Fannie and Freddie get green light to buy $1M mortgages
The big run-up in home prices may have cooled, but the 2023 conforming loan limit will be increased by 12% to $726,200 in most parts of the country
by Matt Carter Nov 29
Mortgage demand up for 3rd week in a row as rates continue to ease
Economists forecast mortgage rates will continue to fall as Federal Reserve minutes suggest policymakers are preparing to wind down an aggressive campaign to fight inflation
by Matt Carter Nov 23
Fannie Mae economists see home sales bottoming next year
Sales expected to drop to lowest level since 2008, and the growing lock-in effect — the financial disincentive to sell — 'will remain in a way that has not occurred in over 40 years,' economists say
by Matt Carter Nov 21
Surveys reveal why some buyers don't shop for a mortgage
Shopping around can save thousands of dollars, but 1 in 3 prospective homebuyers only get a quote from one lender, Fannie Mae surveys show
by Matt Carter Nov 18
Homeward cuts 25% of staff in second round of layoffs
The power buyer previously cut 20% of its staff in August. The cuts come as the broader real estate industry grapples with soaring mortgage rates and slowing sales
by Jim Dalrymple II Nov 16
Homebuyer demand picks up again as mortgage rates retreat below 7%
While purchase loan applications were up 4% week over week, there's still 'very little refinance incentive with rates so much higher than last year,' MBA forecaster says
by Matt Carter Nov 16
Billions in losses, a brutal market and more from Q3 earnings season
A slowing market is taking a toll on big real estate companies, though not every firm is suffering equally. A look back on the past 3 dramatic weeks of third-quarter wins, losses and draws
by Jim Dalrymple II Nov 14
Mortgage rates tumble on signs that inflation is easing
Rates for several types of mortgages fell more than half a percentage point Thursday, with 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaging 6.62%
by Matt Carter Nov 10
Black Knight signs another credit union as Empower client
San Diego-based BluPeak is the 9th credit union Black Knight has signed to use its mortgage loan origination system in the last 12 months
by Matt Carter Nov 9
Demand for purchase loans up slightly for first time in 7 weeks
Purchase loan applications rose 1% last week despite latest Fed rate hike, but homebuyer demand for mortgages remained close to 2015 lows, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association
by Matt Carter Nov 9
After cutting Q3 losses, loanDepot has sights set on breaking even
The troubled lender has shed 5,200 workers through layoffs and attrition and is instituting other cost-cutting measures aimed at trimming $400M in annual expenses by the end of the year
by Matt Carter Nov 9
Mortgage giants Fannie and Freddie battened down the hatches in Q3
Fannie and Freddie remain profitable but are setting aside pots of money to cover future losses in the event that falling home prices drive up defaults
by Matt Carter Nov 8
Homebuyer sentiment falls for the 8th month in a row to all-time low
Only 16% of those surveyed by Fannie Mae in October said it was a good time to buy a home, and the percentage who said it's a good time to sell also fell, according to new data released Monday
by Matt Carter Nov 7
Mortgage demand hits lowest level in 25 years as rates keep rising
With a Fed meeting looming next week, rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages have surged well past the 7% threshold, a Mortgage Bankers Association survey released Wednesday shows
by Matt Carter Oct 26
Fannie, Freddie ordered to slash fees for many first-time homebuyers
Regulators order mortgage giants to eliminate upfront fees on many purchase loans in order to help first-time homebuyers of limited means, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said Monday
by Matt Carter Oct 25