Borrower equity reached a four-year low in the fourth quarter of 2025, while underwater mortgages hit its largest share in nearly three years, according to a new industry report. Processing Content Less than 45% of mortgage residential properties in the United States were considered equity-rich last quarter, meaning that the combined estimated amount of loan […]
Home equity slips to 4-year low as underwater loans rise Read More »
Foreclosure- and bank-owned auction volume jumped to their highest levels in years, but buying activity didn’t keep pace with the rise in inventory, according to the latest report from Auction.com. Processing Content Foreclosure inventory, which makes up the majority of distressed auction properties, leaped 48% year over year in the recent fourth quarter to its
Foreclosure auction inventory rises to near 6-year high Read More »
Nearly three quarters of lenders expect mortgage volume to improve in 2026, but their confidence is concentrated in refinancings and home equity lending. Processing Content Those expectations from the National Mortgage News Predictions 2026 survey, which was fielded online during November and December among 156 mortgage-industry professionals. More than half, 55% of respondents, work at
Lenders predict 2026 rebound led by refis and home equity Read More »
Late-year interest rates drove mortgage prepayment speeds back upward in December, as homeowners sought to capitalize through refinances, according to Intercontinental Exchange. Processing Content Prepayments increased to a 0.91% share of current liens, surging almost 10% from November’s pace, ICE Mortgage Technology’s monthly First Look report said. December’s rate was up by more than 59%
Prepayments jump as lower rates spur December refi surge Read More »
Foreclosures notably increased in 2025, but still remained well below prepandemic levels, according to Attom’s year-end foreclosure market report. Processing Content Foreclosure filings, default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions, were reported on 367,460 properties in the United States last year, up 14% from 2024 and 3% from 2023, but still down 25% from 2019,
Foreclosure filings rose again in 2025, Attom finds Read More »
The Department of Housing and Urban Development will be selling thousands more reverse mortgages that have been called due-and-payable on occupied homes, continuing a practice that began late last year. Processing Content More than 2,500 nonvacant loans with a total principal balance around $730 million are going up for sale on Feb. 10. Until recently, department’s
FHA reverse mortgage properties go up for sale Read More »
California Governor Gavin Newsom said a group of major banks have agreed to extend mortgage relief for Los Angeles wildfire victims, as the area struggles to rebuild one year after the devastating blazes. Processing Content Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, U.S. Bancorp and Citigroup will streamline requests for an additional 90-day forbearance period, allowing borrowers to
Large banks extend mortgage relief for LA wildfire victims 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 »
A $130 million loan tied to Midtown Manhattan properties is at the center of a lawsuit that accuses a firm hired to ensure the debt is repaid of self-serving tactics. Processing Content Rialto Capital, tasked with overseeing the loan on behalf of investors, allegedly engineered a way to keep it in default so that the
400 Capital sues over alleged fee-grab tactic in CMBS loan Read More »
Several of the mortgage industry’s biggest story lines from 2025 are expected to take clearer shape in 2026, according to industry participants who shared their outlooks with National Mortgage News. Among the developments gaining traction are the potential arrival of the 50-year mortgage, the full rollout of credit score modernization and further consolidation after a
Why 2026 could be the mortgage industry’s reset year Read More »