Mortgage rates had been trending downward for much of 2025, but that’s changed in the past week as markets digest the impacts of a global trade war and investors speculate that the Federal Reserve could lose its independence. At HousingWire’s Mortgage Rates Center on Tuesday, 30-year conforming rates averaged 6.98% — up 20 basis points […]
Spring marks the peak season for the U.S. housing market, with more listings hitting the market and warmer weather making it easier for buyers to tour homes and explore their options. Traditionally, this season brings a surge in purchase activity—and in 2025, that trend is especially important for lenders to watch closely against the backdrop […]
Veteran mortgage executive Randell Gillespie has been named president of Kansas City-based mortgage shop LeaderOne. Gillespie joins LeaderOne following a long stint at Thrive Mortgage and Lower, which merged in early 2024. He most recently served as chief production officer at the combined company before his departure in February 2025. “This company was built for […]
Homebuyers paid an average of $4,661 in closing costs on purchase mortgages last year, according to a new report from LodeStar Software Solutions. The company released its first-ever purchase mortgage closing cost report. The findings showed that, on average, closing costs represented 1.06% of home sale prices at the national level. The median percentage came […]
Mortgage technology platform Prudent AI on Monday announced the promotion of Paul Gigliotti to the role of chief growth officer. Gigliotti has more than 20 years of experience in the mortgage lending and fintech realms, and he will oversee the company’s revenue, sales and marketing strategies. “Paul’s exceptional ability to identify strategic opportunities and forge […]
Following several months of leadership shakeups, program cuts and administrative announcements regarding the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, FHFA Director Bill Pulte took to social media platform X on Monday morning to confirm that he does “not forsee” any more executive leadership changes at the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs). Pulte’s post […]
CrossCountry Mortgage and digital banking platform Blend on Monday announced an expanded partnership to drive innovation for independent mortgage banks (IMBs). The partnership brings together CrossCountry‘s 7,000-plus employees across more than 700 branches and Blend‘s technology platform that powered nearly $1.2 trillion in loan applications in 2024. As part of this collaboration, the two companies […]
When Sarah Middleton joined Supreme Lending as Chief Marketing and Growth Officer, she brought with her not just an impressive track record of leadership — but a 26-point checklist she uses to evaluate every opportunity. In her recent Power House podcast appearance, Sarah revealed how this detailed framework helped her make one of the biggest […]
Reverse mortgages have a minimum age requirement that serves as a key differentiator for the product. But it also leads to questions about how much — or how little — technology tools can or should interact with the business. But things seemed to take a step forward last week when one of the leading lenders […]
Less than two weeks ahead of its first in-person meeting of the year, the premiere trade association for the reverse mortgage industry has announced preliminary details for both its upcoming regional meeting and its annual meeting and expo slated for later this year. The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) announced in a member update […]
Mortgage lenders shouldn’t interpret the downsizing of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) as a green light to ease compliance, despite potential mass layoffs and a shift in priorities, industry experts told HousingWire. As part of the Trump administration’s latest moves, more than 1,400 employees, out of 1,700 total, were told they were laid off […]
Nearly half of real estate transactions reviewed in the first quarter of 2025 showed signs of potential wire and title fraud, according to a report from FundingShield. The company analyzed a portfolio of residential, commercial and business-purpose loans totaling approximately $80 billion. It found that 46.8% of these transactions contained issues that could lead to […]
The Mortgage Bankers Association‘s (MBA) Builder Application Survey (BAS) data for March 2025 revealed that mortgage applications for new home purchases increased 5.5% compared to a year ago. Compared to last month, applications increased by 14%. By product type, conventional loans composed 49.0% of loan applications, FHA loans composed 37.0%, RHS/USDA loans composed 0.9% and […]
More than 1,400 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) workers were terminated from their positions on Thursday, sources told WIRED. There were around 1,700 employees in total at the CFPB. Fox Business reports that around 1,500 workers will receive RIF notices across core functions, based on an unnamed source. This move is the latest in the Trump […]
You’ve likely heard it often enough, but just in case you haven’t, older Americans generally prefer to age in place in their own homes by a wide margin. But for those who may be struggling to find support from their caregivers or family members to accomplish this goal, they may instead opt for a congregate […]
Background check provider Checkr is acquiring income and employment verification startup Truework, Truework’s CEO Ryan Sandler confirmed via LinkedIn on Thursday. “Over the past 8 years we have grown an incredible team to over 100 employees, raised 5 funding rounds, called 6 different offices home, operated across 3 cities, had 2 name changes – and […]
Following speculation about whether it would actively seek a new home base, an announcement made Thursday by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has made it official. HUD is coordinating with the General Services Administration (GSA) to add the current HUD headquarters “to the accelerated disposition list in order to engage the […]
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) CEO Mat Ishbia said on the company’s fourth-quarter 2024 earnings call that President Donald Trump would be a huge boost to the mortgage industry. While that may turn out to be true over the long term, Trump’s trade war hasn’t done shareholders any favors in the near term. Since Trump unveiled […]
On Thursday, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) and other housing groups signed a joint letter in support of the bicameral and bipartisan trigger lead bills known as the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act, or H.R. 2808 and S. 1467. If enacted, the legislation would curb the use of mortgage credit trigger leads in all but a […]
Bill Ackman, the billionaire founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, has an audacious plan to privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac without congressional approval. The proposal involves the federal government forgiving hundreds of billions of dollars while also reducing capital requirements. As a result, Ackman claims the plan would boost the stock prices of both […]
Housing industry pros are largely supportive of the raft of changes the Federal Housing Administration made related to the COVID-19 era loss mitigation waterfall. “The issue is less what they rescinded as it is what they instituted,” said David Dworkin, president and CEO of the National Housing Conference (NHC) in an interview. “What they’ve instituted […]
The reverse mortgage education ecosystem has long struggled to push back against the tide of what the industry views as bad information about its products and business model. Nonprofit counseling agency Credit.org is aiming to offer more prospective reverse mortgage borrowers a source of information. It has created a new e-learning course that aims to […]
Home equity levels among U.S. homeowners is at record levels, having hit $35 trillion, according to Federal Reserve data. But with this added wealth on paper, those holding it aren’t necessarily feeling more financially secure. This is due to the upward march of property taxes, persistently high interest rates and other restrictions some families may […]
Equity Smart Home Loans made a splash Wednesday by announcing it is severing ties with United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) and partnering with Rocket Pro. In an interview with HousingWire, longtime CEO Pablo Martinez said that the contract termination occurred last week. “It just comes down to pricing. It’s like when you go to Costco, you […]
The government-owned company responsible for a large portion of secondary mortgage market activity has appointed a new senior leader. Ginnie Mae has appointed Joseph Gormley to serve as its new executive vice president and chief operating officer. He will oversee the company’s overarching mission to support stability across U.S. housing markets, the company said on […]
American Financial Resources (AFR) on Wednesday announced the promotions of Robert Pieklo to CEO and Michael Brenning to chief operating officer. The leadership changes follow the company’s record-breaking first quarter in which AFR said it quadrupled its Q1 2024 loan origination volume, including a nearly 700% increase in production in the wholesale channel alone. Per […]
Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte announced via social media platform X that the agency is establishing a tip line for reporting mortgage fraud activity. Pulte announced the intent to create a tip line on Monday via his personal X account. A day later, he shared an email address, fraudtips@fhfa.gov, where mortgage fraud […]
Rocket Companies made a major move this week by integrating Rocket Pro TPO with ARIVE, a leading software platform used by mortgage brokers. The integration, announced on Wednesday, connects Rocket to a network of approximately 28,000 active users, including 21,000 loan officers who source mortgage offers from multiple wholesale lenders — including Rocket’s chief rival, […]
Mortgage demand decreased 8.5% for the week ending April 11, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s weekly applications survey — a stark contrast to the 20% increase seen a week earlier. Last week’s application news was dominated by the quick buzz that resulted from lower rate movement. But this week’s data revealed that the […]
Bank of America (BofA) and Citi reported declining mortgage production in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter, following similar results from peers Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase last week. Mortgage volumes at BofA and Citi, which were attributed to seasonal trends and rising interest rates, are expected to remain challenged in […]
More than $700 billion in home equity is effectively “trapped” and inaccessible to homeowners due to a variety of economic circumstances, including employment shocks and shifts in the market that negatively impact their credit scores. This information comes from an economic analysis published last week by alternative home equity investment company Point. The “trapping” stems […]
Digital banking solutions company Blend Labs Inc. on Tuesday announced an expanded partnership with Alloy, an identity and fraud prevention platform provider. As part of the new agreement, Blend customers can now incorporate Alloy’s identity and fraud prevention capabilities into their consumer banking solutions, with the ultimate goal to build a safer digital banking experience. […]
The U.S. economy continues to navigate turbulence that is closely tied to President Donald Trump’s newly enacted trade policies. The mortgage market has not been immune to the volatility as interest rates remain top of mind for originators and consumers alike. HousingWire’s Mortgage Rates Center shows that 30-year conforming rates averaged 6.78% on Tuesday, up […]
Illustration of HUD Secretary Scott Turner ending loss mitigation programs. Created with ChatGPTO 4o. ” data-medium-file=”https://www.housingwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Copy-of-Newsroom-Template-1200-x-800-px-14.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://www.housingwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Copy-of-Newsroom-Template-1200-x-800-px-14.jpg?w=1024″ src=”https://www.housingwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Copy-of-Newsroom-Template-1200-x-800-px-14.jpg?w=1024″ alt=”Illustration of HUD Secretary Scott Turner ending loss mitigation programs.” class=”wp-image-515820″ srcset=”https://www.housingwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Copy-of-Newsroom-Template-1200-x-800-px-14.jpg 1200w, https://www.housingwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Copy-of-Newsroom-Template-1200-x-800-px-14.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https://www.housingwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Copy-of-Newsroom-Template-1200-x-800-px-14.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.housingwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Copy-of-Newsroom-Template-1200-x-800-px-14.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.housingwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Copy-of-Newsroom-Template-1200-x-800-px-14.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w” sizes=”(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px”>Illustration of HUD Secretary Scott Turner ending loss mitigation programs. Created with ChatGPTO […]
AI-powered platform Friday Harbor today announced the completion of a $6 million seed round. The round was led by Abstract Ventures, a San Francisco-based venture firm with $1.5 billion in assets under management. Other participants in the round were Wischoff Ventures, a venture capital firm founded by Blend alum Nichole Wischoff, and the AI2 Incubator, […]
Following national home-price growth of 5.8% in 2024, a panel of more than 100 housing experts forecasts home-price growth to average 3.4% in 2025 and 3.3% in 2026. That’s according to the Q1 2025 Fannie Mae Home Price Expectations Survey, produced in partnership with Pulsenomics, LLC, which forecasts national home-price percentage changes in each of […]
After over three decades of leadership, Robert Wagnon, CEO and founder of Republic State Mortgage Co., yesterday announced the sale of his controlling interest in Republic to Andrina Valdes, CEO of Temul Capital and Alta Home Lending. A press release from the Houston-based company confirmed that Paulina McGrath will remain as its president, chief financial […]
In its 2025 State of eClose Adoption Report released on Tuesday, Snapdocs revealed that 90% of mortgage lending institutions now offer digital closings to customers. This year’s figure marked a 22% increase from the prior year. But despite the increase, only 14% of lenders with eClosing technology close more than 80% of their loans digitally […]
Trade groups like the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) may be getting at least some of the relief they’ve been advocating for when it comes to mortgage insurance premiums. Last week, H.R. 2760 — otherwise known as the Middle Class Mortgage Insurance Premium Act — was introduced into the House of Representatives by Rep. Vern Buchanan […]
Better Home & Finance Holding Co. — the parent of digital mortgage lender Better.com — has restructured about $534 million of its outstanding debt with SB Northstar, the asset management subsidiary of SoftBank, the company announced on Monday. Better is retiring $530 million of outstanding debt accruing interest at 1% annually and due in 2028. […]
Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte took to social media platform X on Monday to announce that, effective immediately, Omeed Malik is joining Fannie Mae‘s board. “Omeed brings great capital markets, legal and investment experience as we Make Fannie and Freddie Great Again!” Pulte wrote. This is not Malik’s first involvement with the […]
In every housing market, every lender, originator, mortgage broker, or loan officer should endeavor to understand their buyer pool. Trends and perceptions change annually and generationally — especially when it comes to desires, housing market outlook, and financial thresholds. Having insight into how and what they think can go a long way. It can aid […]
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced on Friday that it’s rescinding a rule from the previous administration that requires nonbank financial services providers to register certain enforcement actions and court orders with a new federal database. The regulation was the target of criticism from the mortgage industry. In practice, the CFPB said it will […]
U.S. foreclosure activity rose in the first quarter of 2025, ending a nine-month streak of declines according to new data compiled by real estate analytics firm ATTOM. A total of 93,953 properties had foreclosure filings between January and March 2025 — an 11% increase from the previous quarter. While that figure marks a 2% drop […]
While mortgage production remained under pressure at top banks in the first quarter of 2025—aligning with market expectations—uncertainty looms over what the future may hold. Bank executives anticipate negative impacts from the ongoing trade war sparked by President Trump’s increase in tariffs. However, they remain hopeful that a potential deregulatory agenda from the current administration […]