Mortgage rates began the week right in line with their highest levels of the past 30 days. This sounds a bit more dramatic than it is because the past 2.5 weeks have been very narrow and today’s rates are merely at the upper edge of that range (i.e. not much different than the recent lows). […]
Mortgage Rates Start The Week Near Recent Highs Read More »
President Donald Trump called on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to boost homebuilders and help “restore the American Dream” in a Truth Social post on Sunday. The president said large homebuilders are sitting on 2 million empty lots, and compared the situation to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries keeping oil prices high before
Trump calls on Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac to boost homebuilders Read More »
A lot of market conditions have improved notably for home loans and there may be more where that came from, depending on rates and location, ICE Mortgage Technology’s latest monthly analysis shows. Home affordability is at a two-year-plus high and rate drops have exposed millions to refinance incentives, with the share of median income needed
New data shows where refinance incentives are growing Read More »
Key insight: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is paring down nearly all community bank regulatory measures not required by law, leaving it up to examiners to determine applicable requirements. Expert quote: “Community banks have an outsized impact on lending and are vital to the strength of the U.S. economy. Today’s actions relieve
OCC to dramatically reduce community bank regulation Read More »
A yearslong legal battle between credit union regulators and U.S. Bank over mortgage securities dating back to the financial crisis is nearing a settlement, according to new court filings. Both NCUA and U.S. Bank said they were unable to comment on the settlement. A letter dated Oct. 2 from both sides to Judge Louis
U.S. Bank, NCUA reach deal in Great Financial Crisis case Read More »
Key Insight: The deal marks the largest bank acquisition announcement of 2025, and Fifth Third’s first since 2019. What’s at Stake: Comerica had been facing calls from an activist investor to sell itself for months, though CEO Curt Farmer said that the external pressure wasn’t a factor. Supporting Data: When completed, the deal will create
Fifth Third’s Comerica deal: ‘The biggest thing we’ve ever done’ Read More »
A federal judge dismissed the most serious charges against United Wholesale Mortgage in a racketeering lawsuit which arose from an explosive media report last spring. U.S. District Judge Brandy R. McMillion this week tossed all but two claims against the megalender which borrowers suggested improperly steered them to higher cost loans. The class action case,
Why a federal judge dismissed RICO accusations against UWM Read More »
Growth in total active inventory has been my favorite story for housing in 2025, but that inventory growth has slowed recently, and today’s Housing Market Tracker will focus on why. Inventory growth was running at 33% year over year a few months ago, but it dropped to 17.66% last week. Let’s find out what happened.
Why has housing inventory growth slowed? Read More »
The Mississippi housing market continues to show one of the slowest absorption rates in the nation, with homes sitting on the market well above the U.S. median. The state now ties with Louisiana, Hawaii and Florida for the longest days on market (DOM), underscoring a widening gap between local conditions and the national trend. HW
Mississippi among slowest markets as gap with U.S. widens Read More »
Better’s chief financial officer, Kevin Ryan, is retiring from the company, according to an SEC filing on Friday, and will be joining PennyMac Financial Services as a senior managing director, chief strategy officer. According to the filing, Ryan announced on Sept. 30 that he would be retiring but it is not clear when his last
CFO Kevin Ryan to retire from Better, will join PennyMac as chief strategy officer Read More »