Originations

U.S. homeownership falls for first time since 2016

For the first time since 2016, the number of American households who are homeowners declined on an annual basis, in another signpost that high home prices and elevated interest rates are taking people out of the market, a Redfin study of U.S. Census data found. The study estimated about 86.2 million Americans own their home, […]

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Rocket debt extended as Mr. Cooper deal moves toward closing

The majority of Rocket holders with senior debt that’s part of the tender offer and exchange related to the Mr. Cooper acquisition approved it, and the expiration was extended Tuesday. This suggests the pending deal, which recently received a key conditional approval from the regulator of large government-related mortgage investors, will move toward closing. Rocket

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Mortgage application activity decreases despite lower rates

The lowest interest rates in months couldn’t bring an influx of borrowers to the table in the run-up to Labor Day, as application volume declined for the third straight week, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.   The MBA’s Market Composite Index, a measure of weekly application volume based on a survey of association members, dropped a

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Home construction spending rises for first time in months

Residential construction spending saw its first monthly increase in six months this summer, as builders navigated their way through housing market and tariff-related challenges.   While construction spending rose month over month in June, it still came in well under levels of a year ago, the National Association of Home Builders said in its analysis of

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Figure Technology seeks $508M in long-awaited IPO

Figure Technology Solutions has formally launched its long-awaited initial public offering that could bring over $508 million in gross proceeds to the company if the overallotment is exercised. The company is offering over 21.46 million shares, with an overallotment of 3.95 million shares. In addition, 4.85 million shares are being sold by existing stockholders in

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Fairway rebrands with focus on end-to-end lending

In July, Fairway Independent Mortgage refreshed its branding, including revising its name to Fairway Home Mortgage. The company was started as a mortgage broker by its CEO Steve Jacobson in 1996. It grew by adding regional branches throughout the country.  Fairway has been very successful in retaining staff long-term. David Lazowski, who in 2024 became

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What lender-servicers should know about a new state process

One aspect of a law that takes effect in Connecticut on Oct. 1 was designed to improve the surety bond cancellation process by fully automating it, but making that possible will involve a procedural change that servicers who are also lenders in the state will need to understand. “The bill generally requires surety companies to

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Wholesaler AD Mortgage launches borrower portal

Wholesale lender AD Mortgage has launched a borrower-facing portal in order to improve the experience of their broker’s clients, the company said. AD Home gives consumers “a smoother, faster and more intuitive way to manage their loans,” the company’s announcement said. AD is known as a non-qualified mortgage lender, but it also offers conventional and

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Why AI search could cut off your leads

Not long ago, a storefront sign was the most important marketing channel a retailer had. If you didn’t have one, customers didn’t know you existed. Today, for mortgage companies, that sign has been replaced by something else entirely: search. But with borrowers now turning to ChatGPT and other AI tools instead of Google, even ranking

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How did monthly mortgage payments shrink this summer?

The softening housing market is starting to show up in slightly smaller mortgage payments.  Home buyers paid up to $45 less on mortgage applications in July compared to June, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. While some home loans are still more expensive than the same time last year, the trade group said buying power

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