The Trump administration recently floated the idea that Americans should be able to withdraw funds from their 401(k) retirement accounts without tax penalties to furnish down payments for home purchases. Details — including limits and eligibility — remain unclear. And the proposal is in limbo, per recent comments from Trump that appear to distance himself […]
President Donald Trump appears to be backing away from the idea of allowing homebuyers to tap their retirement accounts without tax penalties to fund down payments — a proposal that had been publicly floated by his economic team but met with skepticism from housing experts. Speaking to reporters Thursday while returning to Washington from the […]
NEXA Lending announced Monday the rollout of new artificial intelligence tools within its Agenetic AI platform, which aim to support loan officers with real-time guidance on pricing, loan structuring, marketing and borrower communication. The update introduces Chat AI and Social AI capabilities that integrate large language-model technology directly into loan officers’ workflows. The platform also […]
California’s tax incentives lock in homes The inheritance trend is especially pronounced in Inherited homes accounted for a record share of U.S. property transfers in 2025, a shift in how housing supply reaches the market and challenging expectations that aging baby boomers who wish to downsize will unlock a surge of homes for sale. New […]
TikTok has finalized a deal to form a new U.S. entity with investors that include Oracle, Silver Lake and Emirati firm MGX, easing the threat of a nationwide ban and allowing the social media app to continue operating for more than 200 million American users. The company said Thursday that the new TikTok U.S. joint […]
CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM) announced Friday that it has hired Sam Sharp as regional executive vice president, expanding the lender’s presence in the Chicago market. Sharp, who brings more than 23 years of mortgage industry experience, is known in the Chicago area for a borrower-focused approach and long-standing referral relationships, according to the company. “When you […]
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)’s annual Performance and Accountability Report was published on Friday, revealing that the agency received clean audit results for fiscal year 2025 from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The report disclosed that the GAO did not find any “material weaknesses or unacceptable risks.” The FHFA received an unmodified audit opinion […]
Ginnie Mae on Thursday released its fiscal year 2025 Annual Financial Report, reporting strong financial performance, steady market confidence and continued progress in supporting the U.S. housing finance system. The government-owned corporation said its mortgage-backed securities (MBS) program remained a key source of liquidity for government-insured lending, financing about 1.4 million transactions during the fiscal […]
This week, Go Companies named Jay Promisco as its CEO, signaling a push toward automation, data-driven mortgage origination and a renewed focus on company culture. Promisco, who brings 20-plus years of executive leadership experience — including roles at Sierra Pacific Mortgage and Stearns Lending — will lead the technology-driven mortgage platform’s next phase, the company […]
Planet Financial Group, LLC, the parent company of Planet Home Lending, has appointed Scott Henley as a correspondent regional sales manager, the company announced on Thursday. Henley will be responsible for supporting and expanding correspondent lending relationships across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico and Colorado. His role includes working with existing partners, developing new correspondent […]
Natural disasters can upend lives in an instant, leaving homeowners to cope with emotional trauma and financial uncertainty. Mortgage lenders and housing professionals play a critical role in helping clients rebuild. By connecting survivors to counseling and financial coaching services, you can make recovery faster, safer, and more sustainable. Why recovery counseling matters The emotional […]
President Donald Trump has floated proposals to make it easier for Americans to pull from their 401(k) retirement accounts to buy a home — framing the idea as a way to boost homeownership and financial stability. But financial experts say the strategy could undermine long-term financial security, particularly as housing costs rise and retirement savings […]
In the mortgage industry, the initial reaction to President Donald Trump’s proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10% has been concern that the policy could ultimately backfire on would-be homebuyers. The cap might seem beneficial on paper, but the long-term consequences, including reduced credit availability, could outweigh the benefits, mortgage professionals told HousingWire. […]
Newfi Lending, a national mortgage lender focused on non-QM originations, announced Tuesday that it’s expanding its debt-service-coverage ratio (DSCR) loan program to allow larger loan amounts, financing for rural properties and the use of qualifying cryptocurrency assets to meet reserve requirements without liquidation. The updates are aimed at real estate investors who hold digital assets […]
Foreclosure prevention activity increased in October as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac completed more than 17,000 actions to help struggling homeowners, according to a Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) report released Thursday. The government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) completed 17,032 foreclosure prevention actions in October 2025, bringing the total to nearly 7.3 million since the start of […]
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) and its executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Sarah DeCiantis — both of whom are defendants in the ongoing court battle between the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts (AIME) and its former CEO, Katie Sweeney — have denied allegations that they interfered with a contract involving AIME. An amended complaint […]
Technology-driven mortgage platform Go Companies has appointed Jay Promisco as chief executive officer, the company announced on Thursday morning. Promisco will lead the company’s next phase, focusing on modernizing mortgage origination through automation and data-driven decision-making, according to the company. He will also emphasize company culture and improve the borrower and originator experience. Ohio-based Go […]
The Philadelphia City Council has advanced a proposal to create PhillySaves, a city-sponsored automated retirement savings program designed to reach private sector workers whose employers do not offer retirement benefits. City officials said the initiative aims to expand access to retirement savings while placing minimal administrative burdens on employers. Under legislation approved by the council, […]
The Trump administration has rolled back a series of health care regulations affecting nursing homes, home care workers and Medicare beneficiaries — scrapping minimum staffing standards and launching a new experiment that expands prior authorization in traditional Medicare. The changes reverse years of advocacy efforts by consumer groups and labor organizations. They are expected to […]
President Donald Trump’s expected proposal to allow Americans to tap their 401(k) retirement accounts without penalties to fund down payments could ease one of the biggest barriers to homeownership, but it could come at the cost of weakening long-term retirement security. The idea was absent from Trump’s speech on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum […]
Multiple mortgage lending trade groups are urging the White House to take administrative steps to lower the costs of home loans, arguing that federal regulations have driven up borrowing expenses as affordability worsens. In a letter sent Wednesday to White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, the Mortgage Bankers Association, America’s Credit Unions and […]
For nearly two hours on Wednesday, the Supreme Court discussed President Donald Trump’s bid to oust Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, who is accused of committing mortgage fraud by allegedly misrepresenting occupancy requirements on loans for two properties. Several outlets — including The New York Times, CNN, NPR and The Wall Street Journal — reported […]
President Donald Trump said the U.S. will not “become a nation of renters” as he announced what he described as a ban on large institutional investors purchasing single-family homes during his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday. Trump also said he has directed the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) to acquire up to […]
Mortgage applications increased 14.1% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ending January 16, 2026. On an unadjusted basis, the index increased 17% compared with the previous week. Refinance activity continued to be elevated, with the refinance index increasing 20% from the […]
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has “revoked” the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan approval authority of Equity Prime Mortgage (EPM) and Residential Acceptance Corporation (RAC), in several markets, as outlined in Wednesday’s Federal Register. The action is part of HUD’s Credit Watch Termination Initiative, which monitors mortgage lenders’ performance. In the notice, HUD said Equity Prime is […]
For today’s mortgage leadership, the most expensive asset on the balance sheet is the borrower’s attention. Yet, in an era defined by an “attention economy,” the industry has spent a decade devaluing that asset through a practice that has become as predictable as it is ineffective: the mass-market email newsletter blast. For years, the industry […]
Older Americans are leaving money on the table when they sell their homes, with losses widening sharply after age 70, according to new research from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Using a newly built national dataset, researchers found that sellers in their 70s and beyond consistently earn lower returns than younger homeowners. […]
One Real Mortgage is undergoing a C-suite shuffle. On Tuesday afternoon, Kate Gurevich posted on social media that she’s starting a new position as CEO of the company. “I am thrilled to share that I am starting a new role as CEO of One Real Mortgage, a division of Real Broker LLC,” Gurevich wrote on […]
President Donald Trump is set to speak Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and it’s already proving to be a catalyst for mortgage rates. Mortgage News Daily reported on Tuesday that 30-year fixed rates averaged 6.21% — up 14 basis points from Friday. HousingWire’s Mortgage Rates Center, which tracks locked loans across […]
HighTechLending has named Paul Fiore vice president of sales and branch production, the company announced on Tuesday. Fiore will oversee the expansion of the lender’s branch channel, including recruiting branch managers and loan officers. He is also tasked with supporting growth across the company’s 30-state footprint and increasing loan production through the company’s product offerings. […]
Balance Homes announced its relaunch on Tuesday, backed by a $30 million investment led by Falco Group, as it seeks to expand access to alternative home equity solutions amid mounting affordability pressures. The company said the funding will accelerate its mission to help homeowners remain in their homes by offering more flexible equity-sharing options. The […]
Housing industry participants will closely watch President Donald Trump in Davos, where he is expected to outline measures aimed at improving housing affordability. His speech is expected for Wednesday. Potential initiatives include ideas Trump has already floated on social media, such as encouraging Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to expand their purchases of mortgage-backed securities […]
As we prepare to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it’s important to pause and reflect not only on Dr. King’s national legacy, but also on the work he did in my hometown of Chicago that continues to shape lives, opportunities and generational progress today. Dr. King’s Chicago campaign and the fight for fair housing […]
Non-QM mortgage lender Logan Finance Corp. announced last week that Chuck Vaughn has joined the company as managing director of correspondent lending. Vaughn will oversee strategic initiatives, efforts to expand market share, the launch of Logan Finance’s select delegated channel and lead operational growth across its correspondent business. “We were seeking a proven leader who […]
A former corporate attorney is accusing Michigan-based United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) of retaliation and wrongful termination after he refused to sign attorney opinion letters (AOLs) in states where he was not licensed. The plaintiff claims the requirement stemmed from a policy change implemented in November. A spokesperson for UWM said in a statement to HousingWire […]
A federal judge in New York has consolidated multiple lawsuits stemming from a data breach at SitusAMC Holdings Corp. in November 2025, combining a newly filed case with an existing class-action suit to streamline proceedings. On Wednesday, Judge Lewis J. Liman of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted an […]
With mortgage rates expected to remain flat for the foreseeable future, lenders of all sizes are looking for creative ways to attract creditworthy borrowers who may not fit into the conventional loan box. Below are four trends that will enable lenders to expand their reach to new borrowers in 2026: Non-QM lending goes mainstream A […]
Two Ohio state representatives are supporting legislation they say will establish clear statewide protections against property tax‑related foreclosures for the state’s senior homeowners. Reps. David Thomas (R) and Adam Mathews (R) highlighted H.B. 443, known as the Senior Protection from Foreclosure Act, during a news conference Wednesday. The bill would bar counties from enforcing property […]
Foreclosure filings were reported on 367,460 U.S. properties in 2025, up 14% from 2024 and up 3% from 2023. Foreclosure filings in 2025 were also down 87% from a peak of nearly 2.9 million in 2010. That’s according to ATTOM‘s Year-End 2025 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, released Thursday, which is based on publicly recorded and […]
The Community Home Lenders of America (CHLA) is pushing back against proposals to allow a single-bureau credit pull in mortgage underwriting, as Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte presses for changes aimed at increasing competition in the use of credit scores. In a white paper published Wednesday, CHLA argued that the three main […]
Freddie Mac‘s multifamily division reported Thursday that its 2025 production volume totaled $77.6 billion, a 17% increase from 2024. The government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) said it supported 577,000 affordable rental units across the U.S. while “maintaining strong safety and soundness standards.” Production for the year included $1.2 billion in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity investments, […]
Mortgage rate-lock activity ended 2025 stronger than typical holiday season patterns, according to Optimal Blue‘s December 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report released on Tuesday. Total lock volume rose 2% from November and finished 30% higher than a year earlier, driven largely by rate-and-term refinances, which increased 13% month over month and more than 170% […]
Mortgage applications for new home purchases rose 2.5% in December 2025 from a year earlier, according to data released Thursday in the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s Builder Application Survey. Applications fell 3% compared to November 2025 without any seasonal adjustment. “December purchase activity for newly built homes continued to run stronger than last year, despite […]
Affordability pressures, elevated mortgage rates, and homeowner rate lock-in have pushed once-fringe mortgage ideas back into the spotlight. Concepts such as 50-year mortgages, portable mortgages, and assumable loans are being discussed as potential solutions. Some are misunderstood. Others already exist in limited form. A few, however, come with tradeoffs that warrant closer examination. For lenders, […]
New View Advisors on Tuesday published the newest installment of its Proprietary Reverse Mortgage Production Index, which showed that private-label reverse mortgages are continuing to become a preferred product among lenders and borrowers. The company estimated that proprietary loan volume totaled $250 million in December 2025, $730 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and […]