The share of primary mortgages on properties that also have second liens is currently in the double digits, reflecting growth in home equity lending that’s increasingly relevant to agency mortgage-backed securities investors. Processing Content Approximately 16% of active first liens are on homes that also have seconds on them, representing a total outstanding balance of […]
Second liens appear on 16% of U.S. mortgages Read More »
A new look at the country’s most at-risk housing markets finds Florida and California leading all states in the number of counties vulnerable to declines. Processing Content Florida communities made up 16 out of the “leading” 50 markets on the list, according to the latest housing risk report from real estate intelligence platform Attom. The
These housing markets face the greatest risk of decline Read More »
Government loan performance issues prompted tighter underwriting in the past month but credit availability expanded in other parts of the market, according to a Mortgage Bankers Association analysis. Processing Content Availability in the jumbo sector, which includes loans made outside of the regulatory definition for a standard “qualified mortgage,” expanded 2.9%, the Mortgage Credit Availability
Credit diverges: Jumbo rises, FHA slips Read More »
The Department of Veterans Affairs put a long-awaited policy for a new, temporary borrower assistance option out for comment this week. Processing Content Mortgage market participants welcomed the drafting table release of the VA partial claim proposal. That proposal stems from a bill sponsored by Rep. Derek Van Orden, R. Wis., which passed and went
VA partial claim draft arrives with detail sought on limits Read More »
Planet Financial Group was able to achieve its annual growth rates of 58% in its originations business and 21% in its servicing portfolio organically. Processing Content The company, which did several acquisitions in recent years, achieved the 2025 growth on its own, Michael Dubeck, CEO and president of Planet Financial said in an interview. “To
Planet Financial grows 58% in originations, 21% servicing Read More »
Homeowners are feeling the weight of surging tax and insurance costs, and first-time buyers are sometimes waking up to unpleasant surprises when they see the bill, according to a new analysis. Processing Content Property taxes and homeowners insurance costs now make up an average of 21% of monthly mortgage payments across the U.S., according to
Taxes, insurance eat 21% of mortgage payments Read More »
William Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee confirmation hearing in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. Photographer: Al Drago/BloombergAl Drago/Bloomberg Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and their oversight agency have responded to a couple of broader federal developments this week, including a falling out with
Fannie, Freddie join Anthropic ban, address DHS shutdown Read More »
A New York court ruled against U.S. Bank in its effort to retroactively pursue a years-long foreclosure case that the state deemed unenforceable. Processing Content A New York appellate court denied an appeal by the bank to reverse a 2023 legal decision that stated the bank’s attempt to foreclose on defendant John Williams in 2019
US Bank sees legal setbacks in New York foreclosure suits Read More »
Key Insight: Experts say even if regulators recalibrate capital standards, structural and competitive realities that did not exist before 2008 are the biggest drivers in their dwindling market share in mortgage origination and servicing. Nonbanks now dominate the sector, aided by leaner cost structures that are built for rate volatility — advantages that banks will
What’s it going to take to get banks back into mortgages? Read More »
The national delinquency rate cooled last month, while foreclosure activity hit its highest level since early 2020, a new industry report shows. Processing Content Delinquencies fell by three basis points to 3.65% in January, 15 basis points below prepandemic levels, but foreclosure starts caught up with its 2020 numbers last month, totaling 42,000, according to
Foreclosure starts surge to early 2020 levels Read More »