Scaling from Freelancer to Business Owner

Total lock volume increased 2% from November and finished 30% higher than last December, according to Optimal Blue's latest Market Advantage report. View the full article

About 43% of Americans upgraded their homes last year, and 33% plan to remodel in the next year, according to a recent survey from Redfin. View the full article

The professionals can't originate loans in their local cities for various stretches, following a federal judge's ruling granting most of the lender's wishes. View the full article

Originators feel neutral about bombshell acquisitions and regulation news, remaining focused on inventory, mortgages rates and costs, an NMN survey says. View the full article

The The President administration's appointees have been quick to roll back misguided Biden-era initiatives, writes the Chairman of Whalen Global Advisors. View the full article

The Wisconsin class action would retroactively award relief to some former homeowners and comes two years after a Supreme Court ruling in a similar case. View the full article

The latest Lower acquisition comes after several previous mergers with lenders as well as two last year that incorporated technology and real estate platforms. View the full article

Lower is acquiring a top-five ranked real estate portal to create an "end-to-end homeownership platform" to rival Rocket Mortgage. View the full article

Mortgage lender Lower accuses New American Funding of stealing a San Antonio branch in early 2025. View the full article

The rate of new home sales picked up by 14% from the month prior, data provided by the Mortgage Bankers Association shows. View the full article

The Ohio-based lender is accusing Atlantic Coast Mortgage of stealing customers, while a Chicago bank is accusing Lower of raiding a Maryland branch. View the full article

Refinance retention hit 28% last quarter, the highest percentage in three and a half years, according to ICE Mortgage Technology. View the full article

November rate locks fell seasonally but hit their strongest level since 2021, led by refis, while lenders shifted more loans to the GSE cash window. View the full article

Rate-and-term transactions leaped by 154% from August to September, while cash-outs and purchase loans also increased, according to Optimal Blue. View the full article

The mortgage lender claims its Georgetown, Texas operations, where Thrive Mortgage was previously headquartered, has been "gutted." View the full article

Amir Syed, mortgage coach and social media powerhouse, worked at Lower for a little over a year helping to build out and nurture the mortgage lender's origination team. View the full article

With focus turning to increased domestic production, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange plans to launch a new lumber futures trading exchange in late March. View the full article

NJ Lenders, a nonbank licensed in 22 states, has over 100 loan originators and recorded nearly $1.5 billion in origination volume last year. View the full article

Neo Home Loans, the business at the center of the trade secrets suit, has always maintained its independence in its lender partnerships, its co-creator claims. View the full article

Luxury home prices rose 5.5% year over year in October to a median $1.28 million, far outgaining the 1.8% increase of nonluxury homes. View the full article

Founding partner Bob Lyons will help ensure continuity. Frank Pallotta and Kathleen Koprowski will lead an advisory board for the auditing and consulting firm. View the full article

Advisers who work on acquisition deals emphasize the importance of being open and transparent with employees about potential changes and differences in a new workplace. View the full article

The Buffalo, New York bank's loans edged higher in the first quarter while deposits fell 1.7% from a year ago. The bank also lowered its full-year outlook for loans and deposits. View the full article