Scaling from Freelancer to Business Owner

As the 30-year fixed-rate declined by almost 20 basis points, borrowers took advantage, boosting rate-and-term transaction volumes, Optimal Blue said. View the full article

Origination volume at the San Diego-based company rose 57% to $24 billion in 2024. View the full article

The underlying prime mortgages have an average balance of $358,024, a weighted average (WA) original FICO score of 776, an original cumulative loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of 73.6%. View the full article

In a speech at the American Bankers Association Washington Summit Wednesday morning, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent downplayed economic risks from tariffs, floated capital reforms, and urged regulatory relief for community banks. View the full article

Rising insurance costs are leading providers and condo associations to consider changes to policies that would make some loans ineligible for GSE sale. View the full article

A federal judge in Maryland ruled against the City of Baltimore's attempt to block cuts to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau program funding on procedural grounds. View the full article

Thirty-eight TD Bank locations and 24 Flagstar branches are set to shut down. Both banks are coming out of tumultuous periods. View the full article

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., has filed a Congressional Review Act resolution to repeal the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's rule barring medical debt from credit reports. View the full article

Acting Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Russell Vought said all diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility policies "will cease immediately," adding that employees may be investigated if they go against the order. View the full article

While no additional details were disclosed, the housing regulator's inspector general typically probes cases which are prosecuted by the Department of Justice. View the full article

The deal has an extensive capital structure, which is expected to repay investors sequentially, with notes enhanced by subordination. View the full article

More than two-thirds of the counties most at risk of a housing downturn were concentrated in five states, according to a new report from Attom. View the full article

In a public appearance Thursday, Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller said the Founding Fathers supported independent money management and undoing it now would be a mistake. View the full article

The nomination of Jonathan McKernan to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau moves to the full Senate, where he's likely to be confirmed along party lines. View the full article

The state's insurance commissioner made the change following analysis of title industry profits and expenses in Texas provided by its stakeholders. View the full article

More government-backed loans shifted out of forbearance, while the share of portfolio and private-label securities loans remained flat from December. View the full article

While more consumers claim they can't tell whether now is a good time to purchase a home, over half of prospective buyers said the market is better than it was in 2024. View the full article

A former Biden official called the bureau protection against another housing crisis. The current White House calls it a "weaponized arm of the bureaucracy." View the full article

The Mortgage Collaborative, Lereta welcome new CEOs, Planet Financial adds retail sales, title execs, Southern Bancorp names new head of production plus more industry moves. 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

Buyers face decreased return on investment as home prices and rates remained at challenging levels while economic uncertainty clouded the outlook, Redfin said. View the full article

The bank said it will appeal the judge's ruling, which it suggested would have a chilling effect on lenders participating in such government programs. View the full article

HUD denied claims that 40% of the administration's workforce will be cut. View the full article

For the four weeks ended March 2, pending sales were down 6.4% annually as prices continued to rise, pushing borrower monthly payments near their all-time high. View the full article

Understanding the difference between an equity and mortgage REIT is vital, as these two types of REITs serve distinct purposes within the real estate market. View the full article