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More homebuyers seek government-backed loans as an affordability lifeline

Housing Wire

The company’s newest National Housing Market Outlook shows that buyers are gravitating toward government-backed loans in their search for affordability. As a result, more buyers are turning to products like Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, which accounted for 24% of primary home purchases in 2024, and U.S.

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HUD launches manufactured home community loan program

Housing Wire

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) this week announced the launch of a new program designed to allow for the purchase, refinance or renovation of manufactured housing under a loan program sponsored by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

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Pennymac increases its conforming loan limit to $802,650

Housing Wire

In what has become a familiar fall ritual, mortgage lenders are increasing their conforming loan limits months ahead of the FHFA’s official announcement. On Friday, Rocket Pro TPO and Pennymac both announced an increase in their conforming loan limits to $802,650 — before the expected increase by the FHFA in November.

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Mortgage demand is up 5.4% as interest rates ramp down

Housing Wire

Data at HousingWire ‘s Mortgage Rates Center showed an average rate of 6.85% for 30-year conforming loans on Wednesday, a slight decrease from the week ending Dec. Government loan activity saw a slight jump. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans followed suit, jumping 270 bps to 16.3% of all applications.

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Fairway’s Steve Jacobson is ’focused on speed’ as he builds company culture

Housing Wire

To open the conversation, Sanchez asks Jacobson to explain how Fairway harnesses the power of positive recommendations to boost production for the company’s loan officers. If you have people focused on work, focused on what they can control, we still have people closing over 40 loans a month,” Jacobson says. “In

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Will AI replace the loan officer?

Housing Wire

The industry fears AI will ultimately replace everyone, from operations to loan officers. As a loan officer , I am not losing any sleep, and here is why you should not, either. Call centers pay their loan officer vastly lower amounts than a broker or retail lender makes. He must have ownership in this as it is a pos.

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Unison unveils ‘hybrid’ home equity sharing loan

Housing Wire

The San Francisco -based Unison calls its new offering the Equity Sharing Home Loan. But it also differs from a typical HEI by including qualification and repayment terms that are similar to a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC). The maximum combined loan-to-value ratio on the property cannot exceed 70%.

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