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June 2025

These four strategies are helping title companies win more business

SoftPro, Sponsored, Technology, Title /

Does winning new business feel harder than ever? It’s not your imagination. Higher interest rates, low housing inventory, and tighter margins have combined to shrink the number of available transactions. And with all title professionals vying for scarcer deals, it’s easy to feel like you’re doing all the right things—delivering great service, meeting deadlines, solving […]

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QC risks are shifting: Fraud, insurance, and compliance take center stage

ACES Quality Management, Legal, Mortgage, Mortgage Fraud, Sponsored /

Traditional QC risks are declining, but lenders now face mounting exposures in fraud, insurance gaps and compliance volatility. The mortgage industry’s quality control risk landscape is shifting dramatically. Traditional defect categories such as income and employment and credit are seeing historic declines, while once-marginal issues like insurance gaps and fraud are now taking center stage.

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Why it’s time to rethink the appraisal default in home equity lending 

Appraisals and Valuations, Contributors, HWmember, Opinion /

With mortgage rates still hovering near multi-decade highs, homeowners are opting to hold onto their ultra-low first mortgages. Instead of refinancing, they’re tapping into their equity through home equity loans and HELOCs to finance renovations, cover tuition, or consolidate high-interest debt.  Lenders are stepping up with a broader menu of second-lien products to meet this

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‘Taylor Swift tax’ draws ire from mortgage, housing groups

Housing markets, Politics and policy, Property taxes /

Rhode Island real estate professionals are criticizing two new taxes that will increase costs for Ocean State homeowners, including a levy dubbed the “Taylor Swift tax.”  State lawmakers last week approved a $14 billion fiscal year 2026 budget, which now awaits Gov. Dan McKee’s signature. Included in the proposed budget is a 63% increase in

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House passes abusive trigger leads ban

HWmember, LendingLife, Mortgage, Mortgage Bankers Association, Origination, Regulatory, U.S. House of Representatives /

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act (H.R. 2808) late Monday, bringing a national ban on abusive trigger leads one step closer to reality. The move was widely applauded by mortgage trade groups. The House’s action follows the U.S. Senate’s approval of a similar bill (S. 1467) on June 13.

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Anywhere welcomes Barri Rafferty as chief communications officer

Anywhere, HWmember, People Movers, Real Estate, Ryan Schneider /

Anywhere Real Estate has appointed Barri Rafferty as its new chief communications officer and head of public affairs.  In this role Rafferty will lead Anywhere’s public relations, communications, government relations, and events and productions functions. “I’m honored to take on a new challenge at Anywhere as it pursues its mission to provide a superior, end-to-end

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The juiciest details in Compass’s lawsuit against Zillow

Clear Cooperation, Compass, eXp Realty, Glenn Kelman, HWmember, Legal, Real Estate, Redfin, Robert Reffkin, Zillow /

Given the animosity between Compass and Zillow over the portal giant’s listing standards policy, it came as little surprise when the Robert Reffkin-helmed firm filed a lawsuit against Zillow Monday morning.  While the complaint contains many of the anticipated claims, including that Zillow enacted the policy, which bans listings that are publicly marketed for more

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The mortgage market hopes for rate cuts amid war moves

Bonds, Federal Reserve, Housing Market, HWmember, Mortgage, Mortgage Rates /

Global tensions between the United States and Iran have led many in the mortgage industry to wonder whether the bombing of Iran nuclear sites would move bond yields and lead to a drop in mortgage rates. On Monday, just as economists were factoring in the possibility of war with Iran, at least one member of

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Inventory is rising, but existing home sales remain in a major slump

Existing home sales, Housing Market, HWmember, National Association of Realtors /

The May existing-home sales report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows sales at just 4.03 million, a 0.7% decrease year over year and up 0.8% compared to April. It was the slowest May for existing home sales since 2009 and the fourth consecutive month with a year-over-year decline in sales. Unsold inventory also continues

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FICO to add Buy Now, Pay Later data to credit scores

Credit Score, FICO, HWmember, LendingLife, Mortgage, Origination /

Fair Isaac Corp. (FICO) will incorporate Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) data into two of its credit scores set to launch in Fall 2025. The company, which owns the rights to the market’s most widely adopted consumer credit risk assessment methodology, announced the move on Monday. The change will provide mortgage brokers, loan officers and

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