Industry News

The stock trades at about 1.05x tangible book after a 16% decline, with ROE most sensitive to margin shifts

Showcasing daily life programming and social engagement can help convert hesitant active adult prospects to buying now

Experts say HOA documents remain behind the times regarding use of Flock and similar technology

DRB sales and marketing spans research, digital journey, sales, and realty, tying customer insights to land and product

Move follows 2nd quarter 2026 residential adjusted EBITDA of $12 million and Homes.com revenue up 66% to $28.5 million

Decent Mid-Day Recovery But No Change to Bigger Picture Monday wasn't too different from last Friday in that the bond market began the day with AM volatility that gave way to minimally changed yields by the close. The order was reversed, however, with the weaker trading in the AM and rally back to unchanged levels for the close. Another key difference was that the mid-day rally was clearly drew inspiration from measurable events (in this case, war-related newswires that helped oil prices recover most of the morning's increase. Shorter-dated yields underperformed as there was no meaningful impr

On average, the top-tier 30yr fixed mortgage rate moved up to another new long-term high today of 7.17%. You'd have to go back to January, 2025 to see anything higher. That said, there's more variability than normal today depending on the lender. Bonds (which dictate rates) were at their weakest levels of the day right around the time most lenders publish mortgage rates for the first time (9:30-10:30am ET). Bonds improved after that following headlines that helped oil prices fall back to the lows of the day. A solid handful of lenders issued updates to mortgage rates, bringing them much closer

Lender says alleged scheme used 300% markups, prepackaged appraisals and title gaps

Co-marketing deal gives HomeSmart agents a direct channel to loanDepot’s offerings

New rules pause additions from any brokerage at 20% or more of Experts, and reduce fees to 15% and 20% at lower price tiers

According to the FBI, cybercrime-related losses reached $20.9 billion that year

Nonbanks grew HELOC originations about 140% from 2023 to 2025, versus 7% to 20% at depositories, a new white paper says

The discount applies to new purchase and refinance loans

The share of firms reporting an attempt in the prior month rose from 19% to 45%

For lenders under margin and efficiency pressure, the integration aims to reduce the IT burden of adding vendors

The newly appointed CEO explains how tech is reshaping reverse lending, including a 75% reduction in QC findings at South River

Soft phrasing can indicate guidance or opinion, and agents can preserve compliant options by parsing what is actually prohibited

<p>Federal prosecutors charged two California men with running an alleged mortgage-modification scheme that collected more than $15 million from struggling homeowners by promising lower payments and government-backed relief while, in some cases, pushing clients toward foreclosure. Authorities say the operation harmed more than 3,000 people nationwide, including many elderly homeowners and veterans, by exploiting their financial distress and redirecting mortgage payments into fraudulent fees.</p>

<p>Mortgage rates ended the week at 7.12%, a level that historically coincides with softer housing demand. Holiday effects lowered weekly inventory and listings, but pending sales and purchase apps are entering a period of tougher year-over-year comparisons with last year’s falling-rate backdrop.</p>

<p>A state watchdog is urging New Jersey legislators to strengthen protections against deed fraud, warning that real estate scams have risen since the pandemic without sufficient regulations in place to stop swindlers. The State Commission of Investigation began looking at deed fraud in 2024, after the FBI’s Newark field office warned of an uptick. The report mentions that ALTA also warned about the growing threat seller impersonation two years ago, as well as the 49 endorsements that protect provide post-policy protection against forged deeds.</p>

<p>ALTA member Dustin Gaskey writes in the Phoenix Business Journal about the critical role title professionals play in Arizona’s commercial development boom. As major semiconductor, data center and other industrial projects expand across the state, Gaskey argues that investors, lenders and developers need certainty around ownership, land use and other property rights before billions of dollars in investment can move forward.</p>

<p>Northwest Title’s Jess Kelley recently spoke to members of the Steubenville, Ohio, community about how title insurance protects homeowners from problems tied to a property’s past, including old mortgages, judgment liens, forged deeds and unknown heirs. The local outreach helps consumers understand the value of title searches and title insurance in identifying hidden risks before closing and protecting their property rights if an issue later emerges.</p>

<p>The 21st Century Road to Housing Act created about a dozen programs on paper, but they need new funding, which will need to come from future congressional approvals. Because it came after the 2027 House budget, some programs might not receive funding until fiscal year 2028, said Kristen Klurfield, associate director for housing at the Bipartisan Policy Center.</p>

After rampant fraud in Baltimore made headlines, underwriting guidelines and elevated fraud risks have the market on high alert

Mortgage spreads continue to soften the blow amid Iran conflict

Derivative suit cites $100 million deal, $81 million in insider sales claims, and a stock drop from $77.05 to $32.19

AM Rally Completely Erased By The Close This morning's paradoxical rally lasted 30 whole minutes. Bonds turned around at exactly 9am and proceeded to completely erase the AM gains. There were no compelling macro motivations for the reversal apart from a modest rise in oil prices. While oil price lows and highs perfectly matched bond yields in terms of timing, the bond selling was disproportionately larger. This is highly suggestive of short covering being a component of the morning rally. In other words, traders who had open bets on higher rates simply closed those positions quickly this morni

Looked at in a vacuum, and up until the last few hours of the day, Friday was no better or worse than the average day over the past several months. Compared to yesterday morning's levels, the average lender was 0.01% higher--a small enough move to be effectively considered "unchanged." This expanded to 0.05% in the last few hours as multiple lenders increased rates. In terms of big-picture benchmarks, the increase officially brings rates to their highest levels since early 2025. To be clear, we were just barely lower than May 2025 levels yesterday. Now we're in line February 2025 levels. The i

Existing-home sales slipped in August, falling below the 4 million annualized pace for the first time since June 2025, while a sharp increase in inventory gave buyers more options and pushed the supply of homes to its highest level in more than a decade. The National Association of REALTORS® reported a 2.0% decline in sales from July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.98 million , while sales were 1.2% lower than a year earlier. “Mortgage rates and home sales move in opposite directions, so it's not surprising to see a mild dip in home buying activity due to high mortgage rates,” said N

Mortgage application activity pulled back last week, with a sharp decline in refinancing more than offsetting relatively stable purchase demand as mortgage rates moved higher. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported a 2.7% decrease in total application volume on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending September 4. Purchase applications were little changed, slipping just 0.2% from the previous week on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an unadjusted basis, purchase activity fell 3%, but remained 4% higher than the same week one year ago, earning it's spot as the one positive note f

Park Street blends standardized construction controls with reflective design for established neighborhoods and scattered lots

The longtime Anywhere Real Estate franchise growth executive will also oversee South Central U.S. sales and Canada

Anthony Hutchinson of VantageScore, Gemma Currier of Guild Mortgage and Eric Lapin of FICO are the new board members

Dahl, a 23-year IRES veteran, succeeds Jeff Bosch as he departs for Arizona Regional MLS

Most of us 30 years old and older have tales about where they were and what they did 25 years ago. Being in capital markets, and selling MBS, for over 40 years, I knew people who died in New York that day. That said, as an industry, we’re very good at looking forward to, and planning for, the future. Minority home ownership is something every major lender is witnessing. For example, on Monday, September 14, NAHREP and the Hispanic Wealth Project will unveil the 2026 State of Hispanic Wealth Report on Latino economic progress. More than 1.2 million Hispanic households have reached millionaire s

HUD must handle about 70% of 125 federal actions, rulemakings often take 18 to 24 months, and agency staffing is down more than 30%

<p>Northwest Title’s Jess Kelley recently spoke to members of the Steubenville, Ohio, community about how title insurance protects homeowners from problems tied to a property’s past, including old mortgages, judgment liens, forged deeds and unknown heirs. The local outreach helps consumers understand the value of title searches and title insurance in identifying hidden risks before closing and protecting their property rights if an issue later emerges.</p>

Economists pointed to persistent services inflation as a factor that could keep borrowing costs elevated

MLS architecture needs to become ready for a world in which machines increasingly interact with housing data

We've been saying for a while that the longer end of the bond market really wants to see the Fed get serious about fighting inflation. This is why yields spiked on July 29th when the Fed held rates steady and Warsh said he'd let the bond market do the heavy lifting. Now today, we have back-to-back inflation reports that resulted in Fed Funds Futures pricing in a 90% chance of a hike at next week's meeting. Fed Funds Futures are the only thing that's unequivocally selling off this morning. 2yr Treasuries (heavily impacted by Fed expectations) are mixed, but the longer end of the curve is now ra

As the organization marks its 25th anniversary, leaders are focused on expanding beyond the transaction

<p>Mortgage rates that rose to their highest level since last June pushed mortgage demand lower across the board last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Wednesday. MBA’s Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volumes, slid 2.7% on a seasonally adjusted basis over the week ending Sept. 4.</p>

<p>The final two years of the Trump administration could be pivotal for the manufactured housing industry, experts say, as political pressure mounts to address the nation's massive housing shortage. Manufactured housing—a category ranging from prefabricated materials to factory-built housing—has for years struggled to expand beyond a niche building type. But 2026 has brought the bipartisan housing reform package, the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, which includes reforms to encourage manufactured housing.</p>

<p>Some say the pendulum has swung too far since the 2008 housing crisis. Others warn that looser standards once led to disaster.</p>

<p>Home sales in August fell to their lowest level in more than a year, after rising mortgage rates dealt another blow to a hobbled housing market. Sales of existing homes declined 2% in August over the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.98 million, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday. That is the lowest since June 2025, when the rate was 3.93 million.</p>

Morales enters the general election as the favorite, and says rent stabilization will be an early priority for City Hall

Increase aims to give conventional lending options to more high-balance borrowers

Ugly Snowball Selling Thanks to Oil and Inflation Data MBS lost nearly a full point by 4pm ET and 10yr yields were up 11.4bps at 4.95%. This is the highest since October 2023 when 10s briefly hit 5.006%. At one point in the overnight session, yields were slightly LOWER on the day. Things changed in waves. First wave: oil prices surged overnight and had already broken $100 but the time PPI came out. Second wave: PPI was roughly in line with forecasts, but internal components suggested a 0.1 increase to core PCE inflation. The reaction was the sharpest of the day for bonds. Third wave: late day

Doug French links on-time closings, clean deliveries, and punch list discipline to leadership systems

Analyses indicate the newly released pricing grids could make loans more expensive with VS 4.0

You may have seen other headlines today that reference 30yr fixed rates of 6.76%. Those stories would be citing Freddie Mac's weekly rate survey which is an average of the 5 business days (4 in this case, due to the holiday) ending yesterday (September 9th). Because of that methodology, the number lags reality. Today alone, the average lender moved up 0.125% in rate. In addition, Freddie no longer accounts for "points" (additional money paid upfront for a lower rate). In other words, 6.75% with one point is roughly the same rate as 7.00% with no points. As a reminder, our daily rate index acco

Panel affirmed a 2025 dismissal that found no antitrust injury tied to MLS access and association membership requirements

Homeowners who changed insurers bucked the trend, saving an average of 6.6%

Mortgage spreads couldn’t keep rates under 7% as Iran conflict ramps up

Inventory rose to 1.62 million units and months of supply increased to 4.9 — the highest level in more than 10 years

Respondents in states like North Carolina and Nevada indicated elevated demand for financial and housing-related support

Lenders can send W-2 and pay stub data to AIM before a full Loan Product Advisor submission

A proposed script reframes the decision, if some buyers cannot see your home, some homes will not be visible to you next

MBA's MCAI fell to a reading of 107.3, jumbo credit dropped 2.5% and government credit was unchanged

New role focuses on federal, state, and local engagement tied to AI, privacy, antitrust and compensation debates

A 13-year Fischer Homes veteran, Finch will oversee operations across 11 markets spanning seven states

Affordability also plays a role, providing younger buyers with more accessible homeownership

Comparing new listings, pending sales and active inventory reveals when local housing market signals agree and when a divergence is worth a closer look

CEO Michael Bergman said July results hit plan with 70 closings and 93 starts

Bonds to Bessent: Challenge Accepted When the Yellen Treasury rolled out the buyback program in 2023/2024, they were careful to refer to it as strictly focused on liquidity and cash management. If they were secretly interested in influencing the yield curve, we'd never know. Contrast that to Bessent who specifically told reporters that long term rates were too high and that there was a "signaling component" to the recent decision to increase buybacks. Rhetoric ramped up further this morning when he said "I am the house now," and "you can bet against me if you want." The bond market's responded

What do mortgage rates have to do with Treasuries? Quite a lot, actually. U.S. Treasuries are the bills and bonds issued by the government. In addition to financing government spending, they are also the lifeblood of the financial system. Due to that central role, their liquidity, the immense size of the market, and because they're considered to be "risk free," Treasuries also serve as the baseline for most other interest rates in the U.S. This isn't to say that mortgage lenders simply look at Treasury yields plus a margin to set mortgage rates. But the trading value of Treasuries has a bearin

ONE posted $6.85B volume in 2025 and TTR posted $5.71B, per RealTrends Verified

MBA data shows a 6,350 per-loan cost gap between top and bottom quintiles in Q2 2026

AD Mortgage compared buying a home now versus waiting across all states during a three-year period

Lenders cannot mix Classic FICO and VantageScore 4.0 on the same file

Broker owner DJ Smith launches with nine agents and plans to recruit in western Montana counties

Hagan spent nearly 15 years with Coldwell Banker Realty in Illinois

Bullseye 90 now includes eligible jumbo loans

The measures would limit height-based CEQA claims and stem legal challenges after an environmental review is certified

Executives warn that a single national input standard could dilute hyperlocal context even as they seek shared infrastructure

The 25-year data and analytics leader previously held roles at Black Knight, ICE, and Definitive Healthcare

MBA data shows refis fell 6% week over week, while ARM share rose to 8.5%

<p>Capital levels will remain generally stable and supportive for U.S. title insurers for the remainder of 2026, according to a new Fitch Ratings report. The aggregate risk-adjusted capital ratio for the four largest U.S. title insurance underwriters was 180 percent at the end of 2025, down from 181 percent in the previous year.</p>

<p>Home sales cooled in August as mortgage rates climbed to their highest level in a year, reversing a surge that had briefly lifted the market in July, according to Zillow's August Market Report. The report shows mortgage rates holding above 6.5% kept many buyers on the sidelines, with home sales slipping 0.6% year over year.</p>

Orlando's No. 1 position is driven by exceptional tax friendliness

David Parrish is promoted, with COOs Smith and Feierstein stepping down amid financial and C-suite turmoil

<p>The U.S.-Canada tariff dispute is adding another variable for commercial real estate investors to watch, but its effects are likely to be sharply local rather than broadly uniform. Markets tied to cross-border manufacturing, automotive production, metals and logistics may face the greatest pressure. Even there, however, high tariff exposure does not automatically translate into weaker real estate demand.</p>

Early Strength Gives Way to Steady Selling Bonds started the day in fairly good shape with a rally at the open and a certain measure of defiance of another jump in fuel prices. The defiance quickly gave way to underperformance--a fact that suggests short-term tradeflow considerations for the bond market or perhaps that we're simply putting the trading day under too much of a microscope. Either way, both yields and oil prices were higher by the end of the day although the 10yr avoided breaking above last week's highs. Market Movement Recap 08:30 AM Roughly unchanged after overnight volatility.

Former Truist executive joined Huntington in 2022 and led integrations tied to Cadence and Veritex expansion

Top tier 30yr fixed mortgage rates started the week right where they were on Friday for the average lender. At 6.89%, we're just a hair below the highest mark since June 2025. In general, rates have been increasing steadily since the Iran war ceasefire ended with the uptick frequently correlating with higher fuel prices. Today's "unchanged" rates require an asterisk. Although mortgage rates are based on bonds and although bonds move constantly throughout the day, mortgage lenders prefer to keep rate changes to a minimum--ideally once a day if the market remains calm enough. This means the bond

Horton is expected to target 82,000 to 86,000 closings, keeping discipline as rates stay elevated

CDC data found construction suicide rates ran 4 times the national average, as groups expand toolkits and training

The team reported $30.45M on 81.5 sides in 2025, plus $200M in Moore County closed volume overall

Atlas plans to integrate the platform's monitoring capabilities into AIM-Port as a premium offering

Total locks fell 9% from July as the 30-year conforming rate ended August at 6.72% and refi demand stayed limited

Loans are available for any home purchase, not only Opendoor-owned properties

Commodity volatility is one reason why the Fed isn't more hawkish

The Upper East Side office will support luxury real estate and add services tied to fine art and collectibles

Move adds a formal CEO role atop Envoy as it seeks to scale to $4 billion in yearly production

Trade group says rule forces race-based lending decisions

Interim CEO says all directors except Garg oppose his return

Filing in U.S. District Court in Denver follows claims by former manager Kenneth Brantley, who was terminated in September 2025.

Kortas becomes executive partner while Farr takes day to day oversight of the executive team and operations

LiDAR measurements and 3D tours can back up square footage and limit misleading AI edited listing photos.

Truss is adding in-house underwriting and funding to cut turn times

For buyers outside the vacation segment, affordability remains a central concern

Developed from technology first built at Homepie, PACT is part of FSBO.com’s broader effort to digitize transactions from listing through closing

The MISMO reverse workgroup chair says standardization is meant to reduce tech barriers for lenders entering the space

Lasting value comes from a connected framework of streets, parks, trails, schools and daily routines

Last week’s data was really impacted by comparisons to Labor Day weekend in 2025

Surprisingly Light Selling Given The Econ Data Today's market reaction to the big beat in NFP (162k vs 56k) certainly stretches the paradigm of most market watchers who've been in the game for more than a few years, but this has been the reality over the past year or two. Relatively rapid changes in labor force trends (and ongoing changes in seasonal distortions) have made the job count a less precise measurement of labor market health than it once was. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate has been far more insulated from that volatility (and far less prone to big beats/misses compared to NFP). Th

President urged the Federal Reserve to cut rates after August payrolls rose by 162K and unemployment held at 4.1%

Deal brings Fannie, Freddie and Ginnie execution plus MSR book

Mortgage application activity showed some signs of life last week, with a modest increase in purchase demand helping offset another decline in refinancing as mortgage rates reached their highest level in four weeks. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported a 0.8% increase in total application volume on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending August 28. Purchase applications held down the fort, rising 2% from the previous week on a seasonally adjusted basis. Activity was still 0.2% below the same week one year ago, but the relatively stable year-over-year comparison suggests buye

Mortgage rates have a long and storied past with the monthly jobs report. Officially titled "The Employment Situation," the Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) jobs report has more power than any other monthly economic report to cause volatility in the rate market over the years. It may have lost some of that capability over the past few years, but it's always worthy of respect. With that in mind, it was an ominous sign for rates when this morning's jobs data came in MUCH stronger than expected. BLS counted 162k new jobs created compared to a median forecast of 56k. On many occasions in the past

ICE arrests rose from 32,545 in May to 49,571 in July; homebuilders cite delays, higher bids, and missed closings in some markets

A lot is priced into the markets now, as the bond market did the heavy lifting for the Fed

FHFA opens door to VantageScore for all lenders

Make sure that your air conditioning is in good condition, as well as clients’. Loan servicers are wondering about their collateral: “Heat in the oceans releases more slowly into the atmosphere, pushing up global temperatures the following year. The powerful 2023-24 El Nino contributed to 2024 being the warmest year on record, and we should not be surprised if this record is broken. El Nino is a natural part of the weather cycle, and is not caused by climate change.” Weather prediction can be dicey, especially months in advance, but predicting population trends that lenders and investors shoul

Construction added 22,000 jobs, real estate lost 3,200, and economists pointed to inflation as the next catalyst.

AI can analyze faster, but market definition and entity resolution still decide which properties belong in the dataset.

Cotality counted 273,000 investor buys in Q2, about 40,000 fewer than a year earlier

The team brings $600 million in career volume and closed 82 sides in 2025, per RealTrends Verified.

The jobs count surged higher (162k vs 56k f'cast) in this morning's jobs report. While such wild divergences will have the masses crying foul, and while this is a large beat, it's not the first time that the headline job count has been this far off forecasts. This is especially understandable amid recent volatility in labor force composition. One minor saving grace is the steady unemployment rate, but unfortunately, the participation rate increased by 0.2%, which means the unemployment rate would have fallen 0.1-0.2 (depending on rounding) all else equal. Bonds weakened immediately on the news

<p>ALTA CEO Chris Morton appeared on HousingWire’s Power House podcast to discuss the growing threat of wire fraud, deed fraud, seller impersonation and AI-powered scams, and how those risks ultimately affect homeowners and housing affordability. Morton also discussed Fannie Mae’s title insurance waiver efforts, the significant risks that remain in refinance transactions and the critical work title professionals do behind the scenes to prevent fraud and protect property rights.</p>

<p>Republicans in the House of Representatives have introduced a reform package that would change how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is funded, reviewed and supervised.</p>

Only 1% to 3% of LinkedIn users post regularly, creating low competition for referral-partner attention

<p>Pennsylvania's Superior Court has told borrowers they cannot use RESPA notices of error to escape foreclosure, backing a lender all the way to judgment. The panel's published opinion filed September 2, 2026, affirmed a Lancaster County decision granting US Bank National Trust Association summary judgment - a ruling issued without a full trial - in a foreclosure case. Because it is published, the opinion now sets precedent in Pennsylvania.</p>

Selective acquirers are prioritizing integration and discipline, while smaller builders face margin pressure and tighter credit

Compass sued in April 2025 over NWMLS rules, and analysts expect more MLSs to add pre marketing options.

Still a Resilient Day Despite Afternoon Weakness The day's most notable development, by far, was the speech from Fed Governor Waller in which he said the Fed probably didn't need to hike at the upcoming meeting (depending on data, of course). Fed Funds Futures reacted immediately and mostly held those gains all day. The longer end of the curve ended up giving back most of the initial gains, albeit very gradually. The net effect is that we're still in "wait and see" mode--but a slightly less painful version--ahead of Friday's jobs report and next week's inflation data. Econ Data / Events Contin

Mortgage rates finally had a decent day on Thursday after spending the previous three days inching into the highest levels in more than a year. Part of the improvement was due to comments from Fed Governor Chris Waller who said that it wouldn't be necessary to hike rates at the next meeting unless inflation data surprises to the upside. Before that, the underlying bond market was already showing some resilience in overnight trading. The prevailing pattern has been a fairly reliable correlation between bond yields and oil prices. But this time around, yields held fairly steady in the overnight

Luxury buyers prioritize privacy, acreage, and optionality and they often pay premiums when scarce properties surface.

<p>The slowdown in traditional commercial real estate development has not brought the cost relief many investors and developers might expect. Data centers, infrastructure projects and other large-scale developments are consuming the metals, electrical equipment and specialized labor needed across the construction industry, keeping upward pressure on project budgets even as conventional CRE pipelines weaken.</p>

Better’s special committee has called for shareholders to reject Garg’s consent solicitation and support the board’s current strategy

Turn one way outreach into a conversation with formats that invite responses.

Founder and CEO Anna Frankowska says the 3-year-old company is looking to address some of the hurdles of other home equity financing options

Salvatore Piccola and Gil Valera will report to chief product officer Stephanie Durflinger

The general outlook for the coming months was positive, but sentiment was mixed across sectors, according to the Fed's Beige Book

As broker endorsements remain muted, Longbridge’s Dan Ribler explores the impact from higher rates and federal debt

Friedman says his REBNY claims are separate and should not be bundled into NAR-related settlement terms.

Lender said the layoffs were made in response to current mortgage market conditions

Edina Realty has grown into one of the largest real estate companies serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin

<p>For years, title agencies have built technology stacks around core production systems, adding point solutions to automate individual tasks and improve efficiency. But as artificial intelligence rapidly moves from experimental technology to operational necessity, agencies face a new question: Should AI simply be another tool in the stack—or should it become the foundation that connects and drives the entire operation? Listen to this<a href="https://www.softprocorp.com/?utm_source=ALTA-marketing&utm_medium=email&utm_term=260902-webinar&utm_campaign=ALTA-Sponsorship"> SoftPro-sponsored</a><str

Broker and Lender Products, Software, and Services As AI becomes embedded across the mortgage lifecycle, lenders are rethinking how they use data to drive decisions and automate workflows. They aren’t looking for more reports. They want solutions that help them detect signals, whether it's a change in borrower status, a counterparty risk flag, or a market shift, and then act on those insights. Chris McEntee, VP of Corporate and Product Development at ICE, recently sat down to discuss how ICE approaches data accessibility, governance, and scalability to help lenders build AI-ready mortgage oper

Suit says he was fired on Sept. 9, 2025, the day he returned from FMLA leave after a June job warning.

The veteran-focused brokerage will remain Mortgage Nerds, while Processing Nerds stays independent and will serve brokers nationwide

The 18-agent brokerage operates 2 offices in Lewisburg and Chapel Hill, and will rebrand as REMAX David Jent Realty.

Sekisui House’s first U.S. SHAWOOD community recognized for sustainable design and resilience

What Gen Z borrowers are telling us about the future of mortgage

Down-payment loans and rate stipends won't move the needle on homeownership if workers don't know what they qualify for, or when to act

Washoe County deeds show a 2.1% YoY gain through July 2026, while Austin is down 5.0% and Denver is down 3.4%

Housing reform cosponsors who faced challengers won by 47.2 points on average, even as local governments oppose zoning preemption

Relatively Drama-Free Day These things happen from time to time. The bond market finally had an uneventful day... sorta. This may seem like a fairly odd claim for any day where yields hit the highest levels in well over a year but those were intraday highs, and they weren't much higher than yesterday's highs. During domestic hours, 10s were mostly in a 2bp range. Additionally, there were no standout market movers for better or worse. This easily meets the definition of uneventful even if it says nothing about the volatility risks over the next 2 days. Econ Data / Events ADP Jobs 38k vs 47k f'c

The agreement, which takes effect in stages beginning Sept. 4, creates a new “First Look” status

Success Lending will wind down as eXp targets launch with Newrez

Rocket claims that UWM provided brokers with lists identifying specific loans to target

First things first: when we reference average, daily, top-tier 30yr fixed rates, it is for an ideal scenario that rarely exists in the wild. The average scenario will always involve slightly higher effective rates (i.e. even if the rate is the same as national averages, it would involve additional upfront costs). As a reminder, our daily rate index accounts for upfront costs whereas Freddie Mac's weekly survey rate does not. MBA's weekly rate survey collects separate answers for rates vs upfront costs. Bottom line, while the daily index rose into the 6.9's today for the first time in more than

The industry is increasingly judged on proactive status updates, fewer handoffs and cost clarity before commitment.

NAHB says the industry must recruit 723,000 workers annually as builders push the Dignity Act and trades training

Fresno-based mega team has roughly 37 agents who closed $87.92M on 172 sides in 2024 and 2025

Vito Roppo and Nick Ferrante bring $155M in combined production to new branch in Elmhurst, Illinois

Conversely, HMBS issuance rose to $537 million across 65 pools

Nearly 20 insurers entered or reentered Florida after 2022 and 2023 reforms, easing quoting and closing challenges.

The updated guidance replaces a 2013 policy

The move aims to help franchises identify and pursue investment opportunities listed on the MLS

Act targets CFPB structure, shifting the bureau funding to appropriations

El Paso, San Antonio and Cincinnati show why housing professionals need to read seller behavior, supply and absorption together to understand changing market conditions

Bill Sullivan will lead the new group, embedding insights directly into HousingWire Intelligence and KCM products

Underwriting should separate current taxes from stabilized taxes and account for local reassessment rules

A Knoxville DSCR query across 7 AI platforms surfaced lenders with city pages and SEO signals, often without local ties

Freddie Mac puts the 30-year fixed at 6.66%, and MBA sees roughly $2.2T in originations from 2026 to 2028

CEO Mike Kortas: ‘If you are producing the business ... we believe you should have access to all of it’

Late Senate amendments sent AB 1903 back to the Assembly; the legislative session clock ran out before a vote

She will oversee national operations and align workflows with Elius, the firm’s AI platform built on Google Cloud.

The program’s retirement trust fund is projected to face insolvency in 2032

The company presented three prototypes created from broker-submitted ideas for its Big Pitch contest

Deal funds 3,000-plus lots as AD&C rates hit 10.43% for acquisition and 12.59% for development

The former ERA brand president will report to CEO Tamir Poleg as Real REMAX Group reshapes leadership.

Making these documents more available and accepted could be especially helpful to Black and low-income families who wish to preserve ownership and generational wealth

Settlements cover Compass, Redfin, The Real Brokerage and 6 other firms, adopting NAR practice changes.

Bray pointed to servicing cash flow, Mr. Cooper integration and partner investment as small firms face flywheel competitors

The tool is built to align with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac AI guidance, reduce processor rework, shorten cycle times and support scalability without additional headcount

Meet the 100 executives whose leadership, vision and influence are shaping the future of housing.

Pivot Financial cites Treasury buybacks and inflation risk as factors that could keep MBS spreads wide

The process is available to qualifying residential properties in premier luxury resort and lifestyle markets

Executives say servicing helps preserve agent relationships and creates recurring touchpoints that can surface refi or move-up intent.

Client check ins and pricing talks show why preparation and curiosity can convert more leads.

Program targets brokers constrained by UWM’s All-In policy and includes a $10,000 referral bonus through the end of 2026

The updated pricing improves base pricing by 60 bps and removes volume tiers

Stewart CEO said deal aligns with long-term strategy for centralized title services

Figure finalizes $717 million purchase announced in June, targets $35 trillion home equity market

<p>Republicans have introduced legislation that would give Congress more control over the financial consumer protection watchdog agency that has long faced opposition from Wall Street and conservatives, a move that comes after the Trump administration attempted to dismantle the agency. Among other reforms, the bill would put the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which was the brainchild of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), through the regular congressional appropriations process.</p>

Fannie Mae rules can ignore private-company receipt history and require a 200-day trading average after an IPO

Agentic workflows shift user interaction from LOS and POS screens to intent-based execution with audit trails

Rates are already at yearly highs and 3 key factors are in play this week

Technically a Breakout, But It Could Have Been Worse 10yr yields closed just under 4.74 at the end of July and just over 4.75% today. That's the highest close since January 2025 which, at first glance, sounds pretty gloomy. But it's worth noting that several days have ended just a bp or two below today's levels. In other words, it was ultimately a small, incremental bump. Perhaps more importantly, it was not-at-all out of character with respect to the prevailing trend. Market Movement Recap 09:33 AM MBS down 6 ticks (.19) and 10yr up 4bps at 4.753 12:24 PM MBS down 5 ticks (.16) and 10yr up 4.

Measures span ADU fees, permitting timelines, infill townhomes, high-rise zoning near transit, and look to alleviate entitlement risk

Brendan McKay remains president while outgoing executive director Rachel Clark is credited with building the group’s current foundation

Data suggests local density and differentiation, not market count alone, shape operating leverage and capital allocation

First Look launches Sept. 4, 2026, with 21 days allowed and no public days on market or price history.

Bonds lost ground today, largely due to mechanical, month-end trading (i.e. not due to economic data, inflation, or news headlines). When bonds lose ground, rates rise, all else equal. Mortgage rates were already fairly close to longer-term highs last week. Today's increase was just enough to nudge the average top-tier 30yr fixed rate to 6.87%--the highest since June 2025. While that sounds fairly gloomy, the average borrower wouldn't see any difference from those seen on July 23rd, 2026. [thirtyyearmortgagerates]

Transamerica study found that 72% of respondents have taken action in response to financial strain

CEO Andrés Muñoz says AI is built into marketing, CRM, lead follow up and back office workflows.

OneKey recently made Ocusell's listing management technology available to its agents

Agents must vet neighborhoods, flag condition risks early, and explain VA offer strength to sellers.

<p>More homes are hitting the US market, but fewer buyers are purchasing them — a divergence that is quietly handing serious house hunters their best negotiating window in months.</p>

New York and Delaware courts refuse to halt Garg’s solicitation and temporarily suspend Better’s poison pill

Rejig.AI claims agents can save 10+ hours weekly on social media workflows and content planning.

Bank of America data underscores a shift from relocation-driven demand toward in-place renovation, HELOC products and growth opportunities in midsized markets

She survived a 1983 seaplane crash, then continued leading and expanding REMAX while championing industry philanthropy.

Mortgage tech veteran will stay on Origna8’s board

Agents are buying "AI visibility." A lot of what they're buying is rented space on platforms they don't control and some of it is an FTC problem.

Grammar is important. Let’s not forget the comma… the difference between “I want you to eat, my friend” and “I want you to eat my friend.” Let’s not forget training, and I received this note. “Rob, plenty of conferences offer continuing education. Do any organizations offer CE?” Yup. Lenders One members receive it as a free benefit for all their LOs. (Contact Tricia Migliazzo.) Let’s not forget community housing, and more than 100 community-based fair housing organizations facing potential funding losses received a reprieve after a federal judge in Massachusetts blocked a U.S. Department of Ho

New platforms pitch software-led transaction infrastructure as commissions average 5.44% and FSBO falls to 5%.

Hire of new CEO underscores push for an integrated, data-driven homeownership platform

Organization says the group will guide education, standards, and partnerships as it targets daily live classes in 2027

Point's deputy general counsel unpacks the firm's proactive compliance strategy

<p>The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is expected to go live in January with VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T, alongside the existing Classic FICO product, as part of a broad credit score modernization effort, according to industry sources who spoke with HousingWire. In a call with lenders earlier this week, FHA representatives told participants they will be able to deliver any of the three models for case files dated on or after Jan. 2027, sources said.</p>

Moder's Bonnie Chong explains why connected data, intelligent platforms and human expertise are essential to turning AI adoption into enterprise value

Analysis cites $600 billion in annual exposure if curative title work is removed, rising above $1 trillion in peak year

<p>The national residential vacancy rate held firm at 1.3% in the third quarter, unchanged from the prior quarter and from the same period a year earlier, according to ATTOM's latest Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report. Of the country's 104.6 million residential properties, 259,666 were in the foreclosure process during the third quarter. Of those, 8,482 — or 3.3% — were classified as "zombie" homes, meaning owners had abandoned the properties before completing foreclosure proceedings.</p>

<p>Many hopeful homebuyers would love for the housing market to crash in 2026. If home prices plummet, Americans who have been waiting on the sidelines this year could afford to enter the market. Existing homeowners, on the other hand, would hate for the real estate market to crash. Their homes would drop in value, meaning they would lose equity.</p>

<p>Today, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh gave his much-anticipated Jackson Hole speech, which I previewed in today’s episode of the HousingWire Daily podcast with Editor-in-Chief Sarah Wheeler. My primary take from the speech is that Warsh will vote for a rate hike if inflation data doesn’t improve and labor data is stable. My main concern with Warsh is that at some point the Fed will have enough votes to hike rates, and if he doesn’t go along with them, markets will always see him as a Trump puppet.</p>

New listings data is still positive year-over-year

Their recent op-ed tries to resurrect the boogeyman of risky 2008-style lending

Hawkish Read on Warsh Prompts Heavy Selling Jackson Hole speeches are hit and miss when it comes to bond market volatility. Today's Warsh speech was something of a direct hit--more than enough to sink the battleship of anyone hoping for lower rates to end the week. Warsh's hawkishness was limited to tough talk on inflation and an upbeat assessment of the economy. It wasn't terribly different from the late July press conference, but the market viewed it as upgrading the chance of a rate hike before the end of 2026. 2yr Treasury yields (more sensitive to Fed rate expectations than the 10yr) rose

Amid a summer surge in job site raids, homebuilders in some states say that their workers, even those in the U.S. legally, got caught in the crosshairs

More than 850,000 acres have burned statewide with hundreds of homes destroyed in the Spokane area

Jackson Hole is a place in Wyoming, but it's also shorthand for an annual event where various central bankers get together and talk about monetary policy. The Fed Chair almost always delivers a speech and that speech occasionally causes volatility in the bond market. This year was a classic example. Fed Chair Warsh's speech focused on inflation remaining too high and on the Fed's commitment to getting inflation back down to 2.0% as measured by the annual change in the PCE Price Index (currently at 3.7%). Even if we use the most charitable methods to estimate annual PCE prices, the index would

Mortgage application activity softened last week, with both purchase and refinance demand moving lower as mortgage rates climbed to their highest level in three weeks. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported a 1.0% decrease in total application volume on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending August 21. Purchase applications were down 0.3% from the previous week on a seasonally adjusted basis and 5% below the same week one year ago. FHA applications accounted for much of the weekly decline, falling 7% . Refinance demand also lost some ground. The Refinance Index fell 2% from t

The new home market struggled to maintain the momentum seen in June, with sales falling sharply in July and inventory moving higher. The latest Census Bureau and HUD figures point to another month of uneven activity for builders, as buyers continue to contend with affordability constraints and elevated mortgage rates. Sales of new single-family homes fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 607,000 in July, down 10.5% from June's revised 678,000 and 6.3% below the same month last year. The monthly decline largely erased June's increase, leaving the broader sales trend little changed. In th

Home prices continued to edge higher in the latest readings from FHFA and the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller Home Price Indices , with both measures showing somewhat stronger annual gains than they did a month earlier. The improvement was still relatively modest, however, and inflation continued to run ahead of home values. At the same time, the national figures continue to mask a growing divide between markets where prices are still climbing at a healthy pace and those where values have begun to slip. According to FHFA, U.S. house prices rose 2.1% between the second quarter of 2025 and the second

Malpica's appointment follows the tenure of Alex Vidal

Lenders expect model consistency will be required at the loan level

Bob Broeksmit said WSJ op-ed erroneously linked the health of an independent lender to the health of the FHA's Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund

The three things that matter now

STRATMOR’s 2026 Technology Insight® Study Lender Intelligence Survey is now open, giving mortgage lenders a chance to share their firsthand experience with the technology that powers their businesses, and to help shape a clearer picture of what’s working, what isn’t, and where the industry is headed. The study reflects actual lender experience, providing an independent view of user satisfaction and Lender Loyalty Score® across a wide range of mortgage technology categories. Complete the survey and receive the results free of charge, giving you valuable intelligence you can use to understand ho

Markets now see a 57.4% chance of a September rate hike

As Tampa division president, Dare will oversee land, construction, sales, and customer service across the growing market

Eagle Materials CEO Michael Haack, a new independent director, adds manufacturing and M&A expertise

The move adds approximately 260 affiliated sales associates to ERA's network

In an attempt to not force another "Warsh" or "Jackson Hole" headline (because it's a coin flip as to whether it will matter), the calendar offers up another event that is almost guaranteed not to matter. Despite the familiar name, today's nonfarm payrolls data is not the NFP you're looking for (that NFP will be out next Friday). Rather, this is the preliminary annual benchmark revision which can make for big changes in the job count over the previous year, but which says nothing about the current state of the labor market. It's a statistical adjustment that is often blown WAY out of proportio

Appraisers apply standards, bias controls and property-specific market analysis that models do not require

The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) consolidation thesis

Vic Lombardo, the president of REMAX’s mortgage services, had stepped down from his role

<p>The goalposts for survive-to-thrive success in homebuilding have moved. For much of the past three years, builders could reasonably structure their businesses around a question: When will conditions improve? When will mortgage rates come down? When will consumer confidence return? When will affordability improve? When will the Federal Reserve provide relief? When will the resale market unlock? When will input costs normalize?</p>

NEXA says it will cover AIME memberships for about 4,100 loan officers as Casa seeks a role as membership director

With apologies to Jim Morrison and the Doors, the time to hesitate is through

Joe Gormley says standardized submissions could cut reconciliation work and support friction-free servicing transfers

New Cribio-powered experience offers natural-language search and real-time Washington listings with direct broker attribution.

Fairly Calm Despite Some Fuel Price Pressure; Warsh on Deck To reiterate a sentiment from this morning, there's a decent amount of focus on Friday's Warsh speech at Jackson Hole simply because it's customary to focus on Fed Chair speeches at Jackson Hole. They're hit and miss in terms of delivering on volatility potential. There's nothing else of note on the econ calendar. With Monday being the last day of the month, we could also see momentum from early month-end trading. Other than that, fuel prices continue to set the tone more often than not. Today was no exception as an early afternoon su

ATTOM counted 39,906 filings, up 1% from June, while REOs increased 23% from July 2025

Fairley took the helm at Stellar MLS in March, succeeding Merri Jo Cowen

HR leader Pamela Rader will add housing insight to the Cincinnati Chamber’s flagship regional leadership program

In a higher-rate environment like today, line-of-credit growth can accelerate, influencing choices about loan draws and Social Security claims

The brokerage cited brand modernization, agent centric tech work, and AI plans tied to its Purlin partnership.

Sellers who want privacy, repairs or price testing were pushed toward private channels when public marketing triggered a one-business-day MLS clock.

Deal boosts Velocity’s origination volume by 76% and its servicing portfolio by 39%

The median payment dropped $16 from June but was up $48 from a year earlier

Liniger co-founded the franchise in 1973 and helped scale it to 145,000 agents across 120 countries.

Abbe Lowell argues alleged primary residence mortgage errors were inadvertent and not fraud

NAR data puts median tenure at 6 years, the article argues weekly reviews of dropped tasks reveal where follow up and systems fail.

Eighty percent of association executives and MLS staff volunteer each month, data shows

Cheap leads are expensive if they never list, and cites teams shifting metrics to around $1,500 per closed transaction.

New H1 2026 members joined across North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia Pacific.

NAHB: 2- to 4-unit starts drop 24% year over year as zoning curbs ‘light-touch’ density

A heart rate based training lesson reframes how leaders measure progress across changing seasons

Industry cost per loan rose from $3,685 in 2009 to $11,094 in 2025 despite major tech spend, encouraging a task-based operating model

MISMO panelists cited rental and cash flow data, plus AI rules that may affect licensing and compliance

The moves comes just days after Better sued Garg for unlawful solicitation of stockholders

The brokerage now spans 19 states and DC, and says average agent earnings rise 144% in year one after switching firms.

Some Pros and Cons in Today's Weakness Bonds lost ground today, but it wasn't necessarily an unequivocally bad day. Yields were close to yesterday's lows just before this morning's PCE data came out and only moved higher after that. If the data had been better, it's possible today could have started on a stronger note. Oil price volatility was the other notable factor with prices moving up roughly $3 between 5am and noon ET. In light of both of those headwinds, bonds actually lost minimal ground and managed to hold below yesterday's high yields with multiple ceiling bounces at 4.67% in the 10y

At least seven people were killed and about 1,000 were displaced as floodwaters inundated communities

Intraday volatility in the bond market can make it tricky to track day over day changes in mortgage rates. Lenders publish the day's first rates based on bond market prices around 9:30-10:00am ET, but things can change if bonds move enough. Yesterday, bonds improved enough in the afternoon for many lenders to offer lower rates. If we compare today's rates to yesterday afternoon's better examples, we're slightly worse off now. But if we compare to yesterday morning, we're slightly better. At times like this, if you're just looking for a general sense of how the rate landscape is evolving, it ca

Court docs tie QTFY group to multiagency cyber breaches

The East Coast state has become a senior migration destination, with HousingWire Data illustrating relatively affordable market conditions

HousingWire stories cover agent talking points on power costs, pricing uncertainty near facilities and where housing is being pushed next.

Brokerage size also influenced the types of concerns leaders reported

Mortgage rates dominate the affordability debate, but property taxes quietly add hundreds of dollars to monthly payments and remain due long after the mortgage is gone.

2026 has 25 weeks of positive year-over-year purchase apps, but negative prints are reappearing as rates stay elevated

Proposal keeps GSE charters intact while using a Texas TopCo to reset capital

Leadership from the American Land Title Association as well as AARP applauded Arizona's move

As a real estate professional, Canada's new tariffs are out of your hands. Explaining them to a seller in one clear sentence is not.

NAR data shows repeat clients drive 46% of volume and referrals add 44%, putting most lead sources under 10%.

Subscribers can search cross-market inventory natively with no separate login, targeting relocation, second homes, and investors.

Bailey joins from Denver Metro Association of Realtors after 3 years as CEO, he will also lead Imagine MLS.

Refinance index fell 2% and purchase activity is 5% below last year

Early waitlist data showed more than $260 million in projected loan volume, with most respondents already on Coinbase One and planning to buy within six months

Filmed in the financial capital of the world, New York City, this HousingWire Spotlight Series explores how industry leaders are navigating market volatility, making high-stakes decisions, uncovering growth opportunities and building organizations that thrive under pressure. From leadership strategies and operational agility to innovation, talent and market position. These sessions delve into what separates companies…

<p>The share of cash sales during the first four months of this year was 31.4%, down from 32.3% during the same period a year ago, according to Realtor.com that looks at both new and existing homes. Buyers using mortgages are getting a boost from cooler prices, higher inventory and less confidence among sellers.</p>

Four questions to align pricing, underwriting, compliance and post-lock workflows on a single source of truth

Lenders that unify policy content and governance before borrower tools can cut search time and reduce compliance risk

<p>In July, the median sales price of new homes fell to $393,800, down 2.3% from the prior month and the lowest since July 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development reported on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Pluck your average Commercial Observer journalist off the street, shove them in a van, shine a flashlight in their eyes, and say, “Quick — what’s the biggest story in commercial real estate?” nine reporters out of 10 will answer: “Data centers.”</p>

<p>In an ongoing proposed class action against Veterans United Home Loans and Veterans United Realty, a federal judge has allowed the plaintiffs’ core RESPA theory to move forward, rejecting the lender’s argument that its affiliated real estate referral arrangement is categorically protected by RESPA’s safe harbor. The case, filed Feb. 18, accuses Veterans United and its affiliated real estate network, Veterans United Realty, of steering military borrowers into Veterans United mortgages through an alleged referral and kickback scheme.</p>

<p>Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. reported Tuesday that the U.S. mortgage delinquency rate declined in July 2026 while foreclosure activity increased, according to the company’s monthly mortgage performance data. The national delinquency rate for loans 30 or more days past due but not in foreclosure fell to 3.39% in July, down 4.56% from the previous month. The rate remains 3.69% higher than July 2025 but sits below pre-pandemic July 2019 levels.</p>

MBA says definitions of ADMT and consequential decisions need clearer guidance for creditors

Prosperity is far from evenly distributed, and many older Americans are carrying significant debt into retirement

As new orders weakened in July, the median sales price of a new home fell to $393,800, the lowest level recorded since July 2021

Bonds Rally on Peace Deal Hopes The day ended as it began: with bond yields and oil prices dropping in unison based on hopeful headlines surrounding the Iran war. Perhaps the market was in the mood for a rally because the headlines weren't particularly specific or compelling. Oil prices are closer to the middle of their range for the month of August whereas 10yr yields are closer to the low end of the range. This could suggest a bit of a willingness to rally on the part of the bond market, but sustaining the rally would require continued cooperation from oil as well as econ data. Econ Data / E

This analysis separates corporate scale, operating density, and production scale in costs, cycle time, and predictability

Fuel prices continue dictating most of the day-to-day momentum for interest rates and today was a notable example. Early this morning, news reports suggested progress in the peace process via Pakistani mediators. Oil prices dropped sharply in response and bond yields followed the move. Bond yields correlate with mortgage rates. When yields are falling, mortgage lenders are generally able to offer lower rates than they otherwise would have, depending on the timing and size of the move. In today's case, it was good for a 0.04% drop in average top-tier 30yr fixed mortgage rates--resulting in the

The move comes as the lender looks to expand education around VA home loan benefits

Digs investment aims to push BFS deeper into homebuilders’ end-to-end construction workflows

The tool helps users find independent mortgage brokers, run affordability math, and access calculators and education

Interagency notice tells lenders not to rely on 2022 SPCP statement

Branch leaders cite Spanish-language support and tech platform as key factors in the move to Rate

Columnist Craig Rowe argues that portal competition and listing control efforts can widen the gap between consumers and clear information.

<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ALTA’s Nominating Committee is pleased to present the list of nomina&shy;tions for the 2026-27 ALTA Board of Governors, as well as the Abstracters and Title Insurance Agents Executive Committee and the Title Insurance Underwriters Executive Committee. Nominations will be voted on during ALTA ONE, which will be held Oct. 12-15 at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz.

<p>A recent decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit could have significant implications for title and settlement professionals seeking to work across state lines. In <em>Polk v. Crawford</em>, the court ruled that Texas likely violated the U.S. Constitution by denying an escrow officer license to an otherwise qualified applicant solely because he did not live in Texas or a state bordering Texas. The Aug. 4 opinion reverses a lower court's denial of a preliminary injunction and directs the district court to prohibit enforcement of the residency requirement against the plai

Garg cited Tinman AI volume of $646 million in Q4 2025 and disputed claims about his removal

Lender adds a $155 billion MSR book and the RoundPoint platform

Zillow and Redfin settled their FTC antitrust case, as we figured they would, and certainly technology was involved. With the increase in artificial intelligence, many teachers have gone back to having all writing done in classes, handwritten, or with an electric typewriter. Would parents rather have their child learning something in class from the instructor, or taking that time to write an essay? Students lose much more than grammar skills when they use AI to write. In healthcare, critical legal questions are emerging: who is responsible when inaccurate advice causes harm? What is the potent

National index hit 336.66, up 0.4% month over month, while inflation ran at 3.5% year over year.

The tool can also provide geographically relevant suggestions and recommend nearby or similar properties

No point in wasting time/words on analysis when cause and effect remains so simple. After news regarding potential progress is peace negotiations, an overnight drop in oil prices coincided perfectly with a drop in Treasury yields. The end.

The company is expanding its Flexible Advantage non-QM loan program with new guidelines

Freddie Mac data puts 67% of origination cost in personnel, even after years of digital mortgage spend

Qualia’s 2026 survey reveals the scale of the threat and how firms are strengthening prevention, recovery and employee preparedness

Q1 2026 origination costs averaged $11,898 while lenders earned $727, or 16 bps, in pre-tax production profit

Combined platform cites 180,000 agents in 120 countries and territories, including 100,000 in the U.S. and Canada.

Washington Post outlines a plan to control costs without significant program cuts

Tune Out The Noise (Part 2) Last week, when Treasury announced higher per-operation limits for the buyback program, we advised tuning out the noise. Specifically, this meant that the announcement was not ever destined to be a material market mover or provide lasting relief for rates despite ample media coverage and the appearance of significance. It's more of the same to start the new week. Treasury sources threw out big numbers in reference to buyback operations by citing the Treasury General Account balance (basically, the government's checking account). Markets didn't care and neither shoul

Atlantic Avenue remained at No. 1 despite declining endorsement activity during the month

Minnesota AG secures nearly $1M in relief; Unlock is no longer offering HEAs there

Active inventory is 20.7% from a year ago, but that scarcity has not translated into broad pricing power for sellers

Mortgage rates are based on bonds, but whereas bonds improved slightly from Friday's levels, mortgage rates are microscopically higher for the average lender. The issue is timing. Mortgage lenders set rates last Friday during a time of day when bonds were at their best levels. In other words, today's improvement is only an improvement relative to Friday's closing levels. If we were to compare just the time of day when lenders set mortgage rates, bonds are flat to slightly weaker.

Amended complaint ties StreetEasy delistings to higher NYC rents and broker fees, seeks class action status.

LO leaves NFM Lending for CCM to focus on underserved borrowers in the Southeast

While home repair and maintenance demand remains steady, consumers stall large, discretionary remodeling projects