Originations

Housing starts unexpectedly climb on multifamily projects

New US residential construction improved for a third straight month to the fastest pace in nearly a year, boosted by multifamily projects.   Processing Content Housing starts increased 7.2% to an annual pace of 1.49 million homes in January, according to government figures out Thursday. The pace of home starts was above all estimates in […]

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Why mortgage firms are making charity a business strategy

Whether it involves bundt cakes, backpacks or bicycles, community service is a tradition of the mortgage industry, turning opportunities for good publicity into components of effective business strategy.   Processing Content Volunteering and other forms of charitable work are a common theme running through 2026’s list of best mortgage companies to work for, regardless of a

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FOA reports another loss in Q4, still profits in 2025

Finance of America posted another net loss in the fourth quarter, but saw significant profit increases for 2025 as a whole. Processing Content The reverse mortgage company reported a $21 million loss from continuing operations in the fourth quarter, a $7-million improvement from the previous quarter, FOA revealed on an earnings call Tuesday. On an

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LoanDepot bets on refi wave with wholesale return

One day after announcing plans to reenter the wholesale lending business, LoanDepot said the move reflects its expectation that refinance activity will drive origination growth across multiple channels. Processing Content “Getting back into wholesale, which is a business that we were in previously, is going to allow us to achieve greater scale,” said CEO Anthony

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Newrez, Pennymac, Rate roll out fresh offerings

Newrez, Pennymac and Rate are rolling out new products that signal a flurry of activity across the mortgage market. Processing Content The timing might be coincidental for most of these announcements, but loanDepot’s announcement it was restarting wholesale production has changed the competitive landscape for the wholesale sector in particular. Newrez has title insurance alternative

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Onity rebrands PHH Mortgage to align with parent company

Less than two years after parent company, Onity Group, undertook its own rebranding initiative, its lending unit PHH Mortgage is taking the same name.  Processing Content The West Palm Beach, Florida-based company announced plans to rename the home lender and servicer with the intent of providing continuity and consistency across businesses. Onity Mortgage will adopt

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Existing-home sales increase as affordability improves

Sales of previously owned US homes unexpectedly rose in February and the prior month was revised up, helped by a decline in mortgage rates and modest growth in asking prices. Processing Content Contract closings increased 1.7% to a 4.09 million annualized rate, according to National Association of Realtors data released Tuesday. The pace exceeded nearly

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Purchase locks jump as rates dip in February

Mortgage rates dropping to a three-year low last month drove up lock activity, specifically among purchase borrowers. Processing Content Total rate-lock volume increased 9% month over month and nearly 40% on an annual basis, according to Optimal Blue’s latest Market Advantage report. Purchase lock activity rose more than 14% from January and 5% compared with

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LoanDepot adds wholesale production 3 years after exit

LoanDepot adds wholesale production 3 years after exit

After exiting the channel approximately three-and-a-half years ago during a tough period for both the mortgage industry and its own business, LoanDepot is returning to the wholesale origination business. Processing Content “Serving brokers through wholesale naturally expands our multi-channel origination strategy and complements our direct-to-consumer, in-market retail, joint venture, and servicing businesses,” CEO Anthony Hsieh

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Originations hit 3.5-year high in Q4 boosted by refinancing

Mortgage originations hit a three-and-a-half-year high in the fourth quarter of last year, as year-low mortgage rates boosted refinance activity, new industry data found. Processing Content An estimated 565,000 first-lien refinances closed in the fourth quarter, up about 50% from a year prior and the most since the second quarter of 2022. This pushed total

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