Mortgage origination activity rose sharply in the fourth quarter as a jump in refinancing activity pushed lending to its highest level in more than three years, according to ICE Mortgage Technology‘s March 2026 Mortgage Monitor Report. The company’s report found that mortgage originations reached an estimated 1.44 million in Q4 2025, the largest quarterly total […]
loanDepot is reentering the wholesale channel four years after formally exiting the segment, the company announced Monday. The move was first anticipated in August by HousingWire. Dan Peña, president of partnership lending at the California-based lender, will lead the new wholesale division. Matt Mancasola is also returning to the company as vice president of wholesale […]
Editor’s note: Welcome to the third installment of the Monday Morning Q&A from HousingWire’s Reverse Mortgage Daily (RMD). Each Monday morning, the RMD newsletter will feature an in-depth interview with a reverse mortgage industry figure on a wide range of topics including loan origination and servicing, product development and technology. When Celink began subservicing reverse mortgages two […]
UMortgage has rolled out a broker model designed to give loan originators more autonomy, higher earning potential, and access to a proprietary technology platform. Anthony Casa, President & CEO, shares how the new broker model empowers LOs with entrepreneurial control, unique revenue opportunities, and a technology-driven platform that streamlines operations. In this conversation, he discusses […]
Redwood Trust closed a $391 million securitization backed by nonqualified mortgages (non-QMs), marking the inaugural deal from its Aspire platform that was expanded in early 2025, the company announced Friday. The transaction (SPIRE 2026-1) establishes Redwood’s third securitization shelf, alongside Sequoia for nonagency mortgages and CoreVest for business-purpose lending. Aspire’s first securitization includes 752 loans […]
When mortgage rates stayed higher for longer over the past few years, originators increasingly turned their attention to nonqualified mortgages (non-QMs). But that resurgence may not lose momentum even if rates decline in 2026. “We traditionally have seen nonagency volumes represent about 10% of the mortgage business. If you figure it’s $2 trillion a year […]
In a sign of a still-softening labor market, U.S. employers eliminated 92,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in February, according to data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Economists say the report is unlikely to change the Federal Reserve’s stance on interest rates. Meanwhile, the jobs numbers for December 2025 were downwardly revised […]
The mortgage industry is starting to work through major changes after a federal law restricting abusive trigger leads took effect this week, limiting when credit bureaus can sell a borrower’s information to competing lenders. The policy stems from the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act (S.B. 3502), which amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to curb the […]
The mortgage industry doesn’t stand still—and neither can the professionals who wish to succeed within it. The ability to adapt and respond to changing conditions and circumstances has long separated thriving loan officers from those who struggle to meet their goals. The industry will test our adaptability once more when the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act […]
Better.com has launched a conversational credit decision engine that lets mortgage and home equity lenders run underwriting through ChatGPT using the company’s Tinman AI platform, the company announced Thursday. The integration, built with OpenAI using a Model Context Protocol (MCP) connector, allows loan officers and bank teams to access Better’s Tinman engine directly in ChatGPT […]
A new report from consulting firm Milliman concludes that the average 65-year-old should set aside $135,000 to cover high-intensity long-term care in the future. But averages can mask wide variation depending on gender, location and health. Women face significantly higher costs than men — an average of $171,000 versus $98,000 — largely because women […]
Housing advocates warn that recent changes to a federal rural lending program could sharply limit homeownership opportunities for low-income families in California communities. The California Coalition for Rural Housing said revisions made Feb. 10 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Section 502 Direct Loan program reduce the maximum loan amount allowed under the program […]
Morgan Stanley’s reported layoff of about 3% of its workforce — roughly 2,500 employees — is affecting some staff working on mortgage origination services for wealth management clients. The bank is cutting positions across its estimated 83,000-employee global workforce due to shifts in business priorities, geographic strategy changes and individual job performance considerations, people familiar […]
A decade of MBA Quarterly Performance Reports tells a story the mortgage industry has yet to fully absorb. A 200 basis point gap between TopTier® and Bottom Tier lenders persists. As of the quarter ended September 30, 2025, the top 20% of lenders earned 139 basis points of pre-tax production income. The average lender hovers […]
A strong loan pipeline is never built on a single referral source. The homebuying cycle is unpredictable, with rates changing and transaction volume rising and falling. Relying too heavily on one source leaves the pipeline lacking. Loan officers who cultivate a variety of referral partners create stability, consistency and sustainable growth through every market cycle. […]
A recent op-ed argues that President Donald Trump’s proposal to expand access to 401(k)-style retirement plans could become a meaningful step toward a universal savings system — but only if it goes further than currently outlined. Karl Polzer, founder of the Center on Capital and Social Equity, wrote that roughly half of American workers lack […]
Strong mortgage pipelines are built on intentional, trust-based referral partnerships, not chasing one-off leads. When referral relationships are nurtured, the interaction shifts from transactional leads to relationship-driven introductions. These partners actively boost your reputation, just as you promote theirs, creating a shared commitment to better client outcomes. That collaboration shows up in the borrower experience, […]
Greg Sher, managing director at Maryland-based NFM Lending, which originates roughly $6 billion in mortgages per year, said the company may be losing business. It’s not because its products or pricing fall short — but because of how some competitors structure relationships with real estate agents. In February, one of NFM’s top loan officers declined […]
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) on Wednesday announced a 75-basis-point pricing incentive for eligible conventional and government refinance loans, along with a $600 appraisal credit for eligible conventional and government purchase loans. The company confirmed that the 75-bps incentive applies to new rate locks through March, while the $600 appraisal credit will be available through April. […]
While home prices and mortgage rates often dominate affordability discussions, property taxes and homeowners insurance are taking up a growing share of monthly housing costs across the U.S., according to a report released Wednesday by Missouri-based Neighbors Bank. The report, “The ‘Hidden’ Costs Causing Monthly Housing Payments To Rise,” found that taxes and insurance account […]
We are all conditioned to wait for the dip. We do it instinctively. We wait for a sale before making a major purchase. We wait for airfare prices to soften. We wait for a pullback before committing capital to a stock. In many areas of life, patience is rewarded, and timing feels like a skill […]
As mortgage competition tightens and customer acquisition costs remain high, United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) is exploring a new way to stand out: borrower engagement. In partnership with Bilt, borrowers can earn rewards on their mortgage payments, their largest monthly expense, while brokers gain a tool to stay top-of-mind long after closing. UWM Chief Marketing Officer, […]
Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) endorsements fell sharply in February, continuing a broader slowdown in the reverse mortgage industry. The total number of HECMs endorsed during the month dropped 20.7% to 1,821 loans. While February’s shorter calendar often results in fewer endorsements, the size of the decline suggests additional pressures weighed on sales volume, according […]
Late last week, the U.S. housing market appeared to be on solid footing going into March, but a wrench was unexpectedly thrown into the works when the U.S. and Israel launched a military strike against Iran over the weekend. Mortgage News Daily reported Monday that 30-year fixed rates jumped 13 basis points (bps) from Friday, […]
Two former employees of Direct Mortgage Corp. have filed a federal lawsuit accusing the company and its chief executive of fraud, breach of contract and failing to pay wages, including overtime and commissions. Brooks Kelly and Jason Harris filed the complaint Feb. 20 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah against Direct […]
RenoFi, an end-to-end financing platform built exclusively for home renovations, announced Tuesday that it closed a $22 million Series B funding round led by Fifth Wall and participation from Progressive Insurance and other new investors. In addition to their financial backing, Fifth Wall and Progressive Insurance join RenoFi as strategic partners, a move the company […]
HMDA reporting season has just wrapped as financial institutions were required to submit detailed data from the previous calendar year’s mortgage applications and loans to their regulators by March 2nd. But for compliance professionals at community banks, the work doesn’t stop there. HMDA reporting has become less about “checking the box” and more about defending […]
Experian is imposing another price increase on credit reports sold to mortgage lenders — an unusual move at this time of year, according to resellers who spoke with HousingWire. “I have never seen a price increase after a price increase in January,” said one reseller executive, who requested anonymity to avoid potential retaliation. “It comes […]
The U.S. stands on the brink of an unprecedented wave of small-business ownership transitions as millions of baby boomers retire — creating both economic risk and a rare opportunity for wealth building across communities, according to a new report from the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility. By 2035, about 6 million small and medium-sized businesses […]
Fairway Home Mortgage announced Monday that Holly Mattson has been promoted to co-president of recruiting, where she will oversee the company’s efforts to onboard mortgage producers. Mattson will work alongside David Lazowski, president of recruiting and growth at Fairway. “Holly brings a passion and energy to this role that will help us usher in the […]
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac added a combined $12.5 billion in agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) to their retained portfolios in January, a volume that BTIG analyst Eric Hagen described as “lower than expected” but still effective in helping to drive down mortgage rates. During a Jan. 21 speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, […]
Editor’s note: Welcome to the second installment of the Monday Morning Q&A from HousingWire’s Reverse Mortgage Daily (RMD). Each Monday morning, the RMD newsletter will feature an in-depth interview with a reverse mortgage industry figure on a wide range of topics including loan origination and servicing, product development and technology. Loren Riddick, national director of […]
Private lending has matured. What was once a fragmented, relationship-driven corner of real estate finance has evolved into an increasingly institutional, multi-state industry with sophisticated counterparties, warehouse lines, and capital partners. Yet one critical area still receives far less attention than it deserves: mortgage licensing and compliance. For private lenders, particularly those making business-purpose residential […]
Just months after loanDepot co-founder Alex Madonna was named to a new role to focus on emerging technology, artificial intelligence and modern sales structures, it was announced that he’s departing the company. Madonna, who was most recently loanDepot’s executive vice president of direct lending and spent 16 years at the company, confirmed the news in […]
The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) has added Capital One to its Executive Council for Housing Affordability, a group of private-sector leaders focused on expanding access to affordable housing. Gina Metrakas, vice president and head of federal advocacy at Capital One, will represent the company on the council. Metrakas previously held senior leadership roles at the […]
AD Mortgage, a provider of non-QM and residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), announced on Friday the successful launch of a $602.7 securitization deal, its largest to date. The transaction, which follows the company’s first deal of the year, a $567.42 million transaction, marks AD’s 30th securitization of AD-originated collateral and the 21st to receive ratings from […]
Improving a credit score could save homebuyers tens of thousands of dollars in mortgage interest, according to a new nationwide study from AD Mortgage, released on Thursday. The analysis, Credit Score vs. Mortgage Cost: How Long It Takes to Improve and How Much It Can Save, State by State, shows that even modest gains in […]
NewDay USA announced Friday that it has appointed former Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner Brian D. Montgomery as vice chairman of the company’s advisory board, effective immediately. Montgomery is the only individual to serve as FHA commissioner twice, across three presidential administrations: George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. He also served as deputy […]
I have built an entire company on being able to relationship. Yes, I said it like that on purpose. According to Google, a relationship is “the way in which two or more concepts, or people are connected, or the state of being connected.” And while the industry is currently obsessed with AI ( I mean […]
Rocket Pro, the wholesale lending arm of Rocket Mortgage, announced a partnership with Compass to offer additional credits to brokers. It also unveiled a new loan origination system during its Ignite26 event on Thursday. Under a new program called Pro Purchase Power, brokers will receive 40 basis points when working with a Compass buyer’s agent, […]
California-based lender HomeXpress Mortgage Corp. announced Thursday that it has launched on the ARIVE platform, allowing approved brokers to access HomeXpress products and pricing on ARIVE’s loan origination system. HomeXpress is wholesale lender that specializes in nonqualified mortgages (non-QMs) and loans for real estate investors. The company said in a press release that the integration […]
Better.com is using artificial intelligence to handle tens of thousands of mortgage calls each month, cutting costs and speeding service for borrowers, according to a new case study from ElevenLabs, an AI audio company. The company’s generative AI loan agent, Betsy, powered by ElevenLabs Agents, managed nearly 100,000 borrower calls per month in 2025 and […]
Salem, Oregon-based Willamette Valley Bank is exiting the residential mortgage lending business, citing intense competition and a prolonged high interest rate environment. The bank announced Thursday that its mortgage operations will cease on March 31. President and CEO Ryan Dempster said the residential mortgage industry has undergone significant changes in recent years, including the rise […]
For over a decade, mortgage technology has pursued one overarching goal: speed. Faster applications. Faster disclosures. Faster underwriting. Faster closings. Loan origination systems (LOS) have evolved. APIs replaced fax machines. Automation compressed timelines from weeks to days—or even hours. On the surface, the industry appears transformed. Yet despite these gains, persistent challenges remain: high origination […]
The idea of “lender choice”, or the insinuation that mortgage lenders will choose the credit score that allows them to originate more mortgages, relies on the myth of adverse selection. This concept assumes a level of discretion and disorder that simply does not reflect how the current (or future) mortgage market operates. The false underlying premise […]