Scaling from Freelancer to Business Owner

Despite the decrease, average profit margins approached 50%, as the lock-in effect continues to stymie inventory growth and keep home values elevated. View the full article

Observers believe the government shutdown and lack of data is keeping mortgage rates in the same narrow range, as investors have issues reading the tea leaves. View the full article

Flagstar shareholders approved a plan to merge its holding company into the bank; Huntington tapped a new chief auditor, along with two new business leaders; First Foundation hired a new chief credit officer; and more in this week's banking news roundup. View the full article

Mortgage Bankers Association economist Marina Walsh said lenders could be failing to close more loans as more consumers apply with multiple originators. View the full article

In addition, John Roscoe and Brandon Hamara have been appointed co-presidents at the government-sponsored enterprise, effective immediately. View the full article

A previous report on Waterstone Mortgage's Q3 earnings contained inaccurate information. We are correcting the record. View the full article

Lenders and investors say the new rules will increase the cost of financing and limit homeowners' access to equity by curbing the enforceability of contracts. View the full article

An index of contract signings held at 74.8 after climbing a revised 4.2% a month earlier to the highest level since March, according to National Association of Realtors data released Wednesday. View the full article

The former AIME boss and current Rocket Pro leader claims the megalender has threatened to pull the trade group's funding should it pay her a $240,000 bonus. View the full article

FFIN 2025-3's average loan balance, $16,366 was lower compared with the 2025-2 deal, when it was $19,993, and the WA interest rate on the current deal is 12.15%, down from 12.56%. View the full article

The new president, a 35-year industry veteran, explains the value every lender, vendor and regulator can get by participating in the standards organization. View the full article

In her first public appearance since President The President moved to fire her from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Fed Gov. Lisa Cook reiterated her commitment to bringing inflation under 2% and said that the labor market remains "solid." View the full article

The age at which people purchase their first home has climbed rapidly since 2021, when the median was 33, according to a National Association of Realtors survey of transactions from July 2024 through June. View the full article

Treasuries fell after the US government signaled that larger auction sizes are on the horizon, while signs of economic resilience hurt the odds a Federal Reserve interest-rate cut in December. View the full article

The impacts of the federal government shutdown are hitting both originators and servicers, and as things drag out, the disruptions will increase. View the full article

All five publicly traded title insurance companies reported a year-over-year increase in earnings during the third quarter, but only two had higher orders. View the full article

Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran said emerging stresses in housing and private credit markets warrant a reduction to short-term interest rates. While preferring a 50 basis point cut in December, Miran said he would settle for a 25 basis point reduction. View the full article

Two government-sponsored enterprises are looking into expanding mortgage transfers between borrowers, according to the head of their oversight agency. View the full article

Recent merger activity also includes the purchase of an Alabama title company by technology firm Propy, as experts see ongoing consolidation through 2026. View the full article

Besides adding 60 days to the partial claim deadline in some cases, the bill also has provisions for buyer agent payments for Veterans Affairs borrowers. View the full article

The government shutdown added an additional dose of pessimism about the U.S. economy to panelists' outlooks, Wolters Kluwer said in its latest survey. View the full article

For the second consecutive week, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage increased as investors were still sorting through the lack of information due to the shutdown. View the full article

Independent mortgage bankers were in the black for each loan originated during the third quarter, as low rates brought an application surge in September. View the full article

The billionaire and legacy government-sponsored enterprise investor says there is a quick interim fix and they should eventually leave conservatorship. View the full article

While Redfin argues the housing market is stuck and First American was cautious, Remax and Zillow had positive observations about the month's sales activity. View the full article