MARKETING TO BORROWERS

With trigger leads going away, lenders who prepare will win

Federal legislation banning traditional mortgage trigger leads has cleared the Senate and is likely to be signed into law in the coming weeks. When that happens, lenders will lose a familiar — and often crowded — way to identify borrowers after a credit pull. For some, that will feel like losing a trusted tool overnight. […]

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Mortgage rates move lower on inflation, employment news

Mortgage rates this week fell to their lowest level since October, supported by one better than expected inflation report as well as ongoing concerns regarding employment data. But an unexpected finding in the Bureau of Labor Statistics July Producer Price Index report could put a hold on a potential September Federal Open Market Committee short-term

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Title insurers see margins rise, sales still weak

The disappointing spring home purchase season influenced the second quarter results of the publicly traded title insurance underwriters. Certain metrics were strong, with pretax title margins at three of the companies’ showing significant gains versus the second quarter. Stewart was up 630 basis points, First American reported a 530 basis point rise and Fidelity National

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Buyers are gloomy. Here’s what they might be missing

Consumer housing confidence improved slightly in July, with Americans feeling more confident about the economy even as many worry about whether they can buy a house themselves. Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index rose in July to 71.8, two points higher than June. That’s close to where it was a year ago and right in

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UWM aims for broker-majority market amid 300% profit surge

UWM Holdings CEO Mat Ishbia’s new target for mortgage broker originations share is for them to do over half of production. On the company’s earnings call, he cited statistics giving the current broker share at 30%. “Our goal is for brokers to be No. 1,” Ishbia said. “In my mind, that means 50.1%; I don’t

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Home equity products set to grow in 2025, 2026, study finds

The rise in home equity lending should continue through the end of next year as conditions feeding current growth in the product will drive the market, a new study from the Mortgage Bankers Association has found. In 2024, the total combined HELOC and outstanding home equity loan debt grew 10.3%, according to the MBA’s 2025

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Fannie Mae cuts rate forecast, raises volume outlook

Fannie Mae now projects lower mortgage rates and increased volume for this year and next, raising its home sales expectations from June. By contrast, the Mortgage Bankers Association cut its origination outlook for 2025 in its own July forecast. The MBA’s rate expectations for both this year and next, as well as the 2026 volume

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Rocket to sunset its credit card, confirms 2% workforce cut

Rocket Companies announced a strategic move to sunset its credit card Wednesday, with the company opting to focus on goals to grow its homeownership platform instead. An email from Rocket Card sent to customers reveals that on September 8 the card will be discontinued. The firm said that even though it is stepping back from

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Douglas Elliman forms mortgage venture with AMB

Douglas Elliman, the nation’s sixth-largest real estate brokerage, is the latest firm to unite home sales and financing under one roof. The company has entered into a “strategic alliance” with Associated Mortgage Bankers, Ronkonkoma, New York, to create Elliman Capital. “By bringing mortgage services in-house, we’re creating an unprecedented level of convenience and oversight to

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