Optimal Blue: Fed Rate Cut Led to a Surge of Rate-and-Term Refinance Activity
The Fed's recent rate cut drove a 50% month-over-month increase in rate-and-term refinance activity in September, according to OptimalBlue’s Market Advantage data report.
What’s more,...
LoanDepot Closes $300M Mortgage Notes Transaction
loanDepot recently closed a $300 million transaction through an offering of notes by Mello Warehouse Securitization Trust 2024-1, marking the lender’s tenth successful transaction...
Consumer Confidence in Housing Market Reaches Highest Level in Two Years
Consumer confidence in the housing market increased in September, as per Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI), which rose to a score of...
MBA and 13 Industry Stakeholders Form Group to Address Racial Homeownership Gap
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) and 13 mortgage industry stakeholders have formed the Convergence Collaborative, a coordinated effort to identify and develop solutions to...
Mortgage Bankers Association Promotes Wendy Penn to VP of Affordable Housing Initiatives
Wendy Penn has been promoted to vice president for affordable housing initiatives at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).
Penn joined the MBA in 2021 as...
Lack of Inventory Will Continue to Boost Home Price Appreciation
U.S. home prices are forecast to rise 3.1% over the next 12 months, according to valuations firm Veros.
That’s down from the firm's Q2 forecast...
MBA Promotes Amber Lawrence to VP of DEI
Amber Lawrence has been promoted to vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).
Lawrence was most recently association...
Strong September Jobs Report Shows Resilient U.S. Economy
The U.S. economy added 254,000 jobs in September - far better than was forecast - and the unemployment rate remained flat at 4.1% compared...
Mortgage Lock Volume Increased 3 Percent in September, Driven by Refinance Activity
Mortgage lock volume increased 3.17% in September compared with August, driven mainly by a surge in refinance activity that resulted from the Fed’s rate...
Mortgage Rates Increased for a Second Week, With 30-Year Averaging 6.12 Percent
Mortgage rates increased slightly for a second week, as the average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage climbed to 6.12%, up from 6.08% last...
Fidelity National Financial Acquires First Nationwide Title Agency
Fidelity National Financial (FNF) has acquired the commercial operations of First Nationwide Title Agency (FNTA), a division of AMT Commercial Title Services and a...
STRATMOR Group: Mortgage Lenders That ‘Share Their Stories’ Connect Better with Borrowers
Mortgage lenders who share their stories with borrowers and teammates are better able to create strong relationships, retain leads, recruit top talent and even...
Title Insurance Industry Mitigates More Than $600 Billion in Risk Per Year
The title insurance industry mitigates more than $600 billion in estimated risk exposure annually for home buyers, according to a report from First American.
The...
Mortgage Application Volume Fell Last Week as Rates Crept Back Up
Following the previous week’s surge in applications for refinances, total mortgage application volume fell 1.3% during the week ended September 27, as mortgage rates...
CoreLogic: Home Price Growth Muted in August
U.S. home prices increased 1.0% in August compared with July and were up 3.9% compared with August 2023, according to CoreLogic’s home price index...
Snapdocs Survey Shows How Technology Reduces Borrower Frustration
Sixty percent of homebuyers experience frustration during the mortgage process, a survey recently conducted for Snapdocs shows.
The survey of more than 2,000 U.S. homebuyers...
M2 Lending Using LenderLogix to Provide Borrowers with White Glove Service
M2 Lending Solutions is using LenderLogix’ mortgage point-of-sale and automation software to provide an automated, digital-first borrower experience.
Specifically, M2 lending has implemented LenderLogix’ QuickQual,...
First American: Affordability Improving But Firm Remains ‘Cautiously Optimistic’
Home affordability improved in August, due mainly to lower mortgage rates, says First American. In fact, it was the first time since 2021 that...
Homebuyer Affordability Improved in August
The national median mortgage payment applied for by borrowers was $2,057 in August —down $83 from July and down $113, or 5.2%, from August...
Brimma Tech Rolls Out Next Version of Vallia AUS Sandbox
Brimma Tech, specializing in AI-driven solutions for the mortgage industry, has released the latest version of Vallia AUS Sandbox, a tool designed to streamline...