The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued new guidance that clarifies how appraisers are added to, maintained on and removed from the FHA Appraiser Roster. Mortgagee Letter 2025-24 — effective immediately — updates FHA policy to make appraiser eligibility easier to track and more consistent with federal and state licensing records. Changes apply […]
HUD tightens rules for FHA appraiser roster Read More »
Zillow’s 2025 Consumer Housing Trends Report for Agents shows that more than one-third (36%) of home sellers now find their agents online, a sharp increase from just 15% in 2018. Among buyers, 33% said online research played a significant role in selecting an agent. At the same time, repeat buyers now account for a majority
Why most buyers hire the first agent they talk to Read More »
Heading into the week, we knew there was a high bar for any legitimate mortgage rate fireworks. In addition to a dearth of scheduled events with the power to cause volatility, the last two weeks of the year don’t tend to see big changes in the bond market. There are exceptions, but 2025 wasn’t one
Mortgage Rates Stay Flat to End The Week Read More »
The Mortgage Bankers Association is starting 2026 with a major leadership appointment, appointing an experienced accounting executive to chief financial officer. Processing Content The industry trade group welcomed Alexandra Brinton to the role of vice president, chief financial officer. With a background working for a variety of trade and nonprofit organizations, she will be responsible
MBA welcomes Alexandra Brinton as chief financial officer Read More »
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani rescinded all executive orders issued by his predecessor over the last 15 months as part of a flurry of actions as the city’s new leader took office Jan. 1. Processing Content The directive revoked all executive orders former mayor Eric Adams had issued since Sept. 26, 2024, the day he was
Mamdani begins term by wiping out 15 months of Adams’ orders Read More »
The number of residential remodeling businesses hit a record-high earlier this decade, with the pace of their growth more than doubling that of builders. Processing Content Total remodeling enterprises came in at 128,187 at the close of 2022, according to the National Association of Home Builders analysis of U.S. Census data. By comparison, only 77,455
Gap between remodel, homebuilder businesses keeps growing Read More »
Fannie Mae wants to squash separate lawsuits from workers it fired last spring, who are accusing the government-sponsored enterprise of discrimination and defamation. Processing Content The accusations stem from a mass termination in April, in which Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte said over 100 employees were fired for fraud. Housing officials never elaborated
Fannie Mae fending off discrimination, defamation lawsuits Read More »
The will to explore a new move that will put the government-sponsored enterprises on a path to be recapitalized and released from conservatorship exists; the question now is how, when and if. Processing Content All that could depend on whether the Trump administration is willing to make investor concessions and offer new shares, according to
Some paths to recap and release longer than others: Wedbush Read More »
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago increased the benefits offered through its Community Advance program for 2026, to support affordable housing and local development. Processing Content The additions include a $55 million total annual interest rate subsidy, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and an increase to the per-member outstanding Community Advanced limit from
FHLBank Chicago increases affordable housing program benefit Read More »
The nation’s private mortgage insurers are adequately capitalized to deal with the housing market’s challenges during 2026, so on balance they have a neutral outlook for next year, Fitch Ratings said. Processing Content “We expect strong borrower credit profiles, relatively stable employment levels, and persistent home price appreciation to help mitigate pressures from ongoing housing-affordability
MI, title firms positioned well for 2026’s challenges: Fitch Read More »