Origination

Credit Union ONE acquires Icon Mortgage

Credit Union ONE announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Icon Mortgage. A press release confirmed that Michigan-based Credit Union ONE will retain all employees from Icon Mortgage, including senior leadership, and “intends to operate the company as a separate mortgage lending affiliate.” The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Credit Union ONE did not […]

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Union Home Mortgage acquires assets of Sierra Pacific Mortgage: sources

Ohio-based Union Home Mortgage (UHM), led by Bill Cosgrove, has reached an agreement to acquire California-based Sierra Pacific Mortgage‘s assets, sources told HousingWire. The deal marks UHM’s second deal in 2025, following its March purchase of Houston-based Nations Reliable Lending (NRL Mortgage). The move comes less than three years after UHM acquired Amerifirst Home Mortgage.

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Pacaso launches 30-year mortgage for vacation home co-ownership

Pacaso on Tuesday announced the launch of the first purpose-built, 30-year mortgage designed for co-ownership of vacation homes in the U.S. The new financing option gives qualified buyers and existing Pacaso owners a standardized way to finance their share of a second home, with a simplified closing process. The product is backed by a $100

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AVM testing under fire: New methodology challenges industry norms and raises risk for lenders

The reliability of Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) has been thrust into the spotlight in recent weeks, following groundbreaking changes in the way these models are now being tested. The implications for home equity lenders, who rely heavily on AVMs to determine property values, could be far-reaching, especially as the industry grapples with new regulatory questions

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The path to more affordable mortgages: Why lenders hold the keys

Affordability remains one of the biggest hurdles in today’s housing market. Yes, macroeconomic forces like the Fed’s policies shape the overall rate environment, but mortgage lenders aren’t powerless passengers on this ride. In fact, you hold tangible points of influence that can directly impact borrower affordability and your own business competitiveness. The question is: are

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What are Non-QM loans and who are they for?

If you’ve ever been told “you don’t fit the box” even though you can comfortably afford the payment, you’ve felt the limits of traditional mortgages. Non-QM loans exist for exactly that situation. “Non-QM” stands for Non-Qualified Mortgage. It sounds technical, but the idea is simple: fully documented loans for creditworthy people whose finances don’t slot

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Non-QM lender Griffin Funding unveils AI-driven underwriting platform

Griffin Funding has launched an internal artificial intelligence-driven platform designed to help loan officers navigate the complex world of non-QM lending. The tool, known internally as “LIA,” pulls hundreds of pages of program guidelines into a single system and uses AI to deliver tailored answers to loan qualification questions, according to Chloe Shubin, vice president

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The quiet advantage in real estate: Pre-approval

When it comes to real estate, the best outcomes rarely happen by chance. The buyers who succeed are usually the ones who prepare early, long before they walk into their first showing. Preparation starts with understanding what a lender is willing to offer, and that can take one of two paths: a simple pre-qualification or

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Optimal Blue: Rate-and-term refis soar 70% in August

Borrowers rushed to refinance in August as mortgage rates eased, pushing rate-and-term refi lock volume up 70% from July, according to Optimal Blue’s Mortgage Market Advantage report released Wednesday. “Borrowers are responding quickly to rate improvements, driving the strongest month for rate-and-term refinances we’ve seen this year,” Mike Vough, head of corporate strategy at Optimal

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