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Author name: Ricky Vasquez

Mortgage industry baffled by Trump’s MLO order

Originations, Politics and policy, Regulation and compliance /

A section of President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, titled “Promoting Access to Mortgage Credit,” caused confusion throughout the mortgage industry, seemingly addressing a nonissue. Processing Content Section 10 of the order called for “eliminating duplicative or unnecessary requirements regarding licensing or registration for mortgage loan officers of any smaller bank.” The directive fits with […]

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REMIC servicers may have fiduciary duty under retirement law

REMIC servicers may have fiduciary duty under retirement law

Law and legal issues, Retirement planning, Securitization, Servicing /

A residential securitization trustee could be held to a fiduciary standard under federal retiree law as the Second Circuit Court of Appeals looked to split definitional hairs on whether the mortgages are considered plan assets. Processing Content The case was brought by six trustees of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union & Employers Midwest

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Housing demand holds up despite mortgage rates at yearly highs

Housing Inventory, Housing Market, Housing Market Tracker, Mortgage Rates, New listings, Purchase Applications /

As shocking as it may seem with all the crazy things that have happened in 2026 — AI labor disruption headlines, epic snowstorms and especially the Iran conflict — housing demand, even last week, still showed year-over-year growth with mortgage purchase applications data and our weekly pending home sales. However, that growth has slowed and

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Fannie, Freddie portfolios surge to multiyear high

Capital markets, Secondary markets /

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s total retained portfolios hit a new multiyear high last month, and March’s numbers could be even higher amid reports they may have stepped up MBS buying to counter market disruption. Processing Content Fannie held $150 billion in its portfolio in February, including nearly $77 billion of its own MBS, $63

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DeCaro Auctions expands executive team

Auction, Home Sales, HWmember, Luxury Real Estate, People Movers, Real Estate /

DeCaro Auctions has expanded its executive team as the luxury real estate auction firm seeks to grow its international platform. The appointments come after Mario Vargas was recently named CEO. “Luxury auctions are about more than marketing reach. They are about relationships, strategy and execution,” said Vargas. “Each member of this team brings deep experience

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Florida: In choppy 2026, one state is many homebuilding markets

Florida, Homebuilders, Marketing & Sales, New Home Sales, Residential Real Estate, The Builder's Daily /

It may come as a surprise amid the noise, negativity, and volatility in today’s new-home market that Florida remains one of the most dynamic homebuilding markets in the country. The housing landscape in the nation’s third-most-populous state shares a vertiginous, bumpy near-term outlook with other Sun Belt markets. The region has been challenging for homebuilders.

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FinCEN’s anti-money laundering rule struck down: what real estate and title professionals need to know

Compliance, FinCEN, Home Sales, HWmember, Legal, Money laundering, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Real Estate, Regulatory Compliance, Title, Title insurance, U.S. Government, U.S. Treasury /

A federal judge in Texas has vacated the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s (FinCEN) nationwide anti-money laundering (AML) rule — creating a legal vacuum and uncertainty among title and real estate professionals. While the ruling eliminates a significant compliance burden that industry groups had criticized, legal observers warn that FinCEN retains broad authority over real estate

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BuildersUpdate pay-at-closing model targets builders’ marketing risk

Homebuilders, Marketing & Sales, New Home Sales, Residential Real Estate, The Builder's Daily /

BuildersUpdate.com has rolled out a “pay upon performance” model that shifts new-home marketing costs from upfront spend to a flat fee due only when a sale closes, aiming squarely at builders’ growing concern over wasted lead-gen dollars in a choppy demand and rate environment. Announced March 26, 2026, the program lets homebuilders list communities on

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Washington just banned noncompete agreements. Will other states follow suit?

Employment, Federal Trade Commission, HWmember, Legislation, Loan Officer, Mortgage, Regulatory, Regulatory Compliance, Washington /

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a bill into effect earlier this week that bans noncompete agreements across the state. The move marks a significant shift in employment law that will take effect on June 30, 2027. The measure prohibits contracts that restrict workers from joining or starting competing businesses after leaving a job. Noncompete agreements

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Even as GSEs step into MBS market, macro forces are controlling mortgage rates

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Government-Sponsored Enterprise, HWmember, LendingLife, MBS, Mortgage, Regulatory, Secondary market /

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been active in the mortgage-backed securities (MBS) market in recent weeks — but their approach appears more measured and opportunistic than many initially expected. Their activity has also been overshadowed by the U.S.-Iran conflict.  “We’ve seen some activity from the GSEs. Instead of issuing cash window pools and putting

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