Automating verifications lets loanDepot OK loans in minutes
After months of beta testing, loanDepot's melloNow underwriting engine can analyze credit reports, detect fraud, and validate income and employment data without human assistance
by Matt Carter Dec 12
Mortgage rates edge up on surprisingly strong jobs report
Employers added 199,000 workers to their payrolls in November, a sign that the economy may achieve a soft landing but making Fed spring rate cuts less likely
by Matt Carter Dec 8
Homebuyer sentiment tallies record low amid falling rates
Fannie Mae economist warns that, while mortgage rates have retreated, the primary drivers of housing pessimism are persistent affordability challenges and worries about household finances
by Matt Carter Dec 7
How low can they go? Mortgage rates back under 7% this week
Mortgage rates keep falling after Powell tries to deflate expectations for the spring rate, as 3 new reports released this week suggest the economy is, in fact, losing steam
by Matt Carter Dec 6
FNF still mum on whether it was target of ransomware attack
CEO Mike Nolan says FNF has resumed normal operations, and that customer disruption from the cybersecurity incident was 'relatively brief' and included the Thanksgiving holiday weekend
by Matt Carter Dec 6
Black Knight awarded $155.2M in PennyMac trade secrets lawsuit
PennyMac is putting a positive spin on the arbitrator's ruling, saying the decision allows it to continue to use the disputed loan servicing software 'free and clear of any restrictions'
by Matt Carter Dec 6
Lone Wolf invites mortgage lenders onto its broker-agent tech platform
Better is the first lender to take advantage of the opportunity to generate prequalification letters for homebuyers through integration with Lone Wolf's transaction management platform
by Matt Carter Dec 5
80% of first-time homeowners say they'll need a gift to buy again: Poll
Faced with rising prices and rates, buyers are increasingly counting on personal loans and gifts to close deals, according to a survey of 3,000 potential buyers conducted by Dig Insights and Inman
by Chris LeBarton Dec 5
Fed Chair Powell's attempt to deflate rate-cut expectations flops
Rates keep falling as fresh data pours in, with investors who fund most mortgages still convinced the Federal Reserve will begin lowering rates in the spring to avoid strangling the economy
by Matt Carter Dec 1
Title insurer Fidelity restoring operations after security incident
The nation's largest title insurer won't say whether it was the target of a ransomware attack, sparking speculation that it paid a ransom to hackers exploiting Citrix Bleed software vulnerability
by Matt Carter Nov 30
Americans' average mortgage payment falls $164 in November
A dip in the weekly average for 30-year mortgage rates dropped the average mortgage payment to $2,575 in November, and homebuyers are taking advantage
by Marian McPherson Nov 30
Homebuyers seizing the day as mortgage rates continue to slide
Demand for purchase loans picks up for 4th consecutive week, and bond market investors are pushing rates lower on hopes for Fed easing as inflation subsides
by Matt Carter Nov 29
FHA 2024 loan limits are headed up, chasing rising home prices
Annual home price appreciation of 5.5% pushes FHA loan limits up to a minimum of $498,257 in affordable markets and to a ceiling of up to $1.72M in high-cost states like Alaska and Hawaii
by Matt Carter Nov 29
Fannie and Freddie 2024 loan limits upped to $766,550 in most areas
Surge in Q3 home prices pushes mortgage giants' conforming loan limits in high-cost housing markets to $1,149,825 for single-unit properties, and up to $2,211,600 for 4-unit properties
by Matt Carter Nov 28
Nation's biggest title insurer hit by ransomware attack, reports say
Fidelity National Financial acknowledges that a 'cybersecurity incident' disrupted the provision of title and escrow services and other technology the company provides to the real estate industry
by Matt Carter Nov 27
Economists agree rates have peaked. But will they come down?
Two closely watched forecasts agree that mortgage rates have probably peaked, but the MBA and Fannie Mae diverge sharply on how quickly they'll come down over the next 2 years
by Matt Carter Nov 22