Home affordability in the United States has reached its best level in two and a half years, helped by falling mortgage rates, according to data released on Monday from ICE Mortgage Technology. The company’s October 2025 Mortgage Monitor report found that 30-year mortgage rates averaged 6.26% in mid-September, lowering the monthly principal and interest payment […]
The mortgage industry is incredibly different than it was five years ago. Gone are the days when lenders could steer borrowers of all shapes, sizes, and needs into a one-size-fits-all loan product. The emphasis on traditional “workhorse” mortgages that dominated the post-2008 financial crisis era—particularly FHA and VA loans—is now giving way to a focus […]
Better’s chief financial officer, Kevin Ryan, is retiring from the company to pursue other opportunities, according to an SEC filing on Friday. According to the filing, Ryan announced on Sept. 30 that he was retiring. HousingWire had previously reported that Ryan joined investment bank Houlihan Lokey in July as a managing director in its capital […]
Planet Financial Group, the parent company of Planet Home Lending, announced two new hires this week. Rob Parsley was named senior vice president, non-agency sales and Tim Fisher was named senior vice president, non-agency lending. With a career spanning more than three decades, Parsley most recently served in senior leadership roles at Lima One Capital, […]
In an effort to nudge older homeowners to tap into their home equity, the reverse mortgage space is expanding beyond federally backed offerings as lenders develop proprietary products with fewer restrictions. The push reflects a confluence of factors: rising home values, inflation, relatively high mortgage rates and a swelling population of Americans nearing or entering […]
Mike Kortas wanted to be clear as he announced the company’s rebrand from the stage at NEXA Fest 2025: the company is not going into retail. The name change — from NEXA Mortgage to NEXA Lending — could seem like the prelude to lending in a new channel, but Kortas said it was actually a […]
Fair Isaac Corp.’s (FICO) decision to let resellers calculate and distribute its scores directly to lenders drew a mixed response from the mortgage industry — viewed by some as a step toward more competition, but by others as a potential driver of higher credit score costs in the short term. On Wednesday, FICO unveiled the […]
West Capital Lending said on Thursday that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Mortgage Connections, a Michigan-based mortgage brokerage. Mortgage Connections, founded by Ali Younes & Joe Dakroub Esq., has closed more than 843 transactions and $239 million in funded loan volume over the last 14 months, according to data from MMI. The […]
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) said Wednesday it will continue processing claims during the government shutdown but cannot endorse new Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) until funding is restored. That information was confirmed by the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA). Because most reverse mortgages fall under the FHA’s HECM program, FHA loan endorsements stop […]
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) has partnered with the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury to rename the downtown Phoenix arena Mortgage Matchup Center, effective Friday, under a 10-year, $115 million naming rights agreement. The name highlights UWM’s platform that connects homebuyers and real estate agents with independent mortgage brokers. “It’s a massive investment in the broker […]
Annaly Capital Management Inc., the world’s largest residential mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT), announced on Wednesday afternoon that it reached an agreement with PennyMac Financial Services Inc. to buy a portfolio of mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) while leaving PennyMac to manage the loans. The deal includes a subservicing agreement and a master purchase agreement […]
The California Mortgage Bankers Association (California MBA) announced a leadership transition on Wednesday, noting the retirement of longtime CEO Susan Milazzo and the appointment of Paul Gigliotti as her successor. Milazzo, who has served the association for two decades, will stay on as a consultant for the next year. In her role as CEO, Milazzo […]
Fair Isaac Corp. (FICO) has launched a program allowing tri-merge resellers to calculate and distribute its scores directly to mortgage companies, effectively bypassing the three nationwide credit bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. The move comes amid intensified competition with VantageScore, owned by the three bureaus, following the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) decision to let […]
Government agencies and enterprises issued guidance on Wednesday for mortgage lenders and servicers during the current government shutdown, which affects federal employees, services, contractors, vendors and other businesses. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are waiving some requirements for lenders due to the potential inability to confirm income, reserves, tax, and Social Security information from borrowers […]
CrossCountry Mortgage has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit alleging the lender engaged in an illegal kickback arrangement with a Raleigh real estate firm. Homebuyer Jeremiah VonBlohn, who filed suit at the end of July, claims his agent at Raleigh Realty directed him to CrossCountry in 2022 under a co-marketing agreement that gave […]
The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) announced on Wednesday the start of Kimber White’s presidency for the organization. White has served in several roles with NAMB over the past 15 years, including as board president from 2020–2021 and as a member of the executive board. “I am honored to lead NAMB’s continued efforts to […]
Better announced on Wednesday the launch of its Bank Statement home equity line of credit (HELOC) aimed at the 36.2 million small business owners in the United States who often don’t fit within traditional underwriting standards. The new program lets self-employed borrowers access home equity without tax returns, W-2s or profit-and-loss statements. Instead, applicants can […]
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) on Wednesday announced the promotion of three current association leaders. The promotions are part of a restructuring of the duties held by Marcia Davies, the association’s chief operating officer, who announced plans Wednesday morning to retire at the end of the year, MBA said. Peter Grace, formerly senior vice president […]
The federal government shut down at midnight, leaving one of housing’s most critical programs — the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) — without authority to issue new policies. That lapse could derail an estimated 1,400 home sales every day, throwing transactions in more than 22,000 communities into uncertainty. Industry leaders warn that unless Congress acts […]
Rocket Companies has completed all steps necessary to acquire Mr. Cooper Group for $14.2 billion, paying 51% more than the valuation announced in March, the company said Wednesday. As part of the deal, Mr. Cooper will be rebranded under the Rocket umbrella, and its CEO, Jay Bray, will become president and CEO of subsidiary Rocket […]
Older American homeowners hold substantial home equity, built over decades of steady ownership. With refinances scarce and mortgage rates still elevated, that stockpile has become the most durable growth story in housing finance—and one of the most practical ways to help older households manage expenses, preserve independence and stay in their homes. The question is […]
Under the Trump administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has been winding down enforcement actions against lenders and servicers while opening only two new cases. On Sept. 18, the Bureau terminated consent orders against Washington Federal Bank, Planet Home Lending, Apple Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association. The cases spanned mortgage rules, credit cards […]
West Capital Lending on Tuesday announced that Giorgio Bertuol is taking on the role of president of sales. Bertoul comes from loanDepot, where he served as the executive vice president of sales since September 2011, per his LinkedIn. loanDepot has been shaking up its leadership since its founder, Anthony Hsieh, returned to the helm. In […]
Recent moves in mortgage rates have industry experts predicting that this fall could feel like a “new spring” for originations — even as the threat of a federal government shutdown looms. On Tuesday, HousingWire’s Mortgage Rates Center, which tracks locked loans, showed that 30-year conforming loan locks averaged 6.34% — just one basis point (bps) […]
Rocket Pro on Tuesday unveiled a slate of broker-focused initiatives affirming its commitment to the broker channel. The announcements, made at Rocket Pro Experience (RPX) held in Detroit, involve a set of 10 partner promises, a new manifesto video and several technology rollouts. The company unveiled 10 partner promises outlining its public commitment to brokers. […]
In this age of information, borrowers today expect speed, ease and transparency in their everyday transactions, and that extends to the mortgage process. In fact, a survey from the 2025 ServiceLink State of Homebuying Report (SOHBR) found that today’s buyers would be more likely to select a lender that offered certain consumer-facing technologies — simply […]
The recent numbers from FHFA‘s National Mortgage Database tell a story about the massive amount of home equity American households have — in addition to the fact that most Americans have mortgage rates at 5% or below. These are two of the most significant differences between the current housing market and the run up to […]
Recent mergers and acquisitions (M&A), regulatory changes and shifting market conditions have mortgage industry experts questioning whether servicers are better positioned than other competitors to capture the next wave of refinances. Data from ICE Mortgage Technology shared with HousingWire offers a deep dive into servicers’ performance at keeping a borrower in their books after a […]
U.S. banks earned an estimated $1 trillion in excess interest revenue during the Federal Reserve’s two-and-a-half-year period of elevated interest rates, an analysis of official data by the Financial Times shows. Lenders reportedly benefited from higher yields on deposits held at the Fed while paying relatively low rates to many savers — boosting profit margins […]
Lawmakers in Congress are edging the federal government closer to a shutdown, with a Tuesday midnight looming as the date to pass a temporary funding bill. Without a deal, the impacts will be felt nationwide — including among seniors. During a shutdown, non-essential government functions pause, while essential operations such as defense, law enforcement, air […]
Investment bank Houlihan Lokey has bolstered its mortgage services practice by hiring industry veteran John Guzzo, amid expectations of increased mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity over the next several years. “This was both a short- and long-term opportunity that was hard to pass up, given where the market is today in the mortgage space and […]
In today’s market, where affordability is stretched thin and borrower competition is fierce, lenders can’t afford to stop at “yes.” The real differentiator isn’t just qualifying a borrower for a loan – it’s finding the best product and securing the best possible terms. That’s where AI can deliver a competitive edge for mortgage originators. AI […]
Government shutdowns have repeatedly rippled through the real estate industry over the past three decades, delaying loans, snarling flood insurance and rattling buyer confidence. A federal shutdown is days away as of Friday — threatening paychecks for hundreds of thousands of workers, freezing key reports like monthly jobs data and placing a layer of uncertainty […]
American workers have grown more confident in the past year about their finances in retirement, according to survey data released this week by the Nationwide Retirement Institute. But this sentiment “may not be grounded in financial knowledge” as many people are making decisions that could negatively affect their financial future. The institute — a division […]
Planet Home Lending on Thursday announced the appointment of John Adams as retail renovation leader as the company seeks to enhance its home renovation expertise and unlock more housing opportunities for borrowers. Adams will focus on training and supporting Planet’s distributed retail loan originators and educating real estate agents nationwide. He will also educate veterans […]
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has extended the timeline for mortgage servicers to comply with the new loss-mitigation waterfall, according to a mortgagee letter issued Wednesday. While the provisions may be implemented by Oct. 1, they must be fully in place no later than Dec. 30, 2025, according to the letter signed by Frank Cassidy, […]
Homebuyer affordability improved in August and marked the fourth straight month of improvement, with the national median payment applied for by purchase mortgage applicants decreasing to $2,100, down from $2,127 in July. That’s according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s Purchase Applications Payment Index (PAPI), which measures how new monthly mortgage payments vary across time […]
Fusion Home Loans, an Acrisure Mortgage partner company and new independent retail mortgage lender, announced its official launch on Wednesday. A release from the company confirmed that it launched in June 2025, entering the market with two branches, 15 loan officers and a total staff of 25, collectively producing approximately $200 million per year. While […]
CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM) is set to close on a $900 million debt issuance at the end of September to repay its mortgage servicing rights (MSR) line of credit, after the offering came in 50% above the original target. The 6.50% senior notes, to be issued by parent company CrossCountry Intermediate HoldCo to qualified investors, are […]
Imagine telling a borrower they can refinance their mortgage and close in just seven days. In 2025, that shouldn’t be a stretch – it should be the standard. We now live in a world of same day delivery for almost anything. But even though the technology exists to make the 7-day refi a reality, the […]
loanDepot has filed a motion to dismiss a class-action lawsuit in Maryland alleging violations of loan officer (LO) compensation rules and borrower steering, arguing the plaintiffs failed to show they suffered a “concrete injury.” The lawsuit, filed in July by five borrowers who obtained mortgages from 2019 to 2021, claims loanDepot engaged in a “sophisticated, […]
Interlinc Mortgage announced Wednesday that Gary Royal has joined the company as its Southeast regional sales manager. Royal has nearly 40 years of mortgage industry experience and “brings a proven track record of leadership, growth, and team development across multiple markets,” Interlinc said in a press release. Royal, who is based in Georgia, will lead […]
Scrivnr, a legal technology and financial services company, has launched an initiative aimed at helping Philadelphia residents in underserved communities resolve “tangled titles,” or unclear property ownership caused by missing legal documentation. Tangled titles prevent property heirs from refinancing mortgages, making essential repairs or selling inherited homes. Scrivnr’s program — which deals with both forward […]
Flyhomes will shut down its real estate brokerage business by the end of September, transitioning its agents to The Real Brokerage, the company announced Wednesday. The Bellevue, Washington-based fintech said it will focus on distributing its buy-before-you-sell products through wholesale channels, enabling borrowers to purchase a new home before selling their current one. The shift […]
Equity Prime Mortgage (EPM) announced on Wednesday the promotion of Anjanette Valenta to chief people officer. Valenta, who most recently held the role of senior vice president, people operations, has been with the company since September 2024. “Anjanette’s leadership has been transformational in a very short period of time,” said Eddy Perez Jr., CEO of EPM. […]