Housing Wire

MARCH 3, 2024

First-time homebuyers made up 55% of agency purchase mortgages in 2023, according to Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) eMBS data, the highest such share in the 10 years ICE has been tracking the metric. In January, ICE’s conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate lock index showed rates averaging 6.6%.

Loans 514

Loans Debt-to-income ratio Lending Banks 514

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 10, 2024

Rocket Companies , the parent of Rocket Mortgage , has set ambitious goals to increase market share by 2027 using its multichannel reach, its origination and servicing flywheel, and its advanced technology platform. billion in volume during these six months, trailing only United Wholesale Mortgage ($60.7 Rocket originated $42.3

Mortgages 459

Mortgages Marketing Principal Technology 459

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

Declining mortgage rates have yet to break the dam on the stalled housing market, but the sweet spot on rates that would get the market moving again is about 5%. That’s according to a new survey from Mphasis Digital Risk, which revealed that 42% of prospective buyers said a 5% rate would get them back in the market.

Mortgages 493

Mortgages Marketing Construction Sales 493

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 17, 2024

Better Home & Finance, the parent company of digital lender Better.com , launched its voice-based artificial intelligence loan assistant on Thursday. ” The AI loan assistant, dubbed Betsy, was built through Tinman, the company’s proprietary loan origination platform, where information and facts on loan applications are stored.

Loans 435

Loans Loan Officer Lending Mortgages 435

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 26, 2024

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has set a new baseline conforming loan limit of $806,500 for one-unit properties in 2025, authorizing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase mortgages up to this amount. The adjustment indicates a weaker housing market this year, driven by still-elevated mortgage rates.

Loans 435

Loans Finance Mortgages Banks 435

Housing Wire

AUGUST 12, 2024

Piggyback mortgages — those involving a first and second lien at origination — are on the rise among first-time and low- to moderate-income borrowers who face affordability challenges. for conventional purchase loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. economy and the strength of the job market.”

Loans 476

Loans FHA loan Equity Closing costs 476

Housing Wire

AUGUST 8, 2024

Although there is no doubt that business practice changes outlined in the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) nationwide commission lawsuit settlement agreement are going to impact how real estate industry professionals operate, economists aren’t too sure they’ll have much bearing on the housing market. “I

Debt-to-income ratio 488

Debt-to-income ratio Marketing Mortgages Days on market 488

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 17, 2024

There have been countless press releases and news articles about how AI is changing the mortgage industry. 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. Absolutely not.I

Loan Officer 393

Loan Officer Loans Mortgages Technology 393

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

They discuss the latest developments in the mortgage market, along with key dynamics and growth strategies for lenders as interest rates continue to fall. The conversation also covers cost-to-completion metrics, new technology and tactics strategies for making customers happy in today’s market.

Mortgages 457

Mortgages Marketing Technology Lending 457

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 16, 2024

Mortgage applications decreased 17% from one week earlier as mortgage rates surged, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association ’s (MBA) weekly application survey for the week ending October 11, 2024. The refinance index decreased 26% from the previous week and was 111% higher than the same week one year ago.

Mortgages 520

Mortgages Loans As-is Marketing 520

Housing Wire

AUGUST 2, 2024

Prospective borrowers with strong credit are locking in mortgages this week at the lowest rates in more than a year, loan officers and lending executives told HousingWire on Friday. This generally matches up with data from Mortgage News Daily , which looks at marketed rates for strong credit profiles.

Mortgages 514

Mortgages FHA loan Loans Loan Officer 514

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

Zillow is moving full speed ahead with an ambitious expansion of its mortgage business, leveraging its housing tech innovations to potentially reshape how modern homebuyers finance homes. billion in purchase mortgage business, not far off a top 50 spot on the mortgage leaderboard. That’s an annualized $3.2

Mortgages 459

Mortgages Loan Officer Loans Agents 459

Housing Wire

AUGUST 6, 2024

The downward movement in mortgage rates over the past few months accelerated last week as a cooler-than-expected jobs report and indications of a Federal Reserve rate cut led to a steep drop in loan pricing. Depending on the loan scenario, originators across the country are offering even lower prices to borrowers.

Mortgages 505

Mortgages Loans Lending Equity 505

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 11, 2024

in the past year, driven by more cases of identity and transaction fraud New data shows that cases of fraud among mortgage applicants is on the rise — an eye-raising trend as demand from borrowers remains relatively quiet. The CoreLogic Mortgage Application Fraud Risk Index jumped by 8.3% CoreLogic’s risk index rose 8.3%

Mortgages 516

Mortgages Sales Loans Lending 516

Housing Wire

APRIL 17, 2024

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) this week announced a new product proposal for government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) Freddie Mac that would allow the agency to purchase certain single-family, closed-end second mortgages. FHFA Director Sandra Thompson explained that such options are needed in the current mortgage rate environment.

Closing 529

Closing Mortgages Equity Loans 529

Housing Wire

JULY 15, 2024

Rocket Pro TPO , the wholesale arm of Rocket Mortgage , announced Monday that it has decided to waive the $795 origination fee charged to broker partners on home equity loans. However, as we all know, borrowers don’t want to touch their first mortgages because they have lower interest rates, which is completely understandable.

Equity 448

Equity Loans Mortgages Finance 448

Housing Wire

JANUARY 8, 2025

Real estate investment trust Redwood has expanded its home equity platform, Aspire, to include alternative loan products amid affordability challenges in the housing market, the company announced Tuesday. Through Aspire, launched in September 2023, Redwood directly originates home equity investments (HEIs).

Equity 392

Equity Loans Lending Investor 392

Housing Wire

JANUARY 14, 2025

At the tail end of 2024, mortgage borrowers shifted their attention away from conforming mortgages and toward refinance opportunities. A report released Tuesday by Optimal Blue found that the conforming loan share sank to historic lows in December. mortgage market trends. mortgage market trends.

VA loan 369

VA loan FHA loan Mortgages Loans 369

Housing Wire

JULY 23, 2024

Mortgage rates continue to move lower this week even as higher borrowing costs have kept activity subdued across many areas of the housing market. The rate for 15-year conforming loans averaged 6.66% on Tuesday, compared to 6.79% a week ago. Data from the U.S. Housing completions also grew by 15.5% in 2024 and to 6.4%

Mortgages 511

Mortgages MLS Finance Loans 511

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 9, 2024

Mortgage tech firm Candor Technology has expanded its Loan Engineering System (LES) to include Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans. The company now fully automates underwriting decisions for FHA loans — minus collateral – and also offers a warranty on income calculations and cleared conditions for funded FHA loans.

FHA loan 456

FHA loan Loans Technology Loan Officer 456

Housing Wire

JANUARY 17, 2025

In a changing real estate market , mortgage lenders face increasing demand. If high mortgage rates and increased liquidity management arent challenging, then regulatory changes, operation inefficiencies, and economic uncertainty are enough. This occurs while they manage the heavy loan of growing origination demand.

Marketing 357

Marketing Residential Commercial Loans 357

Housing Wire

MAY 14, 2024

reaches its peak homebuying season, mortgage rates continue to ease week over week. HousingWire ’s Mortgage Rates Center showed the average 30-year fixed rate for conforming loans at 7.45% on Tuesday, below the rate of 7.51% one week ago. Since the softer labor reports happened, mortgage pricing has improved. As the U.S.

Mortgages 532

Mortgages Loans Marketing As-is 532

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 9, 2024

After reaching their highest level since July 2022 , mortgage applications have declined for two straight weeks, counteracting some recent positive signs for a still-sputtering housing industry. According to weekly data released Wednesday by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), applications shrank 5.1% of new applications.

VA loan 455

VA loan Mortgages FHA loan Loans 455

Housing Wire

JANUARY 8, 2025

As mortgage rates continue to climb past the 7% mark, applications continued to take a step back following the New Year’s Day holiday. from the week prior, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported in its weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ending Jan. Demand decreased by 3.7% the previous week.

Mortgages 446

Mortgages Fixed-rate mortgage Loans Sales 446

Housing Wire

JANUARY 3, 2025

Reverse mortgage professionals made more inroads into the forward mortgage industry in 2024. This happened through dedicated conversations, partnerships between reverse and forward mortgage companies, and expanded activities in reverse that stemmed from acquisitions and expansions of existing divisions.

Mortgages 418

Mortgages Lending Loan Officer Loans 418

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 10, 2024

Ahead of that decision, mortgage rates continued to decline, although a surge of borrowers has yet to appear. At HousingWire ‘s Mortgage Rates Center on Tuesday, the average 30-year conforming loan rate was 6.47%, down 13 basis points (bps) from one week ago. The key question heading into the Sept. since July 2023.

Mortgages 468

Mortgages Loans Marketing Technology 468

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 31, 2024

Reverse mortgage industry leader Finance of America (FOA) announced updates on Thursday to the interest rate for HomeSafe Second, its proprietary second-lien reverse mortgage product. The interest rate on the loan has been lowered from 9.99% to 9.49%. The interest rate on the loan has been lowered from 9.99% to 9.49%.

Mortgages 432

Mortgages Equity Loan Officer Loans 432

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 6, 2024

Mortgage rates remained flat following a jobs report on Friday that continued to show a cooling labor market. Mortgage rate pricing for homebuyers hasn’t changed significantly as lenders have already priced in a Federal Reserve rate cut of 25 basis points (bps) that is expected later this month, loan originators told HousingWire.

Mortgages 476

Mortgages VA loan FHA loan Fixed-rate mortgage 476

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 20, 2024

House of Representatives proposes to relieve Federal Housing Administration (FHA) borrowers of mortgage insurance premiums (MIPs) once they reach a certain level of home equity , aligning FHA policies with those of conventional loans. Mortgage insurance exists as protection from foreclosure on low equity loans.

FHA loan 418

FHA loan Mortgages Equity Loans 418

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

With the calendar shifting to September and the next meeting of Federal Reserve policymakers only two weeks out, mortgage rates continue to recede and evidence suggests that borrowers are reacting to more favorable housing market conditions. Lower rates have recently sparked more activity in the mortgage market.

Mortgages 501

Mortgages Loans MLS Lending 501

Housing Wire

APRIL 17, 2024

Expect 2024 to be mildly better than 2023 with mortgage rates falling in the second half of the year, housing experts opined in their forecasts at the end of the year. Rate cuts are still coming, just not in March , traders and market experts reasoned more recently as the economy continued to run hot.

Mortgages 493

Mortgages Fixed-rate mortgage Banks Residential 493

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) on Monday announced that it will raise the 2025 multifamily loan caps for purchases by the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to $73 billion each. Since that point, “both Enterprises have seen encouraging growth in this critical market segment,” the FHFA said. “In

Loans 459

Loans Finance Mortgages Marketing 459

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 25, 2024

Mortgage technology startup Novaprime is making its public debut with the launch of an AI-powered loan platform that it claims allows lenders to sell loans to investors in just days, instead of weeks, all with a high degree of accuracy. Loan details needing attention are routed to a professional for a better borrower experience.

Loans 433

Loans Investor Closing Lending 433

Housing Wire

JUNE 3, 2024

HousingWire’s 2024 Marketing Leaders award recognizes the most creative and influential marketing minds in the housing economy. This year’s winners have demonstrated exceptional creativity, strategic thinking, and the ability to adapt in a rapidly-evolving landscape. Congratulations to this year’s honorees!

Marketing 482

Marketing Branding MLS Technology 482

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 26, 2024

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is increasing the “floor” and “ceiling” FHA loan limits in 2025 to $524,225 and $1,209,750, respectively, the agency announced Tuesday. The new FHA loan limits apply to forward mortgages for a one-unit property and take effect on Jan. Home prices increased by an average of 4.3%

FHA loan 370

FHA loan Loans Finance Lending 370

Housing Wire

MARCH 26, 2024

Mortgage rates rose this week as the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note inched up. As a result, HousingWire’s Mortgage Rates Center showed the average 30-year fixed rate for conventional loans at 7.16% on Tuesday, up from 7.07% one week earlier. More inventory on the market means that more sales can take place.

Mortgages 508

Mortgages Loans As-is Marketing 508

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024

After the Federal Reserve lowered benchmark interest rates by 50 basis points last week, mortgage rates continued to move lower, although at a slower pace compared to recent weeks. At HousingWire ‘s Mortgage Rates Center on Tuesday, the average 30-year conforming loan rate was 6.25%, down 9 basis points from a week ago.

Mortgages 468

Mortgages Loans Finance Sales 468