Originations

TransUnion to offer VantageScore 4.0 at discount

TransUnion is the latest company to make a move in the credit score war between VantageScore and Fair Isaac Corp.’s FICO score, following partners Experian and Equifax. Transunion will offer VantageScore 4.0, a credit scoring model, for $4 in 2026. Experian will provide it for free to its clients indefinitely and Equifax will charge $4.50 […]

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Cornerstone Capital to acquire another Texas bank

Cornerstone Capital Bancorp, a one-time independent mortgage banker that acquired a depository, has agreed to purchase another bank, Peoples Bancorp of Lubbock, Texas. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “With one of the strongest capital positions in our markets and a deep base of low-cost core funding, we are well positioned for meaningful organic

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California broker fined for unlicensed activity

A Southern California mortgage brokerage has reached a settlement with four states over claims of wrongdoing that included several allegations of unlicensed lending activity.  E Mortgage Capital, based in Irvine, California, agreed to settle with banking supervisors of Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon and Texas in late September following a multistate investigation that began in late 2023. 

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New-home loan growth slows as builders anticipate a slowdown

Applications for new-home purchase mortgages ran ahead of last year’s pace in September, but various factors have the leading industry trade group preparing for a near-term slowdown. Purchase applications for new single-family properties increased 2% on a year-over-year basis last month, picking up some momentum after August’s flatter 1% rise, according to the Mortgage Bankers

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When is the best time to buy a home? January. Here’s why

Consumers who opt to purchase a home in January, one of the months with the lowest share of sales, could save over $23,000 on their buy versus May, one of the busiest, a LendingTree study found. In 2024, January had the lowest share of sales at 6.3%, while May had the most at 9.9%; although

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Fathom expands in West with START Real Estate deal

Fathom Holdings is deepening its Western presence and doubling down on first-time homebuyers with its acquisition of Colorado-based START Real Estate.  The deal adds 70 agents and a first-time buyer program that recently entered Utah, bolstering Fathom’s network following its purchases of Arizona’s My Home Group and Texas-based Elite Financing Group. “START Real Estate’s growth

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Mortgage rates move lower, driven by shutdown uncertainties

Mortgage rates declined for the second week in a row, as the 10-year Treasury in recent days has flirted with falling below the 4% mark. Last Thursday, the 10-year closed at 4.15%. As of 11 a.m. on Aug. 16, it was at 4.04%, helped by recent comments by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell regarding both

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Rocket’s 2026 early conforming limit hike tops others by $6k

Rocket Mortgage might have been a few weeks behind its competition in announcing its presumptive 2026 conforming loan limit increase, but it took that time to go higher than the rest of the market. United Wholesale Mortgage, Pennymac, Crosscountry and Rate all announced in late September they were now purchasing single-family mortgages up to $819,000

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US homebuilder sentiment rises by most since 2024

Confidence among US homebuilders rose this month by the most since early 2024, boosted by lower mortgage rates that are chipping away at the nation’s affordability problem. An index of market conditions from the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo increased 5 points in October to 37, the highest since April. A value

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Homeowners see slimmer profits from third-quarter sales

 Homeowners are seeing smaller profits from sales compared to a year ago, but the latest numbers still surpass pre-pandemic levels, as growing numbers hold onto their properties amid surging equity accrual.  Sellers gained an average of 49.9% in profit after transactions closed during the third quarter, according to the latest home sales report from real

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