On Monday, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that all approved lenders will have access to a fee-based alternative to repurchase Freddie Mac’s performing loans with defects, expanding a pilot program launched earlier this year.In addition, the FHFA announced that government-sponsor

In a significant move designed to expand homeownership access, the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY) announced the adoption of an alternative credit scoring model to boost mortgage credit availability.The wholesale bank will now allow members to pledge mortgage collateral using the Vantage

The Federal Housing Finance Agency has expanded the eligibility for alternative appraisal methods on purchase loans by increasing the maximum loan-to-value (LTV) requirement. The announcement was made on Monday during the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Annual Convention & Expo in Denver, Colorad

It might be fitting that Bob Broeksmit struck a more conciliatory tone during his speech to kick off MBA Annual than he did last year, when he said the mortgage trade organization was “playing offense” to “stop the madness.” After all, the general election is a little over a week away and the MBA ha

Fluctuating interest rates and a fast-changing market Last month, we saw the Federal Reserve deliver their long-awaited decision to lower interest rates with a 50 basis points cut, and 30-year mortgage rates reached as low as 6.08% according to ICE’s 30-year fixed conforming rate index. This increas

In an environment where technology is increasingly becoming a recruitment tool for brokerages, eXp Realty has partnered with a data provider in an effort to give its agents an advantage over the competition.The brokerage on Monday announced a new partnership with Sisu, a real estate business intelli

The mortgage industry has long been promised a technological revolution to streamline workflows, reduce operational costs, and enhance efficiency. Yet, despite significant investments in new technologies, the cost to originate loans has dramatically increased. Companies still grapple with cyclical h

The most challenging period for the mortgage industry appears to be in the rearview mirror, as the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) forecasts $2.3 trillion in origination volume for 2025—representing a robust 28.5% growth over 2024.“We are in a much better place now than a year ago. Let’s keep tha

The positive trend lines that saw nearly 80% of mortgage lenders turn a profit in the second quarter likely continued through the third quarter, according to Marina Walsh, the Mortgage Bankers Association‘s vice president of industry analysis. Though the survey on industry performance report for the

Since mid-2022 when mortgage rates headed higher, two facts have been apparent: new listings data has been trending at the lowest levels ever recorded in history and inventory has been able to grow from record low levels thanks to mortgage rates staying elevated. We’ve seen some growth in new listin

Clients who wish to use ICE Mortgage Technology‘s legacy Software Development Kit (SDK) technology on Encompass will be afforded a six-month grace period from the original Oct. 31, 2025, transition deadline to the API-based platform before being charged. The company characterized the new transition

In prior conversations with HousingWire’s Reverse Mortgage Daily (RMD), leaders of equity sharing companies contend that their products are different from reverse mortgages largely because they are not debt-based instruments.But a court case playing out in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Cir

In the latest episode of the Power House podcast, HousingWire CEO Clayton Collins sits down for a conversation with Uplist President Jeff Bell to explore coaching, loan monitoring, recapture strategies and more.These questions and responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Clayton Co

Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of articles that will explore the effects of the landmark Sitzer/Burnett case, which was decided on Oct. 31, 2023, and has since reshaped the business practices for real estate brokerages and agents across the country.As the real estate industry grappled

The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) has elected its board officers and co-chairs for the 2024-2025 term, including a slate of new officers along with both new and returning co-chairs.Mike Kent, senior vice president of reverse asset management and industry relations at PHH Mort

Minneapolis-based mortgage lender Luminate Home Loans has decided to shutter its NEO Home Loans division, which transitioned to the firm two years ago, the company announced on Friday. The expectation is that NEO will close by the end of February 2025. According to Luminate, the decision reflects, a

Vetted by HousingWire  |  Our editors independently review the products we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.With hundreds of other IDX websites online, why would a buyer choose yours? And no, “Because they clicked on my ad!” is not an acceptable answer. Not in 2024

A future glimpse into how mortgages will be created in 2035 can be found in a woodsy office park in Athens, Georgia. FormFree, a mortgage fintech founded in the midst of the Global Financial Crisis by Brent Chandler, is putting the customer in control of their own data, a practice known as “open ban

Many renters think they’re saving money by renting, but long term, that might not be true. In some of the U.S.’s largest metros, a monthly mortgage payment is less expensive than the average rent. But there are many factors surrounding affordability—how do city dwellers make this decision? A report

Long-time Douglas Elliman chairman and CEO Howard Lorber is retiring. The New York-based brokerage announced Lorber’s retirement on Tuesday. Lorber has served as Douglas Elliman board chairman since 2003.In a press release, the brokerage said that it “extends its deepest appreciation to Mr. Lorber f