December 2025

Warren warns CFPB on its ‘half-baked idea’ for mortgage-rate data

Senate Democrats are warning the Trump administration not to cut an arcane but critical function of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that underpins the housing market as officials move to dismantle the agency.  At issue is the CFPB’s weekly publication of Average Prime Offer Rate tables, a key benchmark enabling the smooth operation of the […]

Warren warns CFPB on its ‘half-baked idea’ for mortgage-rate data Read More »

Payrolls at US companies fall by most since 2023, ADP says

US companies shed payrolls in November by the most since early 2023, adding to concerns about a more pronounced weakening in the labor market. Private-sector payrolls decreased by 32,000, according to ADP Research data released Wednesday. Payrolls have now fallen four times in the last six months. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of

Payrolls at US companies fall by most since 2023, ADP says Read More »

Mortgage rates slide to 6.32%, boosting purchase activity

US mortgage rates fell last week to a one-month low, spurring home-purchase activity. The contract rate on a 30-year mortgage dropped 8 basis points to 6.32% in the week ended Nov. 28, which included the Thanksgiving holiday, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data released Wednesday. The rate on a five-year adjustable mortgage declined to 5.4%,

Mortgage rates slide to 6.32%, boosting purchase activity Read More »

The 3 Housing Market Questions Coming Up at Every Gathering This Season

The 3 Housing Market Questions Coming Up at Every Gathering This Season

Whether it’s at a family gathering, your company party, or catching up with friends over the holidays, the housing market always finds its way into the conversation. Here are the top three questions on a lot of people’s minds this season, and straightforward answers to help you feel more confident about the market. 1. “Will

The 3 Housing Market Questions Coming Up at Every Gathering This Season Read More »

How GSE changes in LLPAs, MBS could shift rates

How GSE changes in LLPAs, MBS could shift rates

Bill Pulte, the director of the oversight agency setting policy for the government-sponsored enterprises, has pressed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to do more to lower mortgage rates but the GSEs themselves also have a hand in loan pricing that reform could impact. A Fannie Mae study notes that while the 10-year treasury yield that

How GSE changes in LLPAs, MBS could shift rates Read More »

Industry pushes new HMBS to fix aging reverse loans

A new type of reverse mortgage security needs to be created to accommodate Home Equity Conversion Mortgages that have reached the 98% maximum claim amount, a pair of industry organizations said in their respective responses to a government request for information. The RFI from the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae — along with their

Industry pushes new HMBS to fix aging reverse loans Read More »

MV Realty settles NTRAPS cases in Idaho, New Jersey

Embattled MV Realty has settled a lawsuit filed by Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador involving an agreement it promoted known as Non-Title Recorded Agreements for Personal Services or NTRAPS. These contracts, also known as “Homeowner Benefit Agreements,” lock a homeowner into a long-term arrangement to sell the property in exchange for a fee. This encumbrance

MV Realty settles NTRAPS cases in Idaho, New Jersey Read More »

Absolute Home Mortgage acquires Northeast lender’s team

Absolute Home Mortgage has acquired assets from Fidelity Direct Mortgage in a partnership announced Tuesday. Absolute, a nationwide mortgage lender based in New Jersey, added Fidelity’s team of 55 producing loan officers to its team of roughly 190, a Fidelity spokesperson told National Mortgage News. “This is an important step forward for both of our

Absolute Home Mortgage acquires Northeast lender’s team Read More »

Towne Mortgage hit with wave of data breach suits

Borrowers are slamming yet another mortgage lender with class action lawsuits after it revealed a data breach last month. Troy, Michigan-based Towne Mortgage did not say in a public notice how many of its customers were impacted in a June incident, in which a hacker may have copied data from its network. The attack compromised

Towne Mortgage hit with wave of data breach suits Read More »