Mortgage

US foreclosure filings rise 26% in Q1 2026, ATTOM says

Foreclosure activity accelerated in the first quarter of 2026, with signs of mounting operational pressure for mortgage servicers and downstream vendors, according to ATTOM’s latest U.S. Foreclosure Market Report and insights from industry executives. While overall foreclosure volumes remain below pre-Great Recession peaks, starts, completions and real estate-owned (REO) inventories are climbing, timelines are shrinking […]

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As AI in housing grows, buyers demand transparency and to keep humans in the loop

Three in four homebuyers assume artificial intelligence already plays a role in the homebuying process, but most still want humans making or verifying key decisions, according to a new global survey from property data firm Cotality. Its AI in Housing 2026 Report, released Thursday, finds that 75% of buyers expect AI to be embedded somewhere

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IMB profits rise to $785 per loan in 2025 as servicing keeps more lenders in the black

Independent mortgage banks (IMBs) and mortgage subsidiaries of chartered banks earned an average profit of $785 on each loan they originated in 2025, up from $443 per loan in 2024, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s 2025 Annual Mortgage Bankers Performance Report, released Thursday. MBA reported that the average net production profit reached 21

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Dark Matter promotes Vikas Rao to CEO, announces layoffs

Dark Matter Technologies on Thursday appointed Vikas Rao as CEO, elevating him from the role of chief technology officer as the mortgage technology firm is poised to accelerate its AI-driven strategy and growth plans. Rao succeeds Sean Dugan and will lead the company’s next phase with a mandate to translate its technology investments into stronger

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The brands raising the bar in housing: The 2025 Exhibit Awards finalists announced

There is a shift happening in real estate and mortgage, and it has less to do with rates or technology than with how companies show up. Branding was once treated as a finishing touch. Today, it is becoming a core part of how brokerages and lenders compete, and that evolution is on full display in

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Age matters in home equity decisions

A borrower’s age should shape every financing recommendation, yet it is often treated as a secondary detail when a senior wants, or needs, access to a portion of their equity. Consider that most mortgage advice is built on the assumptions that the borrower will continue working and has time and resources to recover from financial

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HousingWire Mortgage Rankings: Rocket leads 2025 top originators

Shant Banosian doesn’t believe that retail mortgage lenders are at a cost disadvantage when pitted head-to-head against wholesale competitors. Banosian, the Massachusetts-based originator and president of Chicago-based Rate, pointed to data showing that independent mortgage banks (IMBs) and their retail-heavy presence are responsible for 84% of single-family mortgages in the U.S. Although wholesale lenders do

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Optimal Blue reports March 2026 purchase locks jump 38%

Mortgage activity remained resilient as purchase demand strengthened, despite interest rates climbing, according to Optimal Blue’s March 2026 Market Advantage report, released on Tuesday. Total rate-lock volume increased 13% from February and 26% from a year earlier. Purchase activity drove the gains, with purchase lock volume rising 38% month over month and 20% year over

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The appraisal gap in 2026

Real estate valuations have customarily leaned heavily on historical data as one of the most important factors used to determine the appraised value of homes. This data includes comparable transactions and cap rates from prior years, along with historical real estate market data. However, there are a few areas that the past-anchored valuation system fails

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The myth of the “perfect market” and the cost of waiting

If you’re a Realtor or loan officer advising today’s homebuyer, your role has never been more important, or more misunderstood. Many buyers are sitting on the sidelines with the same belief: “I’m going to wait until interest rates come down.” On the surface, that sounds reasonable. But as professionals, it’s our responsibility to help clients

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