Key insight: The White House issued an executive order directing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and bank regulators to tailor mortgage rules for community banks. What’s at stake: The move is part of a broader Republican strategy to shore up its credibility around housing affordability ahead of the 2026 midterms, and comes as a bipartisan […]
White House order to increase small bank mortgage lending Read More »
Key Insight: U.S. District Judge James Boasberg wrote in documents unsealed Friday that the Trump administration produced no evidence to suspect Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell of a crime, justifying the tossing of the subpoenas. The Justice Department said it would challenge the decision. Expert quote: “The Government has produced essentially zero evidence to suspect
Judge tosses out ‘unsubstantiated’ subpoenas into Powell Read More »
As home price appreciation continues to slow, home equity decreased again in the fourth quarter, completing a full year of annual declines. Processing Content Borrower equity fell $78.8 billion, or 0.5%, year over year, according to Cotality’s Home Equity Report for the fourth quarter of 2025. That was an average decrease of $8,500 per borrower,
Home equity dips $78.8B as appreciation weakens Read More »
Lennar’s management is working through the various challenges facing homebuilders: not just the Iran conflict, but also the antipathy against institution investor purchasers. Processing Content In its first fiscal quarter, which ended on Feb. 28, Lennar earned $229 million, less than half of the $520 million it made for the same period in 2025. The
Lennar profit drops 56% amid rates, Iran uncertainty Read More »
Key insight: Bank enforcement actions fell by 55% during the first year of the Trump administration, according to data compiled by financial advisory firm Klaros. Supporting data: Klaros’ analysis shows that agencies issued 20 enforcement actions in the first quarter of 2025, but reduced that number to two by the fourth quarter. Terminated enforcement actions,
Enforcement is down under Trump. Is that a problem? Read More »
FIGRE Trust is preparing to sell securitized bonds secured by recently originated revolving home equity lines of credit (HELOC), with the smallest underlying loan count and a pool balance, $335.7 million, one of the smallest in the program since late July 2025. Processing Content The transaction, FIGRE Trust 2026-HF3, will sell the notes through eight
FIGRE Trust issues $335.7 million from pool of HELOC Read More »
Better Home & Finance is shedding its direct-to-consumer identity as it leans on artificial intelligence to push it out of a long financial slump. Processing Content The now self-described AI-native mortgage platform on Friday promoted growth opportunities from bigger deals, including a new partnership with an unnamed, top-5 nonbank originator. Exuberant founder and CEO Vishal
Better lost $40M. Its CEO has never been bolder Read More »
Movement on plans for an offering of shares from government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is likely to be tabled until after the midterm elections, according to a Wedbush report. Processing Content “The only discussion we are expecting from the administration regarding these two until after the midterms, if at all, is around the
Fannie, Freddie share sale likely after midterms or later Read More »
Churchill Mortgage and an ex-manager are sparring in a poaching case with accusations of unpaid severance, stolen customers, claims the lender is broke, and ChatGPT espionage. Processing Content The company sued Jeffrey Miller last summer, claiming the laid-off manager used internal compensation and performance data to lure his former colleagues to his new employer Supreme
Churchill vs. ex-manager: Poaching, severance, ChatGPT Read More »
Japan-based real estate and construction giants have spent the past decade quietly building footholds across the U.S. housing market. By early 2026, those footholds are transforming into a noticeable wave of expansion. The latest development comes from Tokyo-based Hajime Construction Co., Ltd., which announced on March 10 that it has acquired a 51% equity stake
Hajime Construction Buys 51% of Utah Builder Wright Homes Read More »