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February 2026

Mortgage rate dip ignites refi boom in January

LOAN PRODUCTS, Mortgage Rates, Originations, Refinance, Secondary markets, Securitization, Underwriting /

Taking advantage of falling interest rates, largely spurred by narrowing primary-secondary spreads resulting from a White House pronouncement, consumers stepped up rate lock activity, while lenders added products in January, separate reports noted. Processing Content On Jan. 8, Pres. Trump ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase $200 billion of mortgage-backed securities. This came […]

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The hidden cost of vacant properties for mortgage lenders

Foreclosures, Risk management, Servicing /

When a borrower leaves a property, voluntarily or through foreclosure, the asset’s risk profile changes immediately. For housing financers and mortgage lenders, a vacant home is not simply a pause in revenue. It represents an active liability that requires aggressive management to prevent significant financial loss. Processing Content Understanding the specific risks associated with vacant

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U.S. House votes to pass Housing for the 21st Century Act

House of Representatives, Housing Market, Housing Policy, HWmember, Real Estate, The Builder's Daily /

On Monday, the House voted to pass a landmark bipartisan housing affordability package by an overwhelming 390-9 margin.  The legislation, part of a bipartisan federal push to improve housing affordability, is the House counterpart to the Senate’s ROAD to Housing Act. Both bills aim to boost housing supply and improve affordability by reducing red tape

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ICE launches new MSP servicing platform user experience

HWmember, ICE Mortgage Technology, Mortgage, Servicing, Technology /

Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE) said on Tuesday that it has completed the first phase of a broader modernization of its MSP mortgage servicing platform with the launch of an enhanced user experience. The company said the updated user interface is designed to improve navigation and lay the foundation for additional workflow automation and productivity tools

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The digital future still needs title insurance and the expertise of professionals 

Artificial Intelligence, Contributors, Digital, HWmember, Opinion, Title, Title insurance /

A new year often brings renewed confidence that technology will change everything. And 2026 is no exception. Across industries, artificial intelligence is being framed as the next major force reshaping operations, customer expectations, and the way businesses evaluate risk. Real estate is at the center of that conversation, and title and settlement companies are not just on

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Housing bill passes House with community bank riders

Community banking, Housing, Politics and policy /

Key insight: The House is poised to pass a housing affordability package with wide bipartisan margins.  What’s at stake: The House bill contains a number of community bank provisions that are absent from the Senate version of the bill.  Forward look: Warren’s opposition to those riders will make passage in the upper chamber more challenging,

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CFPB blocks GAO investigators in layoff report

Litigation, Politics and policy, Regulation and compliance, Trump administration /

Key insight: The CFPB’s leadership cited ongoing litigation as the reason for not cooperating with the Government Accountability Office.   Supporting data: The GAO reiterated what was found in court documents, finding that the CFPB had planned to fire 88% of the staff.   Forward look: A federal appeals court will hear oral arguments in late February

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Anywhere data breach affects 17,000 customers

Cyber security, Data breaches, Data security /

Anywhere Real State suffered a data breach in August that affected 17,429, the company notified impacted customers. Processing Content A notorious ransomware and extortion gang known as Clop gained access to the company’s Oracle E-Business Suite environment and viewed or copied sensitive customer data, according to a notice with the Office of the Maine Attorney

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Treasury yields plunge, dollar hits key technical targets

Mortgage Rates, Treasury bonds, Treasurys /

In a bit of a surprise, to me anyway, treasuries followed up good days yesterday with bullish gap openings this morning. Processing Content Yesterday’s opening trades were the high yields for the day while the low yields were printed in the last 15 minutes. The 30-year finished the day with a bullish outside reversal and

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Trump plan to improve home affordability faces test in Atlanta

Housing affordability, Housing markets, Politics and policy /

President Donald Trump wants to ban big investors from buying more houses. Some local governments are already on the case – and Atlanta is ground zero. Processing Content The Atlanta area has the highest share of corporate-owned single-family rentals in the US, and that’s spooked many locals. Residents fume about the impact on prices. Politicians

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