Insurance, property taxes taking a bigger bite of buyers' budgets
With the average homeowner spending $442 a month on property taxes and insurance, real estate agents and mortgage lenders are urged to help their clients shop for better deals
by Matt Carter Mar 3
Inflation is cooling. But is the economy about to crash?
After moving in the wrong direction for 3 months, annual inflation cooled to 2.5% in January. But the biggest drop in consumer spending since 2021 has 1 model predicting a shrinking economy
by Matt Carter Feb 28
Consumer banking helps Blend weather 2024 mortgage doldrums
Revenue from Blend's biggest business, its mortgage software suite, fell 6% in 2024 to $73.3M. A 42% increase in consumer banking suite revenue, to $33.7M, more than made up the difference
by Matt Carter Feb 28
Rocket's $649M Q4 profit puts the company in the black for 2024
In a difficult year for real estate, Rocket Mortgage grew closed loan volume by 29%, to $101.2B. Higher profit margins on those loans helped boost net revenue by 34%, to $5.1B
by Matt Carter Feb 28
Rocket Homes off the hook as Trump's CFPB drops lawsuits
Dec. 23 RESPA complaint that accused Rocket Homes of favoring real estate agents who steered clients to Rocket Mortgage is dismissed 'without prejudice' by the CFPB's new leadership
by Matt Carter Feb 27
Mat Ishbia
In a year when home sales hit a 3-decade low, the nation's biggest mortgage lender racked up a $329M profit and made $96.1B in loans to homebuyers -- the company's best year ever
by Matt Carter Feb 26
Trump signals tariffs on Canada, Mexico will take effect March 4
There's rising anxiety among investors and consumers about the potential impacts of a trade war, surveys show, with stock prices and bond yields retreating as March 4 deadline looms
by Matt Carter Feb 25
DOGE's moves could destabilize mortgage finance system
National Housing Conference CEO David Dworkin, a centrist advocate for affordable housing stakeholders, warns of unintended consequences of downsizing of HUD, FHA and Ginnie Mae
by Matt Carter Feb 24
Mortgage rates seen as staying higher for longer as Fed pauses
Economists and bond market investors have been surprised by the continued strength of the economy, and are wary of the potential for tariffs, tax cuts and deportations to reignite inflation
by Matt Carter Feb 21
HUD, FHA staffing cuts would undermine housing, union warns
Trump administration silent on details but disputes the accuracy of a Feb. 18 report by Bloomberg Law that at least 40% of FHA's workforce are set to be laid off as part of cost-cutting initiatives
by Matt Carter Feb 20
Rocket offering renters up to $5K in closing credits
RocketRentRewards lets homebuyers earn closing cost credits equal to 10% of their verified rent payments over the past year — about $2,160 for those paying the average $1,800 in rent
by Matt Carter Feb 19
Mortgage rates in retreat as investors weigh Trump's approach
After surprise inflation report, Trump administration says the Fed's interest rate decisions will be exempt from its attempt to exert more control over independent federal agencies
by Matt Carter Feb 19
Constellation Software launches new data services business
Constellation Data Labs will provide active property listings and public records to a broader range of industries including mortgage lenders, asset managers and insurers
by Matt Carter Feb 18
Take the Inman Intel Index survey for February
Opinion
Each month, hundreds of real estate agents, brokers, executives and investors report on what they're seeing in their corner of the industry. Add your insights. Take the survey
by Lillian Dickerson Feb 17
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's net worths climb past $154B
While plans to privatize the mortgage giants are on the back burner, Trump administration may impose limits on how much support the mortgage giants can provide to riskier borrowers
by Matt Carter Feb 14
Onity restructures debt and has most profitable year since 2013
After posting $33M in profit in 2024, PHH Mortgage's parent company said Thursday it will invest further in loan servicing and the originations tech that handles a majority of its customer inquires
by Matt Carter Feb 14