ACI paying another $20M to settle mortgage payments debacle
In settling with state regulators, the Miami-based electronic payment processor is looking to close the books on a 2021 test that triggered $2.3B in erroneous mortgage payments
by Matt Carter Oct 17
Economists now less certain 2024 will bring much mortgage rate relief
Fed's ‘higher for longer’ rate strategy could keep home sales from rebounding in 2024 or limit the strength of a recovery, according to two closely followed forecasts by MBA, Fannie Mae
by Matt Carter Oct 17
TransUnion knocks plan to let lenders use 2 credit reports
The plan to move to a bi-merge process allowing lenders to use 2, instead of 3, credit reports was announced last October by FHFA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's federal regulator
by Matt Carter Oct 16
Housing groups including NAR float wonky idea to cut mortgage rates
NAR united with lending groups on Thursday to urge the Fed to maintain its current mortgage holdings in order to narrow a wide 'spread' between 10-year Treasurys and rising mortgage rates
by Matt Carter Oct 13
Mortgage rates hit 20-year high as demand 'close to multi-decade' low
Homebuyer demand for mortgages inched up slightly last week, as rates climbed to the highest level in more than 2 decades, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's weekly survey
by Matt Carter Oct 12
More lenders raise their conforming loan limit to $750K
Following Rocket's lead, UWM and Guaranteed Rate say they'll price mortgages of up to $750K as if they're eligible for purchase by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in anticipation of 2024 increases
by Matt Carter Oct 11
Flyhomes rebounds with launch of nationwide lender partner channel
'Buy before you sell' product is the first offering in a phased rollout following 2 rounds of layoffs, with plans to offer a full suite of Flyhomes products, including cash offer services
by Matt Carter Oct 11
Drop in bond yields could also give mortgage rates room to ease
Dovish remarks from Fed policymakers help ease fears of more rate hikes, bringing yields on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes back down to where they were at the beginning of October
by Matt Carter Oct 11
Call to end rate hikes grows louder as housing groups confront Fed
MBA, NAR and NAHB warned in a joint letter Monday that uncertainty over the Federal Reserve's next moves is disrupting the housing sector and threatens to send the US economy into a tailspin
by Matt Carter Oct 9
Homebuyer pessimism climbed to a new record high in September
According to Fannie Mae's National Housing Survey, 84% of Americans polled said it was a bad time to buy a home, and most weren't expecting mortgage rates to come down anytime soon
by Matt Carter Oct 9
Interest rates surge again on surprisingly strong jobs report
Employers added 336,000 jobs in September, the biggest jump since January, raising the odds that the Fed will pursue 'higher for longer' rate strategy to get inflation under control
by Matt Carter Oct 6
Institutional investors warming up to home equity agreements
DBRS Morningstar's rating of $224M securitization by Unlock and Saluda could boost investor appetite for agreements that let owners cash out equity in exchange for a stake in their home
by Matt Carter Oct 6
The current impact and future implications of mortgage AI
AI is making mortgage lending quicker and smarter. Lender Price CEO Dawar Alimi breaks down its impact and what's to come
by Dawar Alimi Oct 5
Soaring rates baffle economists, frustrate housing leaders
Economists are scratching their heads, and housing industry leaders are venting their frustrations as mortgage rates continue a relentless climb to new heights not seen in more than 2 decades
by Matt Carter Oct 4
Better executives stand to collect up to $17M in 'DeSPAC' bonuses
The mortgage lender said $100M in retention bonuses were distributed to employees in April, as promised, including $50M from Better co-founder and CEO Vishal Garg's personal equity
by Matt Carter Oct 4
Big Keller Williams franchise group launches mortgage JV with Newrez
One of Keller Williams Realty's biggest franchise groups, Georgia Legacy Group, partners with national mortgage lender and servicer Newrez to launch a joint venture, Onward Home Mortgage
by Matt Carter Oct 3