Chimera boosts non-QM presence with HomeXpress acquisition
New York City-based REIT will pay $120M in cash for national non-Qualified Mortgage lender HomeXpress Mortgage Corp., plus 2.08M shares in Chimera valued at $27.9M
by Matt Carter Jun 12
UWM brings back 1% down conventional mortgage program
Nation's largest lender reboots 1% down loans that cover up to $7K of the homebuyer's down payment when financing a purchase with a loan backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
by Matt Carter Jun 11
Rising inventories have more homebuyers going to their lender
Purchase loan applications soared 10% last week to the highest level since April, even though rates have been stuck in the high 6s, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Wednesday
by Matt Carter Jun 11
Fairway Independent Mortgage buys itself a new Midwest division
Fort Wayne, Indiana-based Hallmark Home Mortgage is licensed in 18 states. Company founder and CEO Deborah Sturges is joining Fairway Independent Mortgage as a division manager
by Matt Carter Jun 11
May CPI misses projections even as tariff effects hold off
The Consumer Price Index rose 2.4% year over year, slightly above April's 2.3% increase. Month over month, prices edged up just 0.1%, compared to 0.2% in April
by Richelle Hammiel Jun 11
CFPB enforcement chief resigns, saying mission 'under attack'
The Trump administration is seeking to cut 90% of the CFPB's workforce, and has dismissed about 20 active enforcement cases and moved to vacate or weaken several finalized settlements
by Matt Carter Jun 11
Covius inks agreement to acquire Blend's Title365 business
Colorado-based Covius will continue to provide integrated title and closing services to Blend's customers, and Title365 President Kirby Hulbert will join Covius' settlement services team
by Matt Carter Jun 9
Consumer sentiment about housing market rebounds
While just 26% of Americans said May was a good time to buy, that's up from 23% in April and 14% a year ago, an all-time survey low in Fannie Mae National Housing Survey
by Matt Carter Jun 9
Job market is cooling, but not fast enough to alarm Fed policymakers
An estimated 7.24M Americans were unemployed in May, as hiring by private employers slowed to slowest pace since October and the federal government continued to shrink its payroll
by Matt Carter Jun 6
Senate Dems ask Pulte to put Fannie, Freddie revamp on hold
Lawmakers want assurances that privatizing the mortgage giants or taking them public won't drive mortgage rates up, or put investor profits 'over the homes of millions of Americans'
by Matt Carter Jun 6
How to talk with your clients about the economy: Now Streaming
Tune in to Inman Access as Jeff Tucker, principal economist at Windermere Real Estate, walks agents through client communication strategies
by Inman Jun 6
HUD and the FHFA are changing. Here's everything you need to know
Workforce cuts, the rescission of Fair Housing initiatives and COVID assistance, and multiple pathways for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are all under discussion at the federal housing agencies
by Marian McPherson Jun 5
Dip in mortgage rates doesn't do much to excite homebuyers
While purchase loan demand was still up 18% last week from a year ago, some of that demand may not translate into sales after unusual bump in cancelled purchase contracts
by Matt Carter Jun 4
Wells Fargo free to grow again after Fed lifts $1.95T asset cap
Lifting of the asset cap could give the bank greater leeway to originate jumbo mortgages that exceed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s $806,500 conforming loan limit in most markets
by Matt Carter Jun 4
Redfin shareholders approve Rocket merger at special meeting
With antitrust regulators declining to weigh in, $1.75B deal to marry a tech-focused mortgage lender to real estate brokerage could close by the end of the month
by Matt Carter Jun 4
Rocket will pay off $4B in Mr. Cooper debt after acquisition
Although Rocket's plans to acquire Mr. Cooper and Redfin are structured as all-stock deals, assuming their debts will leave Rocket more highly leveraged, Fitch analysts say
by Matt Carter Jun 3