Mortgage originations hit a three-and-a-half-year high in the fourth quarter of last year, as year-low mortgage rates boosted refinance activity, new industry data found. Processing Content An estimated 565,000 first-lien refinances closed in the fourth quarter, up about 50% from a year prior and the most since the second quarter of 2022. This pushed total […]
Originations hit 3.5-year high in Q4 boosted by refinancing Read More »
Treasuries opened softer this morning, but Friday’s trading was nothing short of insane. Processing Content One thing happened, which did seem to make sense, the yield curve finally had a day of steepening, but that was about it. After opening weaker in front of a shockingly soft jobs report, the 5-year yield dropped 7+ bps
Treasury yields whipsaw as oil spike looms over Fed Read More »
Mortgage rates have already dropped into the upper 5s twice this year. But after just a few days, they ticked back up into the low 6% range. If you saw that and thought, “Great. I missed it,” you’re not the only one. A lot of buyers are treating the 5s like some kind of magic
Should You Wait for Lower Rates? Read More »
Will mortgage rates go higher this year? You can bet on it. Processing Content Predictions market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket now feature nascent trading on where the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage will move this year. Anonymous traders have placed tens of thousands of dollars so far between the competing sites on “yes” or “no” contracts against
How Kalshi, Polymarket bets on mortgage rates are being watched by lenders Read More »
Procedural and zoning barriers are proving to be only the beginning of the gauntlet for adding new ground-up residential supply to America’s housing-starved communities. While removing red tape and outdated zoning laws might formalize more homes on paper, local fee structures still decide whether those homes are actually built. California is a poster child for
Local fees trap state housing affordability reforms in a vicious circle Read More »
In the crazy world of economics, with all the drama last week, it was a pretty normal housing week. Housing data showed year-over-year growth, weekly pending home sales rose, inventory declined slightly and mortgage rates were very steady, considering the conflict with Iran. Let’s take a look at probably the calmest sector in the economy
Housing demand is up and inventory is down, even with Iran conflict Read More »
Redwood Trust closed a $391 million securitization backed by nonqualified mortgages (non-QMs), marking the inaugural deal from its Aspire platform that was expanded in early 2025, the company announced Friday. The transaction (SPIRE 2026-1) establishes Redwood’s third securitization shelf, alongside Sequoia for nonagency mortgages and CoreVest for business-purpose lending. Aspire’s first securitization includes 752 loans
Redwood launches Aspire securitization shelf with $391M non-QM deal Read More »
What realistic, visionary, and wise players in the U.S. housing sector believe is that some solutions are already here, hidden in plain sight. Part of the problem is that what often hides those solutions from view is a past history, baggage or a whiff of negative reputation. Manufactured housing is among them. And, because of
Can innovation, policy reform redeem manufactured housing’s image? Read More »
Virginia-based Allied Title and Escrow has expanded its operations into Ohio and Michigan — bringing its total footprint to 14 states. The move marks another step in Allied’s national growth strategy and expands its presence in the Midwest as leaders cited increased demand from real estate agents, lenders and investors seeking technology-driven title and escrow
Allied Title and Escrow expands into Ohio, Michigan Read More »
A sweeping new anti-money laundering rule from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), took effect this week, introducing new reporting obligations for certain residential real estate transactions. The regulation, effective March 1, expands federal oversight into parts of the real estate market that historically operated with limited anti-money-laundering reporting requirements — particularly cash purchases and
FinCEN’s AML rule reshaping title processes — and buyer behavior Read More »