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Opinion

From the warming drawer to the freezer: Tariffs, the Supreme Court and housing

Contributors, HWmember, Mortgage, Mortgage Rates, Opinion, Origination, Politics, Supreme Court, Tariffs /

As someone who’s spent decades in the mortgage trenches—and as one of the owners of a $1 billion independent mortgage banking company—I’ve seen a few sunrises and sunsets in this industry. The 2008 crisis. Conservatorship. Waves of QE. Worsening LLPA’s. Adverse market fees. The pandemic housing chaos. Two percent refinances. The fastest rate spike in […]

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From transactional to strategic: Why agents must embrace data and the rental market Is their moment

Contributors, Data & Analytics, Housing Market Data, HWmember, Opinion, Real Estate, Technology /

In a housing market that has quietly entered a prolonged freeze, real estate professionals are facing a shift. Homeownership is no longer the dominant driver of client movement. Increasingly, the rental side of the business offers opportunity, relevance, and recurring engagement. Agents who embrace this change and become data-driven advisors can gain a real advantage.

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‘A thunderclap unpacking UMH CEO Sam Landy’s statements defines the failure metric’ in ROAD to Housing Act

Affordable housing, Contributors, Housing, HWmember, Opinion /

UMH CEO Sam Landy should be thanked for sharing via HousingWire his recent op-ed which weaves together what is arguably a subtle call for the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) to do what the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) called for amendments to the ROAD to Housing Act 2025. Consider carefully what Landy did

‘A thunderclap unpacking UMH CEO Sam Landy’s statements defines the failure metric’ in ROAD to Housing Act Read More »

Helping heroes home: how real estate pros can better serve veterans

Agent, Contributors, HWmember, Opinion, Real Estate, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Loan, Veterans, Veterans United Home Loans /

Veterans Day serves as a meaningful opportunity to honor the sacrifices made by the men and women in uniform who have served our country. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge the challenges veterans face as they transition back to civilian life, including navigating the homebuying process. For real estate professionals, it’s important to recognize

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Three ways servicers can move the needle on borrower experience

Artificial Intelligence, Contributors, HWmember, Mortgage, Mortgage Servicing, Opinion, Servicing, Technology /

Low borrower satisfaction carries significant business consequences for mortgage servicers. Dissatisfied or confused borrowers are more likely to complain to regulators, generate costly call center volume and lengthen loss-mitigation processes. J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Mortgage Servicer Satisfaction Study reveals a widening gap in borrower satisfaction between origination and servicing experiences. While borrowers are happier than

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The Optimal Blue lawsuit: Data transparency or market manipulation?

Contributors, Data & Visuals, Housing Market Data, HWmember, Legal, Mortgage, Opinion /

Mortgage-pricing data has gone digital. But when does transparency turn into coordination? In early October 2025, mortgage-technology provider Optimal Blue and three major lenders were sued in a proposed class-action alleging price-fixing and market manipulation in U.S. mortgage rates. At the center of the case is a question that goes well beyond one software firm:

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Affordability for first-time homebuyers: Beyond rates and prices

Contributors, First-Time Homebuyers, Homebuyers, HWmember, Mortgage, Opinion, Origination /

We’ve all heard the refrain: it’s never been harder to buy your first home. The narrative almost always circles back to two usual suspects – mortgage rates and home prices. While rates and prices are undeniably visible and powerful levers, they are not the whole story. For industry insiders, the challenge (and the opportunity) lies

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Redefining the loan officer’s toolkit: Why insurance guidance belongs next to APR calculators 

Contributors, HWmember, Insurance, Mortgage, Mortgage insurance, Opinion, Origination /

A mortgage is more than a rate and a closing date. It is a family planning for what happens after the keys are in hand. That is why insurance is not optional and belongs beside pricing, product fit, and closing costs in a loan officer’s core toolkit. It is required for the loan, and it

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Manufactured housing Is the future of affordable housing

Affordable housing, Contributors, HWmember, Manufactured Housing, Mortgage, Opinion, Origination /

Last month, Members of Congress were treated to an on-the-ground look at manufactured housing – the sector of the housing industry that holds the greatest promise for meeting our nation’s affordable homeownership and rental housing challenges. At the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) “Innovative Housing Showcase” in early September on the National

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Private mortgage insurance: one of the most powerful financial tools for first-time buyers

Contributors, HWmember, Mortgage, Mortgage Connect, Mortgage insurance, Opinion /

While it may seem second-nature to realtors, lenders, and others in the industry, navigating the homebuying process can be overwhelming and confusing, particularly for first-time homebuyers. It can feel like a foreign language and it’s often easy for misconceptions to take root. This includes the characterization of private mortgage insurance, which helps first-time buyers and

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