Brokerages expect rates to drop. Their clients bank on the opposite
Potential real estate clients are growing less responsive to mortgage-rate dips, one of several key takeaways from the results of the latest Inman-Dig Insights consumer survey
by Daniel Houston Nov 11
Investors betting Trump will privatize Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac
Shares in the mortgage giants soared Wednesday on expectations that the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans will revive efforts to privatize the mortgage giants
by Matt Carter Nov 6
Falling rates help boost Fannie and Freddie loan volumes, net worths
Mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac provided backing for $164B in purchase mortgages in Q3, up 10% from Q2, while remaining profitable and growing their combined net worths to $147B
by Matt Carter Nov 1
Fannie and Freddie will let more buyers off the hook for an appraisal
Appraisal waiver programs that rely on automated valuation models will be expanded next year to allow participation by homebuyers putting less than 20% down, with OK from federal regulator
by Matt Carter Oct 29
Mortgage rates back at 7% as bond market investors stage rebellion
'Bond vigilantes' figure 'no matter which party wins the White House and the Congress, fiscal policies will bloat the budget deficit and heat up inflation,' Wall Street veteran Ed Yardeni warns
by Matt Carter Oct 28
Rising mortgage rates are taking their toll on homebuyer demand
Demand for mortgages is at the lowest level since July, although MBA survey shows purchase loan requests are up slightly from a year ago when rates were headed for post-pandemic highs
by Matt Carter Oct 23
The new redlining: Paying a buyer agent is just part of the challenge
Now that buyer agency compensation rules are in place, Trina Gonzales-Van writes, stakeholders must consider their impact on borrowers and whether they do more harm than good
by Trina Gonzales-Van Oct 22
Would-be homebuyers put off by higher mortgage rates
Demand for purchase mortgages fell by a seasonally adjusted 7% last week, and requests to refinance were down 26% as mortgage rates continued to climb, MBA survey finds
by Matt Carter Oct 16
Trump, Harris housing policies emerging from the rhetoric
Housing policy has gotten short shrift in the debates, with a tight focus on immigration and inflation. But the candidates' platforms — and Project 2025 — provide more details
by Matt Carter Oct 16
Floify teams with Argyle for income and employment authentication
Mortgage tech provider Floify's partnership allows lenders to perform Freddie Mac- and Fannie Mae-compliant verifications without leaving the Floify platform, executives announced Thursday
by Matt Carter Oct 15
Homebuyers get a break as big lenders redefine 'jumbo mortgage'
CrossCountry Mortgage joins Rocket, Pennymac, UWM and Rate in raising conforming loan limit above current $766,550 cap for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ahead of an official announcement
by Matt Carter Sep 24
That big Fed rate cut was no panacea for housing: Fitch analysts
Fed easing was already priced into mortgage rates, but there's room for more relief if investors who fund most home loans get less skittish about prepayment risk and quantitative tightening
by Matt Carter Sep 19
Pennymac joins Rocket in boosting conforming loan limit to $802,650
Lenders have gotten into the habit of helping some homebuyers avoid jumbo loans by raising their limits before an official announcement by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's federal regulator
by Matt Carter Sep 17
Trump allies formulating plans to privatize Fannie and Freddie
A new 'Wall Street Journal' report reveals that talks about privatization have been taking place since the spring and have included Trump confidants Larry Kudlow and John McEntee
by Jim Dalrymple II Sep 13
Rocket is first mortgage lender to raise its conforming loan limits
Rocket will treat loans of up to $802,650 as conforming ahead of expected increase. Last year UWM and Rate also got a jump on the official announcement by Fannie and Freddie's regulator
by Matt Carter Sep 13