Mortgage applications decreased 5.0% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ending Dec. 19, 2025. On an unadjusted basis, the index decreased 6% compared with the previous week. The refinance index decreased 6% from the previous week and was 110% higher than […]
Mortgage applications fall 5% despite rate decline Read More »
Economic growth is expected to slow in 2026 and remain below trend for several years as higher interest rates and lingering inflation pressures weigh on the U.S. economy, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s December Economic and Mortgage Finance forecasts. MBA economists Mike Fratantoni, Joel Kan and Judie Ricks wrote that the forecasts show 2025
MBA 2026 forecast: Slow growth amid inflation, rate hikes Read More »
In a wholesale mortgage market dominated by giants, Arizona-based lender The Loan Store (TLS) has found a way to grow quickly by hiring a team of “samurai” account executives and underwriters from across the industry and picking up loans that others would deny. In the first nine months of 2025, the company doubled its origination
The Loan Store doubles wholesale mortgage volume in 2025 Read More »
Real estate technology company reAlpha Tech Corp. has closed a deal to acquire lender InstaMortgage Inc. for $8.5 million in a cash-and-stock transaction. The move will add direct lending capabilities and expand multi-licensing structure to reAlpha’s existing mortgage brokerage operations, the company announced Tuesday. Founded in 2008, InstaMortgage has originated more than $4 billion in
reAlpha acquires InstaMortgage for $8.5M to expand lending Read More »
Demand for debt-service-coverage ratio (DSCR) loans grew in 2025 as tight housing inventory and a rising share of nontraditional wage earners pushed more borrowers toward alternative products. The demand was contagious across the industry. In November, Rocket Pro announced the launch of its first DSCR product for investment properties, marking a turning point as companies
DSCR mortgages are grabbing the spotlight. They’ll gain speed in 2026 Read More »
Mortgage applications decreased 3.8% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ending Dec. 12. On an unadjusted basis, the index decreased 5% compared with the previous week. The refinance index decreased 4% from the previous week and was 86% higher than the
Mortgage demand drops, but refi share reaches highest level since September Read More »
NewDay USA has hired Michael Gaines as executive vice president of capital markets. Gaines confirmed the news on his LinkedIn account in a post on Dec. 6. “In my first week, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible commitment to serving veterans, service members and their families. I look forward to contributing to this mission and leading
NewDay USA appoints Michael Gaines as EVP, capital markets Read More »
Optimal Blue on Wednesday released its November 2025 Market Advantage report, which revealed that mortgage rate-lock activity slowed with typical late-fall seasonality but still posted the strongest November in four years. Total lock volume fell 25% from October but was up 17% from November 2024, driven by strong refinance activity and mortgage rates hovering near
November mortgage lock data driven by strong refinance activity Read More »
Blue Owl Capital announced Tuesday that it’s making a $2.5 billion commitment in funds it manages to home equity investment (HEI) platform Point. The newss comes just one month after the companies issued the largest securitization ever completed in the HEI space. The new capital will allow Palo Alto, California-based Point to originate about $10
Blue Owl funds commit $2.5B to Point for home equity investments Read More »
In the mortgage industry, we love to talk about technology, market cycles, and rate movement, but there is one topic that still gets treated like a soft skill even though it determines almost every outcome — culture. Culture is not a perk. It is not a slogan on a wall. It is the operating system
Culture is not a perk. It is the new engine of mortgage growth Read More »