Rocket Mortgage is buying Mr. Cooper in what could be a transformative deal for the industry, so we looked at what it might mean for mortgage production based on select Home Mortgage Disclosure Act datasets. An analysis of available 2024 HMDA data through iEmergent shows that while Mr. Cooper’s servicing strength could eventually help Rocket […]
Rocket, Mr. Cooper merger: HMDA data reveals market impact Read More »
The mortgage industry’s comeback after years of economic challenges sputtered, as diminished loan volume and increased production costs made lending unprofitable at nonbanks in the first quarter. Still, the industry managed to narrow losses compared to three months earlier but production ended up in the red again for a second straight quarter, according to the
Mortgage profits near break-even, but costs still climb Read More »
Freddie Mac wants lenders to pass on the cost savings to consumers from its latest enhancements to its Loan Product Advisor automated underwriting system. The company greenlighted what was described as an on-hold innovation to the system. The upgrades include the launch of a new feature, Freddie Mac Income Calculator. It is designed to help
Pulte wants Freddie AU savings passed on to consumers Read More »
Sean Grzebin stepped into the role of CEO of Chase Home Lending in November, armed with the advantage of having worked across functions at the bank since 2011. With a career that has taken him from PHH Mortgage in 1997, to Countrywide, to Goldman Sachs and then Chase, Grzebin has seen his share of market
Chase Home Lending CEO on AI, growth, and market volatility Read More »
New-home purchase activity is showing renewed strength this spring, with loan applications hitting their highest mark on record, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Mortgage applications for newly constructed single-family homes in April accelerated 5.3% from a year ago, the industry trade group said. On a month-over-month basis, loan volume increased a nonseasonally adjusted 2%
Mortgage applications for new homes soar to record high Read More »
Dark Matter executives confirmed the company has undergone a reduction in force, as the company sets its next phase in motion. As a standalone company, Dark Matter has only existed for about 20 months. On Sept. 15, 2023, what had been the Black Knight origination technology business, primarily its Empower loan origination system, was sold
Dark Matter confirms layoffs as it right-sizes Read More »
The title insurance industry began its recovery last year from its massive skid at the end of the refinance boom. Companies generated $16.2 billion in title insurance premiums in 2024, a 7% annual increase, the American Land Title Association reported Thursday. The positive momentum follows year-over-year premiums written declining 31% in 2023 and 16% in
Title insurers’ rising premiums ends two-year slide Read More »
While the 30-year fixed rate mortgage remained under 7% for the 17th consecutive week according to Freddie Mac’s calculations, it increased 5 basis points as the bond markets remain volatile over the U.S. economy. This and other measurements moved in the same direction with the yield on the 10-year Treasury, which rose 25 basis points
Inflation news helps to push mortgage rates higher Read More »
The volatile mortgage rate environment in the fourth quarter last year did not impact the quality of closed applications, with critical defects falling to their second lowest level on record, Aces Quality Management found. “Lenders made meaningful progress in loan quality in 2024, closing the year with one of the lowest quarterly critical defect rates
Loan defect share improved even as mortgage rates rose in 4Q Read More »
Mortgage shoppers submitted 1.1% more applications for the week ending May 9 than they did at the end of April, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The trade group’s Refinance Index also fell 0.4%, as volatility driven by economic uncertainty appears to fade. Consumers watched rates for all but 15-year fixed-rate and jumbo mortgages rise,
Mortgage applications rise 1.1% as rates stabilize Read More »