Tenant interest in rent reporting has grown since the Federal Housing Finance Agency reaffirmed plans to include those payments in mortgage credit decisions. Instances of self-reported rent are up so far in 2025, at 13% compared to 11% in 2024, according to credit bureau TransUnion. That could help increase the use of a credit score […]
Tenant self-reporting grows as GSEs add rent-based score Read More »
Evidence of homeowners’ desire to refinance at the first signs of falling mortgage rates appeared in August’s data as rate-and-term transactions hit a 2025 high. Rate-and-term locks accelerated 69.8% from the prior month, according to Optimal Blue’s Market Advantage report. Compared to August 2024, though, volumes finished 8.7% lower. Cash-out refinances also saw a monthly
Rate-and-term refi activity hits 2025 high mark Read More »
Fairway Home Mortgage is working with OpenAI to help improve the efficiency in its loan manufacturing processes. While the use of ChatGPT is just part of that strategy, process improvement to allow loan officers to focus more on their customers is the primary aim, said Caleb Ondrusek, who Fairway promoted to executive vice president of
Fairway turns to OpenAI for origination process improvement Read More »
Recent mortgage fraud discussions have been centered on high-profile occupancy misrepresentation cases, but the bigger question is how these claims can be proven and what level of risk they pose to the industry. For one, the allegations to date, such as a Trump administration criminal referral that a Federal Reserve Board member is fighting, typically
Occupancy fraud scrutiny raises questions for lenders Read More »
US mortgage rates declined last week to an almost one-year low, sparking a surge in refinancing activity and encouraging prospective buyers to step off the sidelines. The contract rate on a 30-year mortgage fell 15 basis points to 6.49% in the week ended Sept. 5, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data released Wednesday. Rates on
US mortgage rates at 11-month low rekindle home finance activity Read More »
Congress faces tough budget negotiations this month over the National Flood Insurance Program reauthorization and other issues, putting the single-family mortgage market on alert. Without a NFIP renewal by Sept. 30, flood coverage could lapse and a broader congressional impasse could cause a new government shutdown, requiring workarounds. What follows are a few of the
How lenders can prep for NFIP lapse, shutdown Read More »
Enjoy complimentary access to top ideas and insights — selected by our editors. In July 2025, a pivotal change came to the mortgage industry, when the Federal Housing Finance Agency officially approved the use of VantageScore 4.0 as an alternative to Classic FICO for mortgages purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. VantageScore claims that Classic FICO is
FICO isn’t the problem. A premature two-score system Is Read More »
Figure Technology Solutions has increased its expected initial public offering in both size and price, an updated prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission said. The IPO will now consist of 31.5 million shares of its Class A stock, but nearly 4.9 million of those will come from current shareholders in the company. Figure
Figure boosts size, price of planned IPO Read More »
The headlines about potential declines in mortgage rates has consumers more inclined to become home buyers, but views on selling took a hit last month, Fannie Mae reported. Its Home Purchase Sentiment Index for August was 71.4, a 0.4 point decline from July. The only months in the past 12 which the index was lower
Buyers gain hope on rates, sellers turn cautious Read More »
Black homeowners, who already face long-term disadvantages in the housing market, are losing more ground. The Black homeownership rate fell this summer to its lowest rate since late 2021, according to Redfin. The brokerage, now a Rocket Cos. affiliate, cited annual unemployment figures, which are higher for both Black men and women than other ethnic
Black homeowners lose ground as job losses mount Read More »