July 2025

Senate tax bill keeps MBA wins, guts CFPB funding

The Mortgage Bankers Association was pleased the Senate version of the reconciliation bill keeps many of its priorities in place, while taking out the so-called revenge tax. However, the bill does differ from the House of Representatives version and the two need to conform before it can go to President Trump for signature. Furthermore, because […]

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Why VASP is still driving Ginnie Mae buyout activity

The Department of Veterans Affairs has technically ended some temporary mortgage relief. But there’s a phase-out process that could sustain loan buyout activity in Ginnie Mae securitizations another couple of months. The Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase program ended May 1, but the VA has allowed trial payment plans (TPPs) in process to proceed through Aug.

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Rocket closes Redfin deal, rolls out buyer incentives

Rocket Companies announced Tuesday it has officially closed its $1.75 billion acquisition of Redfin. In light of that, Rocket is launching a product called Rocket Preferred Pricing to encourage consumers to use both its mortgage and real estate services. Borrowers who purchase a home with a Redfin agent and finance it through Rocket Mortgage can

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HUD rescinds 12 FHA policies: What home lenders need to know

Mortgage lenders welcomed the rescissions the Department of Housing and Urban Development made to 12 Federal Housing Administration policies, noting they would make the program more attractive for participants. They could even be a starting point for bringing banks back as originators in this government-insured program. These revisions might affect other segments of the housing

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NAR: Homebuyers still have down payment misconceptions

Despite growing attention around all-cash transactions, most Americans — especially first-time buyers — continue to finance their home purchases, according to new data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Among primary residence buyers, 74% financed their home purchase in 2024. That share jumps to 91% for first-time buyers, said Jessica Lautz, NAR’s deputy chief

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What agents must know about telemarketing consent

As class-action lawsuits continue against major real estate brokerages for alleged telemarketing violations, firms of all sizes are under increasing pressure to strengthen their compliance practices. According to attorney Michele Shuster, a founding partner of Mac Murray and Shuster LLP, staying within the bounds of federal and state telemarketing laws isn’t just a legal necessity

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Mayors back Realtor.com’s campaign to address the housing crisis

The U.S. Conference of Mayors formally endorsed a bipartisan statement to support the Let America Build campaign — a housing policy initiative backed by Realtor.com — during the organization’s annual meeting in Tampa on Sunday. The resolution — introduced by Austin Mayor Kirk Watson — acknowledges the mounting housing affordability crisis, and it calls for

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Home equity cushions homeowners against economic shocks

The most recent National Mortgage Database (NMDB) Aggregate Statistics report from FHFA reveals the significant amount of home equity that American households possess. This should put an end to any discussions suggesting that the housing market is on the verge of a mass foreclosure crisis or that national home prices will crash like they did

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