As the Trump administration pushes crypto further into the mainstream, some lenders are testing whether digital assets can open the door for borrowers who don’t fit the traditional mold and whether the trade-off is worth the risk. Processing Content In June, the Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte urged Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac […]
Crypto-backed mortgages test risk and reward for lenders Read More »
In a wholesale mortgage market dominated by giants, Arizona-based lender The Loan Store (TLS) has found a way to grow quickly by hiring a team of “samurai” account executives and underwriters from across the industry and picking up loans that others would deny. In the first nine months of 2025, the company doubled its origination
The Loan Store doubles wholesale mortgage volume in 2025 Read More »
Fitch Ratings says its 2025 review of nonbank mortgage lenders reflects how the biggest players have strengthened their franchises during three years of consolidation. Processing Content “The largely stable outlooks reflect Fitch’s expectation that the operating environment will improve moderately and financial metrics will remain within rating sensitivities,” the report said It cited Inside Mortgage
Fitch flags rising leverage across nonbank lenders Read More »
Approximately 70% of U.S. home purchasers do not shop mortgage lenders looking for a lower rate, possibly costing them as much as 50 basis points in higher payments, a report from Zillow claims. Processing Content The company’s analysis uses a typical home worth $360,000, with the purchaser putting 20% down. At 6.24%, the average in
Rate shopping could save borrowers over $1,100 a year Read More »
Optimal Blue’s Market Volume Index, which tracks mortgage rate lock activity, fell below 100 in November for the first time since August, reflecting typical seasonal trends. Processing Content Still, aided by lower interest rates in the second half of the year, November marked the strongest reading for this metric since 2021, strong by any measure,
Lower rates drive best November lock activity in years Read More »
Mortgage credit availability ended November at its loosest since August 2022, driven by additions of adjustable rate and cash-out refinance products to lenders’ menu, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. The 0.7% month-to-month rise in the Mortgage Credit Availability Index continues a streak which for every month in 2025 except January it was above the 100
ARM, refi products widen credit access Read More »
Freddie Mac is updating its guidelines to include explicit language requiring mortgage companies to establish a clear artificial intelligence framework governing the technology’s internal use. The new rules become effective on March 3, 2026 and mandates compliance with the policy for businesses using AI and machine-learning tools in connection with loans sold to or serviced
Freddie Mac issues updates mandating AI governance Read More »
U.S. lenders are racing to tap homeowners’ record equity, rolling out new HELOCs, non-QM loans, and even blockchain-backed products to capture market share. Boston Consulting Group’s third quarter recap noted that banks are focusing their mortgage operations on deepening customer relationships in order to grow, and this includes increasing second-lien lending. “Lenders continue to expand
From HELOCs to blockchain: home equity moves forward Read More »
Only a handful of ZIP codes in the nation’s largest metros remain affordable for would-be homeowners. Movingplace found that just three of the 150 most populous ZIP codes had median home prices low enough to keep mortgage payments under 28% of income, a common benchmark for affordability. Conforming mortgage guidelines call for a 28%
New York has most expensive ZIPs for renters looking to buy Read More »
A new type of reverse mortgage security needs to be created to accommodate Home Equity Conversion Mortgages that have reached the 98% maximum claim amount, a pair of industry organizations said in their respective responses to a government request for information. The RFI from the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae — along with their
Industry pushes new HMBS to fix aging reverse loans Read More »