Homeownership is one of the most powerful wealth-building tools this country offers, and my path into the mortgage lending industry is an unlikely story that I could not be prouder to tell. In 2006, I was a methamphetamine addict living in an abandoned house, likely due for demolition, in Akron, Ohio. I had burned practically […]
For generations, homeownership has been one of the primary ways Americans built wealth and passed it on to loved ones. Now, financial advisers and housing experts warn that many older homeowners may be counting too heavily on their homes as retirement safety nets as they discover their properties sell for less than expected, according to […]
Branch manager Austin Baker and his Houston-based team, Lasso Lending, have joined Supreme Lending, bringing more than $100 million in annual loan production to Supreme’s platform. The move deepens Supreme Lending’s presence in the Houston metropolitan area, one of the nation’s most active and competitive housing markets, according to the company’s announcement. Baker entered the […]
A consistent theme emerged from the first-quarter 2026 earnings season: higher mortgage rates and macroeconomic volatility are dampening second-quarter expectations. Several large lenders remained profitable during the quarter, benefiting from mortgage rates that were roughly 50 basis points lower than current levels while they continued to invest heavily in artificial intelligence and other technology. But […]
Economic conditions continue to keep the costs of a home loan higher, with the war in Iran, inflationary concerns and a slow but stabilizing job market serving as the key headwinds to a potential spring housing market surge. Mortgage rates moved higher for a second straight week, according to HousingWire’s Mortgage Rates Center. Rates for […]
National real estate analytics and data solutions company Clear Capital announced on Tuesday its acquisition of Restb.ai, an artificial intelligence-powered computer vision company serving the real estate and valuation industries, as it looks to expand its property data and analytics capabilities. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, and a company spokesperson confirmed that the […]
MeridianLink, a provider of digital lending and data-driven decisioning solutions, announced on Tuesday that it is expanding its platform with new artificial intelligence capabilities and continued growth in its mortgage business. The company launched MeridianLink Intelligence, an embedded AI offering within its MeridianLink One platform. The system, nicknamed “Millie,” deploys role-based AI agents designed to […]
If you want to understand where the mortgage industry is headed, spend a few days listening to lenders at gatherings like ICE Experience, HousingWire’s The Gathering or Texas MBA’s annual convention when they are not presenting, not pitching and not on panels. Spend time in the hallways. At the booths. In the quiet conversations between […]
ATTOM reported that 43.3% of mortgaged U.S. residential properties were considered equity-rich in the first quarter of 2026. The figure dropped from 44.6% in the previous quarter — marking the lowest equity-rich rate since the fourth quarter of 2021. Meanwhile, 3.2% of mortgaged residential properties were classified as seriously underwater in the first quarter. Those […]
Mat Ishbia’s plan to expand the public float and trading liquidity of UWM Holdings Corporation has come to an end as the company pursues its acquisition of Two Harbors Investment Corp., a deal designed in part to address long-standing investor concerns about the company’s tightly held share base. The share sale program, implemented in 2025 […]
loanDepot has filed a $250 million shelf registration statement, giving the company flexibility to issue a range of securities over time to raise capital, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday. The announcement came days after the Irvine, California-based mortgage lender reported a net loss of $54.9 million in […]
Ellington Financial Inc. reported first-quarter net income attributable to common stockholders of $95.5 million, or 78 cents per share, as strong reverse mortgage origination volumes and securitization activity boosted results. The Old Greenwich, Connecticut-based mortgage REIT said adjusted distributable earnings totaled $66.5 million, or 55 cents per share, in the quarter ended March 31. Book […]
UWM Holdings Corp. (UWM) raised its unsolicited offer to acquire Two Harbors Investment Corp. on Monday, proposing $12.50 per share in cash or 2.3328 shares of UWMC stock as it seeks to derail a pending merger with CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM). In an open letter to Two Harbors stockholders, UWM said it will submit a revised […]
For reverse mortgage lenders, the secondary market is a complex balancing act of liquidity, interest rates and government regulations. The industry continues to grapple with challenges stemming from the Ginnie Mae HECM Mortgage-Backed Securities (HMBS) program’s 98% buyout requirement, a rule some say contributed to the 2022 bankruptcy of Reverse Mortgage Funding (RMF). With the highly […]
The administration has proposed cutting the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) from $324 million to $119.5 million in fiscal 2027, a 63% reduction from the level Congress enacted for 2026. The justification centers on waste, fraud and abuse, along with a push to redirect capital toward rural communities. That framing misses the point. If […]
Benutech has launched two predictive analytics products aimed at helping real estate agents and mortgage loan officers identify potential home sellers and refinance candidates before they enter the market. The products, SellScore and RefiScore, are available through the company’s TitleToolbox platform. “SellScore and RefiScore give our clients the ability to stop guessing and start closing,” […]
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning mortgage services provider Mortgage Connect about its use of noncompete agreements, urging the company to review and potentially discontinue restrictive covenants that may violate federal antitrust law. Friday’s letter, signed by FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson and addressed to Mortgage Connect’s outside counsel, was a reaction to information […]
Blend Labs Inc. delivered a profitable first quarter and expanded its customer base while issuing a conservative outlook for the months ahead due to shifting macroeconomic conditions. The company reported non-GAAP operating income of $4.1 million for the quarter ending in March, a significant improvement from $0.7 million during the same period last year, according to […]
HousingWire reports on the quarterly earnings of publicly traded mortgage, real estate and homebuilder companies, offering a glimpse into the financial performance of key players in the housing market. Earnings results have been released for the first quarter of 2026; here’s a rundown of what’s happening at the major lenders, brokerages, builders, listing portals and […]
CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM) once again raised its bid for Two Harbors Investment Corp., matching UWM Holdings Corp.’s rival offer. The companies amended their agreement to increase the all-cash consideration to $12 per share, up from $11.30, as the mortgage REIT’s board continues to recommend the deal. The negotiations with CrossCountry Intermediate Holdco, an affiliate of […]
The mortgage industry is very good at watching signals. We watch rates like hawks. We track consumer sentiment all day long. We buy tools to tell us when to lock, when to float, when to sell, when to hedge and when to blink. We invest in technology to improve speed, accuracy and workflow. We spend […]
A borrower in forbearance gets the wrong information about their reinstatement options. It came from an automated servicing communication, routed through a system nobody fully owns and nobody fully monitors. By the time someone catches it, hundreds of borrowers have received the same message. Some acted on it. Now there’s a reporter making calls. Who […]
Rocket Companies reported its most profitable quarter in four years as artificial intelligence initiatives, a larger servicing portfolio and recent acquisitions helped the Detroit-based firm grow market share despite a choppy mortgage backdrop. The Detroit-based company reported net revenue of $2.94 billion for the quarter ending March 31, up from $1.1 billion in the same […]
As mortgage rates and home prices continue to strain homebuyers, states are rapidly expanding programs aimed at making homeownership more affordable. Housing affordability pressures remain severe nationwide. As of May 1, the median price for a U.S. single-family home sat at $449,038, according to HousingWire Data. Prices vary sharply by state, with Hawaii remaining the […]
At this week’s Reverse Mastermind Summit in Tennessee, Gabe Bodner of OneTrust Home Loans gave a detailed presentation on how reverse mortgage originators can achieve better marketing results. A key takeaway is that loan officers need to build a support system for these tasks rather than trying to go it alone. Bodner joined OneTrust in […]
Carrington Mortgage Services and mortgage technology firm Valon announced on Thursday a strategic partnership that includes Carrington adopting Valon’s servicing platform and acquiring Valon Mortgage, adding to its servicing portfolio of about 800,000 loans. The companies said the deal is aimed at modernizing Ginnie Mae servicing technology and expanding Carrington’s position as one of the […]
As more Americans juggle caring for aging parents while supporting their own children, reverse mortgage professionals are increasingly navigating emotionally complex family dynamics that can determine whether a loan proceeds or stalls. That reality is the focus of an upcoming webinar sponsored by the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA). “The Influence Factor: Family Dynamics […]
Executives at Better.com said the conflict in Iran is causing some borrowers to delay closing on mortgages, prompting the company to lean more heavily on home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) to sustain origination volume. At the same time, the New York-based digital mortgage lender continues to cut costs in an effort to meet its […]
Vice Capital Markets has publicly released its Vice Capital Par Note Rate, a proprietary daily mortgage rate benchmark built from agency mortgage-backed security (MBS) prices that’s designed to give lenders and analysts a secondary market view of mortgage pricing. The benchmark, available through an online tracker, provides daily data, long-term trend analysis and custom charting […]
Nearly half of U.S. homeowners did not consider moving in the past 12 months, a sign of growing housing market inertia even as mortgage rates have eased from recent highs, according to a new study from home equity financing platform, Point. The share of homeowners who said they did not consider moving rose to 48%, […]
Three women with prominent roles in the reverse mortgage industry took the stage Tuesday at the Reverse Mastermind Summit in Knoxville, Tennessee, sharing personal stories while converging on sales advice around the power of narrative, the importance of relationships with financial planners and the need for higher professional standards. Christine Jensen of Fairway Home Mortgage […]
Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint against Veterans United Home Loans, owned by Mortgage Research Center, adding claims of “bait-and-switch” and misleading advertising tactics, according to court filings reviewed by HousingWire. The original complaint filed in February alleges the lender misled homebuyers into believing it is connected to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), while […]
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) saw its origination engine cool in the first quarter compared to the previous three months, but the lender held the line on margins and remained profitable. Meanwhile, on the servicing strategy, UWM is steadily pulling more of its portfolio in-house as it battles CrossCountry Mortgage to acquire Two Harbors Investment Corp. […]
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) is rolling out free 1-0 temporary rate buydowns on purchase loans alongside a new suite of home equity products aimed at helping brokers retain borrowers. Effective immediately, the lender will cover the cost of 1-0 buydowns on both conventional and government purchase mortgages, issuing a credit to fully offset the expense. […]
loanDepot reported a wider first-quarter loss as market volatility and lower gain-on-sale margins weighed on revenue, despite growth in lock volume and market share. The Irvine, California-based mortgage lender on Tuesday posted a net loss of $54.9 million in the first quarter, compared with a loss of $32.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 […]
CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM) is pushing back on UWM Holdings Corporation‘s rival bid for Two Harbors Investment Corp., telling stockholders that only its signed, fully financed all-cash deal offers a certain path to value. CCM said it now has $3.4 billion of committed financing in place to close the transaction — a $2 billion secured facility […]
Reverse mortgage professionals converged in Knoxville, Tennessee, this week for the inaugural Reverse Mastermind Summit — a three-day event designed to bolster the sales skills of industry newcomers by surrounding them with knowledge from industry veterans. The event opened Wednesday with remarks from three leaders behind the event — Loren Riddick of NEXA Lending, Shannon […]
PennyMac Financial Services reported first-quarter net income of $82.3 million, or $1.53 per diluted share, as stronger mortgage production helped offset weaker servicing results tied to mortgage servicing rights valuation changes and hedging losses. The Westlake Village, California-based mortgage lender and servicer posted adjusted net income of $117.7 million, or $2.19 per diluted share, for […]
Florida-based Onity Group reported first-quarter 2026 net income attributable to common stockholders of $7 million as mortgage rate volatility, refinancing activity and elevated FHA delinquencies weighed on results despite growth in revenue and servicing volume. Net income was down from $21 million last year. In its earnings report, released on Tuesday, the company posted a […]
Mortgage rates have returned to the 6.5% level as financial markets shift their focus from economic data to escalating geopolitical events. “If you’ve got a deal, lock it in; there’s room for mortgage rates to continue to climb higher,” Nash Paradise, director of sales at UMortgage, advised loan officers. “Brokers have flexibility that a traditional […]
Rocket Pro is extending a key pricing incentive for mortgage brokers through May while also expanding its non-QM product offerings, moves aimed at helping brokers close more loans in a challenging housing market. The moves are part of the February 2026 promise the Detroit-based company made to its business partners: a “Power Play” announcement on […]
Mortgage lenders are rushing to adopt AI, but many are repeating a familiar mistake: using new technology to accelerate old processes. Faster paper-pushing isn’t transformation. AI presents an opportunity to go further—but only if lenders approach it correctly. In mortgage lending, intelligent AI means removing the paper, moving beyond simple automation, orienting technology around measurable […]
UWM Holdings Corp. is challenging Two Harbors Investment Corp.’s board after it rejected a $12 per share acquisition proposal in favor of an $11.30 per share deal with CrossCountry Mortgage LLC, issuing a lengthy response that questioned the board’s analysis and process. In a statement on Monday, UWM said “the TWO Board’s interpretation of the […]
Roman Ramora has joined eLEND as chief technology and innovation officer, moving into the newly expanded role effective May 4, 2026. In the C-suite position, Ramora will lead eLEND’s technology strategy, including the buildout of its digital lending platform and broader innovation roadmap, the company announced. eLEND, legally known as American Financial Resources (AFR), is sharpening its […]
A revised proposal from UWM Holdings Corporation to acquire Two Harbors Investment Corp. was formally rejected by the seller’s board of directors, citing “financing, closing, business and credibility risks.” The board continues to unanimously support the competing bid from CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC. In late April, UWM intensified its campaign to acquire TWO by issuing an […]