Mortgage rates are driven by bonds and the bond market hoped to see more evidence of shift toward peace during the 2-day Trump/Xi meeting in China. As soon as Trump got back on the plane to head home, bonds began tanking (i.e. jumping to higher yields). When bond yields spike, mortgage rates follow, and today […]
Mortgage Rates Surge Toward 8-Month Highs Read More »
Three mortgage companies are expanding their third-party origination footprints in different ways. Processing Content Achieve is starting a correspondent channel to help market its fixed-rate home equity line of credit product. Nectar Kalajian has joined the company to head up this effort, Achieve Pro, as the managing director of Achieve Home Loans. Among Kalajian’s past
HELOC players expand correspondent, TPO offerings Read More »
A Two Harbors shareholder will have a last-minute shot at halting a vote next week on the company’s pending merger with CrossCountry Mortgage. Processing Content A federal court will hold a hearing Monday morning to weigh a temporary restraining order on the vote, 24 hours before the company’s special meeting Tuesday. The servicer’s board of
Two Harbors investor seeking to halt CrossCountry vote Read More »
Standard & Poor’s has found that VantageScore 4.0 and classic FICO produce similar enough results when used to assess credit risk that mapping between them could be done to incorporate the former into rating models based on the latter. Processing Content To test this, S&P modeled theoretical loss coverage and foreclosure frequency rates for a
S&P says VantageScore 4.0 could work for MBS ratings Read More »
Although the war in Iran has heightened affordability struggles for potential homebuyers, real estate agents are more optimistic about the housing market than they were a month ago. Processing Content The Real Brokerage’s Agent Optimism Index, which measures agents’ 12-month forward outlook, increased to 64 in April from 62 in March. While notably below February’s
Real estate agents show more optimism in 2026 housing market Read More »
Current interest rate levels are unlikely to budge until 2028 at the earliest, remaining within the same 10 basis point range for the next 18 months, according to a newly revised outlook from Fannie Mae. Processing Content The government-sponsored enterprise projects the 30-year fixed rate to average 6.3% in each of this year’s remaining quarters
Fannie Mae raises mortgage rate forecast through 2027 Read More »
Independent mortgage bankers achieved origination profitability for the fourth consecutive period in the first quarter, but at the same time, costs increased as well, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. Processing Content IMBs and bank mortgage subsidiaries reported an average pretax net production profit of $727 per loan, compared with a net production profit of $674
IMBs stay profitable, but costs climb in Q1 Read More »
A November 2025 National Association of Realtors profile of Home Buyers and Home Sellers concluded that “the typical age of first-time buyers climbed to an all-time high of 40 years.” and “The share of first-time home buyers dropped to a record low of 21%.” Processing Content The President recently issued two Executive Orders [EO on
CHLA calls for ‘moon shot’ to boost Gen Z homeownership Read More »
Much of the conversation surrounding the recent wave of real estate industry consolidation has focused on how these mergers and acquisitions will impact things like market share and private listings, as well as companies’ finances. But how exactly will the newly formed mega brokerage entities impact their agents? Well that depends on who you ask.
Beyond the merger: Are real estate agent splits and autonomy the next battleground Read More »
Missouri lawmakers have passed legislation to spur housing development statewide – from downtown commercial corridors to rural communities – by establishing a new class of development zones, offering tax incentives to convert vacant buildings into housing and directing new revenue to underserved areas. The bill cleared its final hurdle on Wednesday and now awaits Gov.
Missouri housing incentives bill hits Gov. Kehoe’s desk for sign-off Read More »