Ellington Financial Inc. reported first-quarter net income attributable to common stockholders of $95.5 million, or 78 cents per share, as strong reverse mortgage origination volumes and securitization activity boosted results. The Old Greenwich, Connecticut-based mortgage REIT said adjusted distributable earnings totaled $66.5 million, or 55 cents per share, in the quarter ended March 31. Book […]
UWM Holdings Corp. (UWM) raised its unsolicited offer to acquire Two Harbors Investment Corp. on Monday, proposing $12.50 per share in cash or 2.3328 shares of UWMC stock as it seeks to derail a pending merger with CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM). In an open letter to Two Harbors stockholders, UWM said it will submit a revised […]
For reverse mortgage lenders, the secondary market is a complex balancing act of liquidity, interest rates and government regulations. The industry continues to grapple with challenges stemming from the Ginnie Mae HECM Mortgage-Backed Securities (HMBS) program’s 98% buyout requirement, a rule some say contributed to the 2022 bankruptcy of Reverse Mortgage Funding (RMF). With the highly […]
The administration has proposed cutting the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) from $324 million to $119.5 million in fiscal 2027, a 63% reduction from the level Congress enacted for 2026. The justification centers on waste, fraud and abuse, along with a push to redirect capital toward rural communities. That framing misses the point. If […]
Benutech has launched two predictive analytics products aimed at helping real estate agents and mortgage loan officers identify potential home sellers and refinance candidates before they enter the market. The products, SellScore and RefiScore, are available through the company’s TitleToolbox platform. “SellScore and RefiScore give our clients the ability to stop guessing and start closing,” […]
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning mortgage services provider Mortgage Connect about its use of noncompete agreements, urging the company to review and potentially discontinue restrictive covenants that may violate federal antitrust law. Friday’s letter, signed by FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson and addressed to Mortgage Connect’s outside counsel, was a reaction to information […]
Blend Labs Inc. delivered a profitable first quarter and expanded its customer base while issuing a conservative outlook for the months ahead due to shifting macroeconomic conditions. The company reported non-GAAP operating income of $4.1 million for the quarter ending in March, a significant improvement from $0.7 million during the same period last year, according to […]
HousingWire reports on the quarterly earnings of publicly traded mortgage, real estate and homebuilder companies, offering a glimpse into the financial performance of key players in the housing market. Earnings results have been released for the first quarter of 2026; here’s a rundown of what’s happening at the major lenders, brokerages, builders, listing portals and […]
CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM) once again raised its bid for Two Harbors Investment Corp., matching UWM Holdings Corp.’s rival offer. The companies amended their agreement to increase the all-cash consideration to $12 per share, up from $11.30, as the mortgage REIT’s board continues to recommend the deal. The negotiations with CrossCountry Intermediate Holdco, an affiliate of […]
The mortgage industry is very good at watching signals. We watch rates like hawks. We track consumer sentiment all day long. We buy tools to tell us when to lock, when to float, when to sell, when to hedge and when to blink. We invest in technology to improve speed, accuracy and workflow. We spend […]
A borrower in forbearance gets the wrong information about their reinstatement options. It came from an automated servicing communication, routed through a system nobody fully owns and nobody fully monitors. By the time someone catches it, hundreds of borrowers have received the same message. Some acted on it. Now there’s a reporter making calls. Who […]
Rocket Companies reported its most profitable quarter in four years as artificial intelligence initiatives, a larger servicing portfolio and recent acquisitions helped the Detroit-based firm grow market share despite a choppy mortgage backdrop. The Detroit-based company reported net revenue of $2.94 billion for the quarter ending March 31, up from $1.1 billion in the same […]
As mortgage rates and home prices continue to strain homebuyers, states are rapidly expanding programs aimed at making homeownership more affordable. Housing affordability pressures remain severe nationwide. As of May 1, the median price for a U.S. single-family home sat at $449,038, according to HousingWire Data. Prices vary sharply by state, with Hawaii remaining the […]
At this week’s Reverse Mastermind Summit in Tennessee, Gabe Bodner of OneTrust Home Loans gave a detailed presentation on how reverse mortgage originators can achieve better marketing results. A key takeaway is that loan officers need to build a support system for these tasks rather than trying to go it alone. Bodner joined OneTrust in […]
Carrington Mortgage Services and mortgage technology firm Valon announced on Thursday a strategic partnership that includes Carrington adopting Valon’s servicing platform and acquiring Valon Mortgage, adding to its servicing portfolio of about 800,000 loans. The companies said the deal is aimed at modernizing Ginnie Mae servicing technology and expanding Carrington’s position as one of the […]
As more Americans juggle caring for aging parents while supporting their own children, reverse mortgage professionals are increasingly navigating emotionally complex family dynamics that can determine whether a loan proceeds or stalls. That reality is the focus of an upcoming webinar sponsored by the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA). “The Influence Factor: Family Dynamics […]
Executives at Better.com said the conflict in Iran is causing some borrowers to delay closing on mortgages, prompting the company to lean more heavily on home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) to sustain origination volume. At the same time, the New York-based digital mortgage lender continues to cut costs in an effort to meet its […]
Vice Capital Markets has publicly released its Vice Capital Par Note Rate, a proprietary daily mortgage rate benchmark built from agency mortgage-backed security (MBS) prices that’s designed to give lenders and analysts a secondary market view of mortgage pricing. The benchmark, available through an online tracker, provides daily data, long-term trend analysis and custom charting […]
Nearly half of U.S. homeowners did not consider moving in the past 12 months, a sign of growing housing market inertia even as mortgage rates have eased from recent highs, according to a new study from home equity financing platform, Point. The share of homeowners who said they did not consider moving rose to 48%, […]
Three women with prominent roles in the reverse mortgage industry took the stage Tuesday at the Reverse Mastermind Summit in Knoxville, Tennessee, sharing personal stories while converging on sales advice around the power of narrative, the importance of relationships with financial planners and the need for higher professional standards. Christine Jensen of Fairway Home Mortgage […]
Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint against Veterans United Home Loans, owned by Mortgage Research Center, adding claims of “bait-and-switch” and misleading advertising tactics, according to court filings reviewed by HousingWire. The original complaint filed in February alleges the lender misled homebuyers into believing it is connected to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), while […]
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) saw its origination engine cool in the first quarter compared to the previous three months, but the lender held the line on margins and remained profitable. Meanwhile, on the servicing strategy, UWM is steadily pulling more of its portfolio in-house as it battles CrossCountry Mortgage to acquire Two Harbors Investment Corp. […]
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) is rolling out free 1-0 temporary rate buydowns on purchase loans alongside a new suite of home equity products aimed at helping brokers retain borrowers. Effective immediately, the lender will cover the cost of 1-0 buydowns on both conventional and government purchase mortgages, issuing a credit to fully offset the expense. […]
loanDepot reported a wider first-quarter loss as market volatility and lower gain-on-sale margins weighed on revenue, despite growth in lock volume and market share. The Irvine, California-based mortgage lender on Tuesday posted a net loss of $54.9 million in the first quarter, compared with a loss of $32.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 […]
CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM) is pushing back on UWM Holdings Corporation‘s rival bid for Two Harbors Investment Corp., telling stockholders that only its signed, fully financed all-cash deal offers a certain path to value. CCM said it now has $3.4 billion of committed financing in place to close the transaction — a $2 billion secured facility […]
Reverse mortgage professionals converged in Knoxville, Tennessee, this week for the inaugural Reverse Mastermind Summit — a three-day event designed to bolster the sales skills of industry newcomers by surrounding them with knowledge from industry veterans. The event opened Wednesday with remarks from three leaders behind the event — Loren Riddick of NEXA Lending, Shannon […]
PennyMac Financial Services reported first-quarter net income of $82.3 million, or $1.53 per diluted share, as stronger mortgage production helped offset weaker servicing results tied to mortgage servicing rights valuation changes and hedging losses. The Westlake Village, California-based mortgage lender and servicer posted adjusted net income of $117.7 million, or $2.19 per diluted share, for […]
Florida-based Onity Group reported first-quarter 2026 net income attributable to common stockholders of $7 million as mortgage rate volatility, refinancing activity and elevated FHA delinquencies weighed on results despite growth in revenue and servicing volume. Net income was down from $21 million last year. In its earnings report, released on Tuesday, the company posted a […]
Mortgage rates have returned to the 6.5% level as financial markets shift their focus from economic data to escalating geopolitical events. “If you’ve got a deal, lock it in; there’s room for mortgage rates to continue to climb higher,” Nash Paradise, director of sales at UMortgage, advised loan officers. “Brokers have flexibility that a traditional […]
Rocket Pro is extending a key pricing incentive for mortgage brokers through May while also expanding its non-QM product offerings, moves aimed at helping brokers close more loans in a challenging housing market. The moves are part of the February 2026 promise the Detroit-based company made to its business partners: a “Power Play” announcement on […]
Mortgage lenders are rushing to adopt AI, but many are repeating a familiar mistake: using new technology to accelerate old processes. Faster paper-pushing isn’t transformation. AI presents an opportunity to go further—but only if lenders approach it correctly. In mortgage lending, intelligent AI means removing the paper, moving beyond simple automation, orienting technology around measurable […]
UWM Holdings Corp. is challenging Two Harbors Investment Corp.’s board after it rejected a $12 per share acquisition proposal in favor of an $11.30 per share deal with CrossCountry Mortgage LLC, issuing a lengthy response that questioned the board’s analysis and process. In a statement on Monday, UWM said “the TWO Board’s interpretation of the […]
Roman Ramora has joined eLEND as chief technology and innovation officer, moving into the newly expanded role effective May 4, 2026. In the C-suite position, Ramora will lead eLEND’s technology strategy, including the buildout of its digital lending platform and broader innovation roadmap, the company announced. eLEND, legally known as American Financial Resources (AFR), is sharpening its […]
A revised proposal from UWM Holdings Corporation to acquire Two Harbors Investment Corp. was formally rejected by the seller’s board of directors, citing “financing, closing, business and credibility risks.” The board continues to unanimously support the competing bid from CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC. In late April, UWM intensified its campaign to acquire TWO by issuing an […]
Chase Home Lending is offering a limited-time mortgage rate promotion for homebuyers and homeowners nationwide, with discounted rates available from May 4-17, the company announced Monday. The promotion applies to new home purchase loans as well as rate-and-term and cash-out refinances through Chase Home Lending. Eligible borrowers can receive personalized interest rate discounts designed to […]
It’s no secret that older Americans have built record levels of housing wealth. And while reverse mortgage companies devote time and energy tapping into this market, they also face rising competition from a relatively new product category: shared-equity products (SEPs), also commonly known as home equity investments (HEIs). According to research published earlier this year […]
Nerds are people too Since 1946, economists and others who find themselves alone on Friday nights have studied the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers for indications of consumer attitudes toward the U.S. economy. At its core, the survey measures current conditions and future expectations — but with a focus on the psychology of the […]
AD Mortgage released a new broker technology survey this week, which shows mortgage professionals are increasingly using artificial intelligence and digital tools but still face gaps in training, integration and adoption decisions. Based on responses from more than 250 mortgage brokers nationwide, the “Technology in the Mortgage Industry: 2026 Broker Survey” offers a snapshot of […]
A federal judge in Texas dismissed with prejudice a high-profile discrimination lawsuit against Colony Ridge Development while sharply criticizing a proposed settlement agreement that would have directed millions of dollars toward infrastructure and immigration enforcement rather than compensating alleged victims. In an order filed on April 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern […]
UWM Holdings Corp. is pressing its campaign to acquire Two Harbors Investment Corp. (TWO), issuing an open letter to the seller shareholders Thursday evening that details a sweetened proposal that valued the real estate investment trust (REIT) at $12 per share, positioning the bid as superior to the pending sale to CrossCountry Intermediate Holdco. UWM […]
It’s difficult to understate the impact that artificial intelligence is having on all aspects of the mortgage industry. From lead generation and borrower qualification to loan servicing and customer retention, companies must find ways to streamline processes to bring more customers in the door and keep their bottom line healthy. At HousingWire’s The Gathering in […]
Highlands Residential Mortgage has acquired The Equitable Mortgage Corp., giving the Texas-based lender an immediate footprint in central Ohio’s competitive home purchase market. Founded in 1995, Columbus-based Equitable Mortgage has funded more than $6 billion in residential loans over the past three decades, serving borrowers and real estate agents in central Ohio and parts of […]
Class Valuation has introduced a new underwriting and appraisal assurance program designed to streamline mortgage lending workflows and reduce risk tied to property valuations. The product, the Class Valuation Underwriting Engine (CVUE), combines artificial intelligence analysis with human review to deliver appraisals that lenders can accept without conducting their own internal review, according to the […]
Freddie Mac posted a strong start to 2026, reporting $3.6 billion in first-quarter net income as lower mortgage rates boosted refinancing activity and the government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) continued to build capital. Its profit rose from $2.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025. Speaking during the company’s earnings call on Thursday morning, Jim Whitlinger, the […]
Allen Price will quickly correct you if you call home equity investment (HEI) customers “borrowers” or the product a “loan.” “These are not borrowers because they are not borrowing money. This is not a loan but a contract,” said Price, head of sales at BSI Financial Services, which services HEI portfolios for top originators in […]