Economic growth is expected to slow in 2026 and remain below trend for several years as higher interest rates and lingering inflation pressures weigh on the U.S. economy, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s December Economic and Mortgage Finance forecasts. MBA economists Mike Fratantoni,

U.S. mortgage delinquencies jumped sharply in November, reaching their highest level in more than four years, according to ICE Mortgage Technology’s latest First Look report, released on Tuesday. The national delinquency rate rose to 3.85% in November, up 50 basis points from October, as the number

In a wholesale mortgage market dominated by giants, Arizona-based lender The Loan Store (TLS) has found a way to grow quickly by hiring a team of “samurai” account executives and underwriters from across the industry and picking up loans that others would deny. In the first nine months of 2025, the

Real estate technology company reAlpha Tech Corp. has closed a deal to acquire lender InstaMortgage Inc. for $8.5 million in a cash-and-stock transaction. The move will add direct lending capabilities and expand multi-licensing structure to reAlpha’s existing mortgage brokerage operations, the compa

At a time when lack of affordability is a major issue for prospective homebuyers, eliminating minimum credit score requirements in GSE automated underwriting may sound like a great idea to expand credit access. However, there’s a reason the GSEs had such requirements in place for decades. They acted

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) on Tuesday issued a final rule setting housing goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for 2026 through 2028, lowering benchmarks from 2025-2027 levels. The Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 requires the FHFA to establish se

For Realty ONE Group founder and CEO Kuba Jewgieniew, 2025 was a special year, as it marked the 20th anniversary of his founding of the firm. “It is still a family business, supporting other family businesses and entrepreneurs with our agents and team leaders, and we really are one big family,” Jewg

A credit report shows a score and a list of tradelines. It does not show what to do next. When qualification hinges on small swings in a score, borrowers need coaching that translates data into actions. That is where modern loan officers add the most value: not by interpreting a score in isolation,

For both HomeServices of America and Chris Kelly, 2025 was a year of change.  The changes began in April, when Kelly, an 18-year veteran of the firm, was appointed CEO, after Gino Blefari, who had led the company since 2019, stepped down and transitioned into the position of chairman emeritus.  In t

After serving as Sierra Pacific Mortgage’s chief operating officer for a year, Suzy Lindblom has moved on to Acra Lending, according to her LinkedIn post on Monday morning. Lindblom said that “While it was sad to see Sierra Pacific Mortgage Company, Inc. close and transition, it ultimately opened a

Before you’re allowed to help people finance their dream homes, you must get the proper education to obtain your MLO license. Online mortgage schools have made it easier to complete your education requirements, you just have to decide the best option for you. It’s important to consider your own lear

KB Home is leaning hard into its build-to-order (BTO) strategy to navigate a difficult market defined by compressed margins, affordability strains and shaky consumer confidence. However, this blueprint presents risks in an environment where a spec-heavy approach drives volume and market share amid d

Financial services and insurance firms are facing rising exposure to cyberattacks, fraud and other third-party risks while struggling with poor data quality that is slowing decision-making and artificial intelligence adoption, according to a new global survey from Dun & Bradstreet released earlier t

Data continues to be a clear differentiator in real estate, especially for those who want to grow in 2026. As Dan Duffy, founder and CEO of United Real Estate Group, explains, leaders who have doubled down on the importance of data hold a significant advantage. Duffy will kick off the Housing Econom

The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) is urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to revise proposed changes to federal fair lending rules, warning that the agency’s approach could undermine reverse mortgages by restricting the permissible use of age in credit progr

Companies across all industries, including homebuilding, have walked back their DEI rhetoric or reduced their public disclosures of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs over the last year. The retreat stands as a signal that activist investors and federal pressure are having an impact on such i

Demand for debt-service-coverage ratio (DSCR) loans grew in 2025 as tight housing inventory and a rising share of nontraditional wage earners pushed more borrowers toward alternative products. The demand was contagious across the industry. In November, Rocket Pro announced the launch of its first DS

In an industry known for rapid disruption and short-lived platforms, Florida Realtors® stands apart for its uncommon longevity in real estate technology. In 2026, the organization will mark 25 years of Tech Helpline and 15 years of Form Simplicity — along with the recent launch of Sabal Sign, its in

This is the final Housing Market Tracker article for 2025 and we’re going to tackle why the inventory growth rate has been cut in half this year. At one point, we had over 30% year-over-year growth, and that number is now down to 13.54%. Why is this the last tracker of the year? I don’t put much wei

Existing home sales have been trending higher since June, when the monthly sales print bottomed at 3,930,000 for 2025. The question is: can this continue? Back in mid-June, the housing market started to shift, and then mortgage rates fell below the key 6.64% level and headed toward 6. This has given