Contracts, Invoices & Legal

Refinancing pushed mortgage originations higher as rates eased, and home equity lending kept growing, but rising delinquencies signal mounting borrower stress. View the full article

The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to its lowest point so far in 2025, driving refinance activity 83% higher than the same time a year ago. View the full article

The government-sponsored enterprises were not meant to remain in conservatorship permanently, but privatizing them once again must include a new set of rules that minimize market disruptions and maximize their focus on making homeownership affordable. View the full article

Nationally, starts are higher even when seasonal differences are accounted for and in some areas distress is far above the U.S. average, Attom found. View the full article

The bank's marketing, which hid the nature of its solicitations, led some borrowers to apply for cash-out refis that increased monthly payments, the OCC said. View the full article

The Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. issued a final rule Tuesday that softens leverage demands for the biggest and most systemically risky banks and lowers the community bank leverage ratio to 8%. View the full article

The Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency say they will move to rescind a 2023 reform to the Community Reinvestment Act, citing litigation concerns about the rule. View the full article

Connecticut banking officials cited a series of alleged violations, including false and misleading statements and failure to maintain complete loan files. View the full article

Even though Motto Mortgage has 8% fewer open offices than a year ago, executives touted franchise renewals with owners committing to another seven years. View the full article

Vic Lombardo, new head of mortgage services, has identified growth ideas and new revenue streams for Motto Mortgage and Wemlo, Remax CEO Erik Carlson said. View the full article

A federal appeals court ruled mortgages in REMIC trusts may qualify as ERISA plan assets, reviving fiduciary duty claims against Onity in a case brought by a union pension fund. View the full article

NAHB's remodeling index finished at its highest mark in a year, with the current industry outlook standing in stark contrast to homebuilder sentiment. View the full article

Median rents rose at a greater rate than median sales prices in 55% of the 416 counties with sufficient data between 2025 and 2026, Attom found. View the full article

The rent reporting platform says it's helped tenants raise their credit scores by double digits and unlocked $30 billion more in mortgage lending. View the full article

In a paper, former central bank researchers make the case that the Federal Reserve could better support the Treasury market from disruptions in the cash-futures basis trade by hedging its asset purchases. View the full article

Robert Wagnon is retiring and sold his 75% share to long-time mortgage executive Andrina Valdes, while Paulina McGrath remains as co-owner and president. View the full article

Lawsuits and probes are ramping up, and some courts have broadened the lending law's statute of limitations, said Bradley Partner Jonathan Kolodziej. View the full article

More than 21% of reverse mortgage clients entered counseling with a deficit in their monthly budget last year, almost double the 12.2% of clients in 2024. View the full article

Mortgage groups want GSEs to buy MBS to lower rates, but the Chairman of Whalen Global Advisors writes that the plan is risky, unnecessary, and poorly timed. View the full article

Years ago, the Federal Housing Administration helped finance thousands of loans for manufactured housing. An effort to restart that program would help millions of Americans afford their own homes. View the full article

The acquisition agreement is the latest example of merger activity this year focused on the recapture potential held within servicing pipelines. View the full article

Market watchers say that the economy as a whole is holding up under higher energy prices and do not expect a recession. Even so, observers are watching financial markets and consumer spending for signs that inflation expectations are taking hold. View the full article

The rapid rise in the cost of both insurance coverage and taxes leaves close to half of homeowners worried about their ability to make payments. View the full article

Home affordability declined on a monthly basis across loan types and racial demographics, but improved from a year ago, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. View the full article