details ⇒ BusinessMediaguide.Com portal received this content from this noted web source: Website of U.S. Department of Education

General World News

Spain’s Men’s National Team Denounces Rubiales Over World Cup Kiss

Posted on

Spain’s men’s national team Monday denounced the “unacceptable behavior” of the country’s suspended football chief Luis Rubiales over his infamous World Cup kiss. Rubiales, 46, has defied expectations and refused to resign as president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) after forcibly kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s victory in the Women’s World […]

General World News

Chinese Artists Bring Art Installations to Burning Man

Posted on

Burning Man, the annual weeklong festival in Nevada closed its entrance Saturday due to flooding from recent storms. Some of the thousands of festivalgoers are being warned to shelter in place. Despite the weather, the event drew artists from around the world, including six Chinese artists who spoke with Genia Dulot before the rain set […]

General World News

‘Margaritaville’ Singer Jimmy Buffett Dies At 76

Posted on

Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, who popularized beach bum soft rock with the escapist Caribbean-flavored song Margaritaville and turned that celebration of loafing into an empire of restaurants, resorts and frozen concoctions, has died. He was 76. “Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” a statement […]

General World News

Cerberus Capital Management to acquire Spring EQ

Posted on

New York-based investment firm Cerberus Capital Management has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire home equity lender Spring EQ, the companies announced on Friday. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.  The transaction will allow Cerberus executives to realize new opportunities as demand for home equity solutions in the U.S. accelerates. Meanwhile, Spring EQ will be able […]

General World News

Announcing the 2023 HW Insiders!

Posted on

In its 8th year, the HW Insiders program is spotlighting the talented operations professionals who are laying the foundation of success for their organizations. Through the development of improved and sophisticated systems, protocols and technology, these operations leaders are driving their companies to growth and success. This year 75 honorees were honored as HW Insiders. […]

General World News

Pennymac, RoundPoint report data breach

Posted on

Pennymac Loan Services and RoundPoint Mortgage Servicing reported this week their customers were exposed to a data breach through the Sovos Compliance software, per filings with the Attorney General in California.  Sovos, which provides services to financial companies, said that its vendor Progress Software had a vulnerability in its MOVEit Transfer application on May 31, […]

General World News

Sculptor rejects higher bid, still prefers Rithm’s deal

Posted on

New York-based asset management firm Sculptor Capital Management said Wednesday it rejected an improved bid from a group of investors. Sculptor said it still prefers the deal with Rithm Capital due to the closing certainty. “The Special Committee has not concluded that the Consortium’s most recent revised proposal constitutes a superior proposal or is reasonably expected to lead to […]

General World News

Mortgage rates drop but still at 22-year high

Posted on

Mortgage rates ticked down modestly after job openings data for July came out yesterday, but rates remain elevated.  Freddie Mac‘s Primary Mortgage Market Survey, which focuses on conventional and conforming loans with a 20% down payment, shows the 30-year fixed rate averaged 7.18% as of Aug. 31, down from last week’s 7.23%. By contrast, the […]

General World News

NexTier Bank to acquire Mars Bank

Posted on

NexTier, the holding company of NexTier Bank, will acquire Mars Bancorp, the holding company of Mars Bank. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The combined company and branch locations will operate under the NexTier Bank brand, both banks said in a release Thursday. With the acquisition, NexTier Bank will have total assets in excess […]

General World News

Sculptor accuses founder of acting on resentment amid scrutiny of Rithm’s deal 

Posted on

In a letter to a group of founders and shareholders, New York-based asset management firm Sculptor Capital Management said their request to inspect the company’s books and records pertaining to its acquisition by Rithm Capital was “improper” and motivated by founder Daniel Och’s “long-standing resentment” of being exited from the company.  Sculptor also said in […]

General World News

Freddie Mac names Lillestolen VP of Targeted Affordable Housing

Posted on

Freddie Mac on Wednesday announced that company veteran Peter Lillestolen will serve as vice president, production and sales of Targeted Affordable Housing (TAH) at Freddie Mac Multifamily. Lillestolen, a 12-year veteran of the government-sponsored enterprise (GSE), has worked in multifamily in several different roles. He began his career there as an analyst in the Capital […]

General World News

Logan Mohtashami on CNBC: How rates are impacting supply

Posted on

HousingWire Lead Analyst Logan Mohtashami appeared on CNBC‘s Squawk on the Street on Wednesday to talk about the health of the housing market, and more specifically about today’s pending home sales data.  Mohtashami explained how demand for existing homes is still trending near 21st-century lows. As long as mortgage rates stay near 23-year highs, Mohtashami […]

General World News

Better faces $1.86M suit for breaching ad placement agreements 

Posted on

Digital mortgage lender Better Home & Finance faces a $1.86 million suit for breaching advertising placement agreements with digital and print publisher Meredith Operations Corporation. Better failed to pay for two “insertion orders” – agreements where Meredith would place ads on its digital platforms in exchange for the mortgage lender’s fee – from the summer […]

General World News

Tribes of US Pacific Northwest Greet Crew of Traditional Polynesian Canoe

Posted on

Hōkūle’a, a traditional Polynesian deep-sea canoe, is on a four-year-long voyage around the Pacific Ocean to raise awareness about climate change. During its stop in the U.S. state of Washington, local Native American tribes welcomed members of the crew. Natasha Mozgovaya has the story from Seattle. (Camera: Natasha Mozgovaya; Produced by: Natasha Mozgovaya, Jason Godman) […]

General World News

Mortgage demand finally ticks up

Posted on

Mortgage applications for home purchases and refinances increased for the first time in five weeks but remain at low levels. For the week that ended Aug. 25, mortgage applications picked up 2.3% from the prior week, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association.   “Mortgage rates were mostly unchanged last week, with the 30-year fixed […]

General World News

Ishbia pledged UWM shares worth $4.6B to secure two loans prior to NBA deal

Posted on

Mat Ishbia, chairman and chief executive officer at United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), provided more than half of the mortgage company’s outstanding shares as a guarantee to secure loans ahead of the acquisition of the Phoenix Suns, according to a Bloomberg report. According to the report, Ishbia pledged stock he controls to back two loans that were finalized days before his […]