Scaling from Freelancer to Business Owner

The trade group's letter to FHFA Director Bill Pulte pointed out that lenders were facing credit report price hikes for four straight years. View the full article

Late last year, commercial bank holdings of mortgage paper reached the highest level since 2023 as these depositories are flush with deposits. View the full article

New Jersey-based OceanFirst Financial slid in its planned $579 million acquisition of Flushing Financial just before the end of the year. The private equity firm Warburg Pincus is also participating in the transaction. View the full article

The changing climate is increasing insurance rates for residents and cities and lowering property values in areas that face more frequent and intense disasters. View the full article

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is selling more due-and-payable HECMs on homes that are occupied while reviewing the loan program. View the full article

Approximately 70% of home purchasers do not get more than one quote in the mortgage process, doing so could reduce their rate by 50 basis points, Zillow said. View the full article

Yields across maturities were higher by less than three basis points after rebounding from session lows. View the full article

The home purchase market, which competes for consumers with rentals, should remain subdued in 2026 because of high mortgage rates and low affordability. View the full article

The latest data offered some relief to traders worried about more pronounced inflation that could keep a lid on rate cuts. View the full article

Wellness rooms, thoughtful sensory inputs and layouts that boost functionality can reduce workplace stress. View the full article

A senior advisor at NAIC, the association of state insurance regulators, told attendees of its fall meeting that the imminent FEMA Review Council report should answer questions about funding for disaster relief and flood insurance, as well as other related issues. View the full article

"These changes reflect adjustments we're making to ensure our staffing levels, locations and expertise align with current business needs; efficiencies we have gained through technology; and progress against our transformation work," the company said in a statement. View the full article

The bank regulator is proposing to strengthen national preemption in the wake of conflicting decisions in related court cases. View the full article

The national mortgage delinquency rate jumped to 3.85% in November, up 15% month over month and 2.79% year over year, according to ICE Mortgage Technology. View the full article

Rohit Chopra is named senior advisor to the Democratic Attorneys General Association's working group on consumer protection and affordability; Flagstar Bank adds additional wealth-planning capabilities to its private banking division; Chime promotes three members of its executive leadership team; and more in this week's banking news roundup. View the full article

Our experts expect a mortgage market reset in 2026 with an uptick in originations, but warn lenders not to skimp on compliance even as the reins loosen. View the full article

A coalition of mortgagees said the zombie seconds law negatively impacts 1.2 million junior liens statewide, despite just over 500 potential "zombie" loans. View the full article

A modest improvement in prices and mortgage rates encouraged buyers. Signings have now increased for four straight months, matching a pandemic streak. View the full article

The decision in a New York case that is also undergoing federal review puts pressure on related parties to get things right within a statute of limitations. View the full article

The Housing for the 21st Century Act includes provisions covering policy, manufactured homes and rural infrastructure introduced in a prior Senate proposal. View the full article

The deal which brings hundreds of thousands of agents under one roof also combines retail lender Guaranteed Rate's separate joint ventures with each brokerage. View the full article

For 2026, most Wall Street interest-rate strategists expect stable-to-higher Treasury yields as the Fed's rate-cutting cycle comes to an end. View the full article

Following the resignation of CEO Patrick Donlon as the result of a settlement, Yield Solutions Group has taken operational control of Trusted American Mortgage. View the full article

Although some of the cohort surveyed were flush with savings, others admitted having precarious debt situations and steadfast attitudes toward luxury purchases. View the full article