A Massachusetts judge has barred home equity contract provider Hometap from arguing that state regulators previously approved or implicitly sanctioned the company’s business model — strengthening the attorney general’s consumer protection lawsuit against Hometap. In a Dec. 19 decision, Suffolk County Superior Court Judge Debra Squires-Lee ruled that such fairness-based arguments cannot be used to […]
Mortgage rate movement remains stuck in neutral as 2025 comes to an end, but the U.S. housing market has shown signs of life during a traditionally slow period. On Monday, Mortgage News Daily reported an average 30-year fixed rate of 6.19%, down 5 basis points from a week earlier. And on Tuesday, HousingWire’s Mortgage Rates […]
Once viewed as a niche option, private lending has rapidly entered the mainstream as more borrowers discover the speed, flexibility, and accessibility of private credit financing. But as the industry attracts new borrowers, it is also evolving with their needs, particularly in the balance between short-term and long-term loans. To understand where private lending is […]
The median first-time homebuyer in the U.S. in 40 years old, which is a record high. One of the main reasons is that Millennials typically delay ownership by about 7 years, and Gen Z only have a 26% homeownership rate by their late 20s, far behind previous generations.A growing financial strain These younger Americans are […]
The reverse mortgage market is expected to see growth in 2026 as lenders and originators adapt to evolving interest rate conditions and innovate to reach more borrowers. John Lunde, founder and president of Reverse Market Insight, said that 2025 marked a shift in focus for many originators, as they recognized that mortgage rates might not […]
If you’re self-employed, paid on commission, or run a business, you already know the frustration: you can have strong cash flow, great credit, and real assets—yet a traditional mortgage can still feel like a square peg in a round hole. That’s exactly why bank statement loans exist. They’re designed for borrowers whose real income is […]
For real estate investors sidelined by traditional income documentation requirements, debt-service-coverage ratio (DSCR) loans are becoming easier to access and are more widely available as lenders refine underwriting and gain confidence in the product’s performance. Like other seemingly “nontraditional” loans, lenders took some time to dip their toes into in the DSCR market. Marc Halpern, […]
Mortgage applications decreased 5.0% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ending Dec. 19, 2025. On an unadjusted basis, the index decreased 6% compared with the previous week. The refinance index decreased 6% from the previous week and was 110% higher than […]
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recently announced “Operation Double Nickel,” a proposal that would lower the age for senior property tax benefits from 65 to 55 and expand homestead tax exemptions. According to Patrick’s website, the plan “would accelerate school property tax cuts, reduce school property taxes, and freeze appraised values for more than 3.3 […]
Mortgage rates started the year slightly above 7% but are heading into the holiday season near the 6.2% level. Looking ahead to 2026, lenders and industry experts expect some relief, though not a dramatic shift. On Monday, Mortgage News Daily reported that 30-year conventional fixed rates averaged 6.24%, down 2 basis points (bps) over the […]
Economic growth is expected to slow in 2026 and remain below trend for several years as higher interest rates and lingering inflation pressures weigh on the U.S. economy, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s December Economic and Mortgage Finance forecasts. MBA economists Mike Fratantoni, Joel Kan and Judie Ricks wrote that the forecasts show 2025 […]
U.S. mortgage delinquencies jumped sharply in November, reaching their highest level in more than four years, according to ICE Mortgage Technology’s latest First Look report, released on Tuesday. The national delinquency rate rose to 3.85% in November, up 50 basis points from October, as the number of past-due mortgages increased by 275,000 to about 2.3 […]
In a wholesale mortgage market dominated by giants, Arizona-based lender The Loan Store (TLS) has found a way to grow quickly by hiring a team of “samurai” account executives and underwriters from across the industry and picking up loans that others would deny. In the first nine months of 2025, the company doubled its origination […]
After serving as Sierra Pacific Mortgage’s chief operating officer for a year, Suzy Lindblom has moved on to Acra Lending, according to her LinkedIn post on Monday morning. Lindblom said that “While it was sad to see Sierra Pacific Mortgage Company, Inc. close and transition, it ultimately opened a door for a new and exciting opportunity.” Lindblom […]
Financial services and insurance firms are facing rising exposure to cyberattacks, fraud and other third-party risks while struggling with poor data quality that is slowing decision-making and artificial intelligence adoption, according to a new global survey from Dun & Bradstreet released earlier this month. The survey of more than 2,000 senior professionals across the United […]
The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) is urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to revise proposed changes to federal fair lending rules, warning that the agency’s approach could undermine reverse mortgages by restricting the permissible use of age in credit programs. In a comment letter submitted to the CFPB on Dec. 15, the […]
Demand for debt-service-coverage ratio (DSCR) loans grew in 2025 as tight housing inventory and a rising share of nontraditional wage earners pushed more borrowers toward alternative products. The demand was contagious across the industry. In November, Rocket Pro announced the launch of its first DSCR product for investment properties, marking a turning point as companies […]
A proposal to remove housing counseling as a front-end requirement for borrowers seeking government-insured reverse mortgages would eliminate a key consumer protection for seniors, according to Peter M. Mazonas, CEO of NatEquity Inc. Mazonas voiced his concerns in a letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. His comments came in response to […]
Better Home & Finance Holding Co. announced Friday the appointment of Barry Feierstein as the company’s chief operating officer. In his new role, Feierstein will oversee Better’s corporate operations. “We’re thrilled to have Barry on board as Better’s new COO. His background brings a rare combination of entrepreneurial spirit and operational discipline that will strengthen […]
On Thursday evening, the Senate confirmed Frank Cassidy as the next Federal Housing Administration (FHA) commissioner and the assistant secretary for housing, Joe Gormley as Ginnie Mae‘s new president, and Travis Hill as chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC). The confirmations follow the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs advancing the […]
Today’s lending environment is tight, and margins are feeling the pressure. It’s clear that a lender’s profitability has a lot to do with how well decisions are made and managed throughout the loan process. But many lenders are still relying on manual reviews and policy updates that can take weeks to put into place. AI […]
A recent Cato Institute survey of 2,000 adults found strong bipartisan support for creating an independent, nonpartisan commission with authority to address Social Security’s long-term funding shortfall. Seventy-one percent of respondents said they favor Congress establishing such a body, reflecting broad frustration with lawmakers and growing openness to an alternative decision-making process. Support cuts across […]
Nearly half of retirement plan participants carry credit card debt, a factor that increases the likelihood they’ll take a loan from their retirement accounts, according to a new report from J.P. Morgan Asset Management. The “Retirement by the Numbers” study found that high credit card balances are linked to lower contribution rates and smaller account […]
The move by United Wholesale Mortgage’s (UWM) parent company to acquire Two Harbors Investment Corp. for $1.3 billion — the first acquisition in its history — marks a shift towards a more balanced business model between origination and servicing for the nation’s top mortgage lender. UWM will continue to focus on its broker channel, while […]
AD Mortgage on Thursday released its first Mortgage Professionals Pulse Report & 2026 Outlook, which offers a glimpse into broker sentiment, performance, challenges and expectations based on a survey of more than 300 mortgage professionals nationwide. The survey, conducted in late November and early December, found that 70% of respondents said 2025 was a better […]
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on Wednesday issued proposed guidance to simplify how community banks can meet Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) requirements through a strategic plan. The proposal follows a series of changes announced by the OCC in October and November that aim to reduce regulatory burdens for community banks. The […]
Homebuyer affordability improved slightly in November as the national median monthly mortgage payment for purchase applicants dropped to $2,034, down $5 from October, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s Purchase Applications Payment Index (PAPI) released Thursday. On an annual basis, payments were down by $99, equal to a 4.6% decrease. MBA’s PAPI, which tracks […]
CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM) announced Wednesday that it’s welcoming the Victor Alpha Group to the company. Led by the husband-and-wife duo of Patton Gade and Shari Gade, the team brings more than 20 mortgage professionals with military ties to CCM. “This team exemplifies the values that define CrossCountry Mortgage,” Ron Leonhardt, founder and CEO of CrossCountry […]
Mutual of Omaha Mortgage is marketing a $243.3 million securitization backed by newly originated proprietary reverse mortgages, according to a presale report published Monday by Morningstar DBRS. The transaction is backed by 318 reverse mortgages with about $200.1 million in unpaid principal balance, most of which were originated in 2025 and are secured by first […]
Movement Mortgage has a new East Coast growth director, according to a press release from the company on Wednesday. Justin Caplan is taking on the role. He is tasked with leading and supporting market expansion, along with strengthening recruiting and leadership development. Caplan, who has 30 years of industry experience, has funded more than $1 […]
MidOcean Partners, an alternative asset manager focused on middle-market private equity, alternative credit and structured equity, said on Tuesday that it has entered into a forward flow purchase agreement with home equity investment (HEI) platform Point Digital Finance Inc. Under the agreement, Point will sell up to $600 million of its HEI assets to MidOcean. […]
The Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO) announced on Tuesday that Amy Moses will assume the role of vice president of strategic growth. Moses, who joined MISMO in early 2025 as a contractor, will lead MISMO’s growth and revenue strategy in her new role. She’ll also develop partnerships that help to encourage the adoption of […]
Kiavi, a nonbank lender platform for residential real estate investors (REIs), announced on Wednesday its expansion into four additional states — Mississippi, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Vermont — bringing its footprint to 49 states and Washington, D.C. The expansion comes amid a period of growth for the company. Year to date, Kiavi has originated […]
United Holding Corp., the parent company of United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), has struck an all-stock deal to acquire real estate investment trust Two Harbors Investment Corp. for $1.3 billion. The transaction, announced Wednesday, will nearly double UWM’s servicing book while expanding its capabilities, creating the eighth-largest U.S. mortgage servicer, according to company estimates. Two Harbors […]
From lawsuits to mergers and acquisitions at a scale never seen before in real estate and everything in between, 2025 was full of twists, turns and surprises for the housing industry. HousingWire is rewinding and breaking down the biggest storylines in the real estate industry from this past year. There is no doubt that 2025 […]
Mortgage applications decreased 3.8% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ending Dec. 12. On an unadjusted basis, the index decreased 5% compared with the previous week. The refinance index decreased 4% from the previous week and was 86% higher than the […]
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) on Tuesday named Bob Hart as president of its ICE Mortgage Technology division. Hart will succeed Tim Bowler, who will transition to ICE’s fixed income and data services division, where he will focus on index development and financial institution infrastructure. The leadership changes take effect Jan. 1, 2026. Hart joined ICE Mortgage […]
Freddie Mac announced Tuesday that its board of directors has selected Kenny M. Smith as the company’s CEO. The move is effective Wednesday and Smith will also serve as a member of the board. Michael Hutchins, who assumed the interim CEO role in March 2025 following the departure of Diana Reid, will continue in his […]
The latest in a string of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts appears to have done little to impact mortgage rates, which have remained steady since the Fed’s Dec. 10 decision to lower benchmark rates by a quarter point. On Monday, Mortgage News Daily reported that 30-year fixed rates averaged 6.29%, down 7 basis points (bps) […]
Mortgage trade groups are supporting limits on disparate-impact liability under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and other proposed changes, according to comment letters submitted Monday to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Consumer advocacy groups, however, are urging the CFPB to withdraw the proposal entirely, warning that it would significantly weaken fair lending protections […]
Informed.IQ, an AI-powered loan verification and fraud prevention company, announced on Tuesday that it raised $63M from Invictus Growth Partners to expand its AI-powered loan verification platform, aiming to reduce fraud and enhance efficiency. Informed.IQ, which serves seven of the top 10 U.S. auto lenders, said its platform has supported over $350 billion in loan […]
Mortgage applications for new home purchases in November 2025 increased 3.1% from a year ago but compared to the previous month, decreased by 7%. That’s according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Builder Application Survey (BAS) data. The association disclosed that the change does not include any adjustment for typical seasonal patterns. “While the arrival […]
Pennymac cut the ribbon on a new facility in Carrollton, Texas, on Friday, which will become the company’s largest corporate office, eventually housing more than 1,800 employees. The move consolidates two offices in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex while also giving the company room to grow. Pennymac is taking full advantage of the bigger space, actively hiring […]
The legal skirmish between Katie Sweeney and the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts (AIME) is continuing to develop with a first amended complaint that officially names United Wholesale Mortgage, AIME’s main sponsor, and Sarah DeCiantis, UWM’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, as defendants. Sweeney previously filed a motion on Oct. 28 in the […]
Most Americans hold a favorable view of Social Security, but about one-third are skeptical the program will still exist when they retire, according to new survey data released by the Cato Institute and YouGov. The survey also found that Americans are broadly misinformed about how Social Security works. “Many do not understand how the program […]