#fha-mortgage-underwriting

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Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
20 hours ago

Why the hiring rate matters more than unemployment for the housing market

The labor market remains strong with low unemployment, impacting housing stability and reducing risks of distressed inventory.
#mortgage-rates
SF real estate
fromSFGATE
1 day ago

Mortgage Rates Move Lower as Economic Outlook Worsens

Mortgage interest rates have slightly improved, but the economic outlook remains negative, indicating deeper financial concerns for consumers and businesses.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
3 days ago

Mortgage applications drop as refi, purchase demand weakens

Higher mortgage rates and economic uncertainty continue to depress mortgage applications, with refinance activity at its lowest since December 2025.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 week ago

Higher mortgage rates trigger sharp drop in applications

The 30-year mortgage rate has risen to 6.57%, impacting refinance applications and buyer confidence amid economic uncertainty.
SF real estate
fromSFGATE
1 day ago

Mortgage Rates Move Lower as Economic Outlook Worsens

Mortgage interest rates have slightly improved, but the economic outlook remains negative, indicating deeper financial concerns for consumers and businesses.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
3 days ago

Mortgage applications drop as refi, purchase demand weakens

Higher mortgage rates and economic uncertainty continue to depress mortgage applications, with refinance activity at its lowest since December 2025.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 week ago

Higher mortgage rates trigger sharp drop in applications

The 30-year mortgage rate has risen to 6.57%, impacting refinance applications and buyer confidence amid economic uncertainty.
UK news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 days ago

Experts issue mortgage cost warning as buyer demand drops

Rising mortgage costs are impacting buyer demand and house price expectations in the UK property market, leading to a slowdown in sales.
NYC real estate
fromFortune
3 days ago

Housing is so expensive, even a $87 billion Wall Street bank is giving workers $6.5K in cash to get on the property ladder | Fortune

Many American workers have abandoned homeownership dreams due to a housing crisis, prompting BNY to offer financial assistance for first-time homebuyers.
fromwww.housingwire.com
3 days ago

Washington DFI charges Newrez with mortgage servicing violations

DFI alleges that Newrez engaged in unfair or deceptive practices that affected 29 Washington consumers by failing to mediate in good faith during foreclosure proceedings, providing misleading information, and responding to concerns untimely.
Washington DC
Renovation
fromwww.housingwire.com
4 days ago

Home renovation plans hold steady despite affordability hurdles

Home renovations are primarily funded through personal savings, driven by the need for functionality and a shortage of housing supply.
fromwww.housingwire.com
4 days ago

NMB taps Herrera as president of Hispanic homeownership division

Yasser has such an incredible drive and understands that our business is rooted in the success of those around us, including our loan officers and the customers that look to us to educate and inform along their pathway to homeownership.
LA real estate
from24/7 Wall St.
6 days ago

Clark Howard Calls Credit Score Warning 'Gibberish' for Borrowers in the Upper 700s

Every time a lender pulls your credit, the report includes a list of 'reason codes' - short explanations of what factors are holding your score back. These codes are required by law, so the bureaus generate them automatically. The problem is they are ranked by relative impact, not absolute impact.
Law
#real-estate
from24/7 Wall St.
2 days ago
SF real estate

Dave Ramsey Warns Homebuyer Her $750,000 Is at Risk of Foreclosure Over a Mortgage Clause She Never Saw

Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 days ago

Why real estate investors are done waiting

In competitive real estate markets, speed and certainty are prioritized over lower rates by investors seeking to secure deals quickly.
fromSlate Magazine
3 weeks ago
SF real estate

Our Offer Was Accepted on Our Dream House. Then the Sellers Started Acting Very Strange.

Sellers terminated the contract after inspection, revealing serious house issues, leading to suspicions about their intentions.
SF real estate
from24/7 Wall St.
2 days ago

Dave Ramsey Warns Homebuyer Her $750,000 Is at Risk of Foreclosure Over a Mortgage Clause She Never Saw

A buyer can face foreclosure risks if a mortgage clause is overlooked during a property purchase.
SF real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
3 days ago

Nearly 1 in 2 home listings cut prices in Florida, Arizona

Arizona and Florida lead in home price reductions, reflecting significant market adjustments with over $119 billion in affected inventory.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 days ago

Why real estate investors are done waiting

In competitive real estate markets, speed and certainty are prioritized over lower rates by investors seeking to secure deals quickly.
SF real estate
fromSlate Magazine
3 weeks ago

Our Offer Was Accepted on Our Dream House. Then the Sellers Started Acting Very Strange.

Sellers terminated the contract after inspection, revealing serious house issues, leading to suspicions about their intentions.
#housing-affordability
NYC real estate
fromwww.businessinsider.com
3 days ago

BNY offers $6,500 for some homebuying employees, as even Wall Street workers struggle with housing costs

BNY offers $6,500 to US employees earning $100,000 or less to assist with first home purchases amid worsening housing affordability.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
4 days ago

Verification first: Why mortgage lending must rethink income and how it actually works

Mortgage underwriting needs to evolve from document-driven methods to assessing income behavior for better risk evaluation.
SF real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
4 days ago

How top LOs dominated government lending in 2025

Knowledge of FHA and VA guidelines is crucial for success in the mortgage industry, especially for veterans and active-duty service members.
#housing-market
Real estate
fromFast Company
2 days ago

This might be the best time to buy a home in years, depending on where you live

America's housing market is shifting towards favoring buyers, with two-thirds of major markets now classified as balanced or buyer-friendly.
Real estate
fromFast Company
1 day ago

States with the most-and least-housing market inventory heading into the core spring selling season

Monitoring active listings and months of supply is crucial for assessing home price momentum and market dynamics.
Real estate
fromFortune
3 days ago

The housing market has been frozen for 3 years. Here's why this spring could finally change that | Fortune

The U.S. housing market shows early signs of recovery as first-time buyers return and affordability improves.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 weeks ago

Housing demand still growing as mortgage rates reach inflection point

Pending home sales rose despite high oil and mortgage rates, but future growth is uncertain as rates may remain elevated longer.
SF real estate
fromFast Company
1 month ago

These 15 housing markets have the most borrowers underwater

2.1% of U.S. homeowner mortgages are underwater as of December 2025, up from 1.3% in December 2024, though significantly lower than the 23% peak during the 2009 financial crisis.
Real estate
fromFast Company
2 days ago

This might be the best time to buy a home in years, depending on where you live

America's housing market is shifting towards favoring buyers, with two-thirds of major markets now classified as balanced or buyer-friendly.
Real estate
fromFast Company
1 day ago

States with the most-and least-housing market inventory heading into the core spring selling season

Monitoring active listings and months of supply is crucial for assessing home price momentum and market dynamics.
Real estate
fromFortune
3 days ago

The housing market has been frozen for 3 years. Here's why this spring could finally change that | Fortune

The U.S. housing market shows early signs of recovery as first-time buyers return and affordability improves.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
3 days ago

Housing market crash unlikely despite war, high rates

Housing demand remains strong despite rising mortgage rates, with no historical precedent for price crashes without distressed sellers.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 weeks ago

Housing demand still growing as mortgage rates reach inflection point

Pending home sales rose despite high oil and mortgage rates, but future growth is uncertain as rates may remain elevated longer.
SF real estate
fromFast Company
1 month ago

These 15 housing markets have the most borrowers underwater

2.1% of U.S. homeowner mortgages are underwater as of December 2025, up from 1.3% in December 2024, though significantly lower than the 23% peak during the 2009 financial crisis.
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 days ago

AD Mortgage debuts Quick Pricer Pro for broker partners

Quick Pricer Pro offers a more flexible and customizable view of AD Mortgage's loan options, with filters and scenarios that support more complex loan structuring.
Real estate
Marketing tech
fromEntrepreneur
3 weeks ago

Is It Finally Time to Put Homebuyers First in Real Estate Tech?

Proptech startups prioritized revenue from real estate agents and brokerages rather than end-users, resulting in technology that optimizes intermediary efficiency instead of consumer benefit.
fromwww.housingwire.com
3 days ago

Reverse mortgage brokers say lender contracts help with limits

Programs work by preventing lenders' retail teams from contacting borrowers who are already in a broker's active pipeline, automatically routing these customers back to their original advisers. They also monitor common refinance intent signals such as payoff requests and add the brokerage firm's contact information to borrowers' statements.
Real estate
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
3 days ago

Borrowers have a new agent. Is your organization built for it?

AI is shifting negotiating power from lenders to borrowers, requiring institutions to adapt or risk losing competitive advantage.
SF real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 weeks ago

HomeLight says more buyers seek down payment help in 2026

Home equity access is rising, but affordability challenges persist, leading many to seek down payment assistance and alternative housing options.
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 day ago

Private-label reverse mortgages surpass HECMs in Q1 2026

Private-label originations totaled $344 million in March, compared to $260 million for the HECM market, indicating a significant shift towards proprietary loans in the reverse mortgage sector.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 day ago

loanDepot, Figure team on express home loan and equity products

The 55 HomeLoan is structured to deliver approvals in as little as five minutes and funding in as few as five days, providing borrowers with a cash-like option for speed and certainty of close.
Real estate
SF real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
3 weeks ago

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac revise condo insurance standards

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac updated insurance requirements allowing ACV roof coverage for condos while maintaining RCV for other property, reducing homeowner costs and expanding mortgage market access.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
4 days ago

ICE Mortgage Monitor shows serious delinquencies up 25%

Serious borrower distress is increasing, with 878,000 loans either 90-plus days past due or in foreclosure, marking the highest level since mid-2018.
SF real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
3 weeks ago

From loan pools to consumer wallets: The ripple effects of credit score lender choice

The FHFA directed approval of two credit scores despite GSEs recommending only FICO 10T, and a lender-choice model between FICO and VantageScore will create pricing inconsistencies and risk measurement challenges in the secondary mortgage market.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
4 days ago

Rocket overtakes UWM in 2025 HMDA loan count

The mortgage market grew in 2025, with increased originations and consolidation among lenders despite a decline in the number of active lenders.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
5 days ago

Presupposition is the mistake: Why housing marketing doesn't meet the bar

Marketing in housing fails to create demand, assuming people desire homeownership without addressing their actual preferences for flexibility and freedom.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
5 days ago

Elly Johnson on reverse mortgage liquidity and compliance

Elly Johnson emphasizes the evolution and improvements in the reverse mortgage industry, focusing on compliance, consumer protection, and operational complexities.
SF real estate
fromBusiness Matters
1 month ago

What Are the Key FHA Loan Requirements for Homebuyers in Florida?

FHA loans offer flexible credit requirements, low 3.5% down payments, and higher debt-to-income allowances, making homeownership accessible to first-time and lower-income buyers in Florida.
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 week ago

Mortgage lenders ramp up homebuilder divisions

Ginsburg stated that treating builder business as a core pillar rather than a side channel reflects a broader industry shift. He believes a healthy balance of builders should be around 15% to 20% of the overall retail book of business.
Real estate
US news
from24/7 Wall St.
2 months ago

Home Insurance Now Takes A Record 9% of Your Mortgage Payment, the Highest Ever

Homeowners insurance premiums are rising sharply nationwide as higher construction and reinsurance costs increase replacement estimates, raising premiums even without claims.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 weeks ago

Mortgage experts weigh in on GSE condo updates

GSEs will require full project reviews for condo loans, increasing costs and documentation requirements for homeowners associations starting Aug. 3.
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 weeks ago

Hawley probes FICO mortgage credit score pricing

An 88% operating margin and a compound annual growth rate of 100% in per-score pricing over five years are not hallmarks of a competitive market.
Real estate
#mortgage-lending
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 weeks ago

The mortgage industry built a sales infrastructure. It now needs a navigation infrastructure

Mortgage lending's efficiency may obscure its complexities, necessitating a shift from sales infrastructure to navigation infrastructure for better borrower understanding.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 weeks ago

The mortgage industry built a sales infrastructure. It now needs a navigation infrastructure

Mortgage lending's efficiency may obscure its complexities, necessitating a shift from sales infrastructure to navigation infrastructure for better borrower understanding.
SF real estate
fromThe Atlantic
1 month ago

The Disappearing American Mortgage

Mortgage applications have reached historic lows, freezing the real estate market and preventing working-class families from building wealth through homeownership while wealthy buyers dominate transactions.
fromRedfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling & More
3 weeks ago

What Debt-to-Income Ratio Do You Need to Get Approved for a Mortgage?

Lenders use debt-to-income ratio to determine how much a potential borrower can afford to pay on a mortgage. This ratio includes most sources of debt and income, but it doesn't include everyday expenses like utilities or groceries. Generally, having a higher debt-to-income ratio makes it harder to secure financing to buy a house.
Real estate
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
3 weeks ago

Lower rates aren't enough: What mortgage lenders and servicers must do to set spring homebuyers up for long-term success

Interest rates easing may improve buyer sentiment, but sustainable homeownership relies more on managing cash flow than just lower rates.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
3 weeks ago

The industry's quiet first line of defense

Title agents perform critical fraud detection work during real estate transactions that remains largely invisible to buyers, sellers, and lenders despite being more important than the visible closing process.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
4 weeks ago

Is it time to bring banks back to the mortgage business?

Mortgage loan origination collapsed from 14.2 million in 2021 to under 5 million in 2023, with independent mortgage banks filling the gap while maintaining quality, yet regulators and industry leaders argue banks should re-engage to restore competition and customer relationships.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
4 weeks ago

Opendoor's cheap mortgage rates spark sustainability debate

Opendoor's mortgage product eliminates a 350-basis-point markup to offer below-market rates, but industry experts question cost absorption and long-term sustainability of the model.
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 month ago

FinCEN's AML rule reshaping title processes and buyer behavior

I don't want the closers and processors to have to get into the weeds with this. I don't want there to be any negative shadowing of our title offices, because we're having to ask for this. It's really not a title role, as far as the title insurance product that we provide. It definitely has been tasked to us, but it's not something that I want to be viewed as, 'Title requires this.' This is a governmental requirement.
Real estate
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 month ago

Property tax, insurance accounts for 21% of mortgage payments

Taxes and insurance can comprise over one-third of monthly mortgage payments in many markets, significantly impacting affordability beyond the base loan cost.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 month ago

Why mortgage licensing must be a priority for private lenders In 2026

Mortgage licensing is a critical legal and deal-enabling priority for private lenders, not an operational afterthought, with significant consequences for non-compliance including usury exposure, penalties, and loan enforceability risks.
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 month ago

Minor FICO score improvements can ease homebuying costs

Across most states, it takes 18 to 36 months to raise an average FICO score to the 760 prime threshold, assuming an improvement of about 20 points per year. Mississippi and Louisiana require the longest timelines, with borrowers needing 4 years and 3.5 years of consistent progress, respectively. At the opposite end, Minnesota offers the fastest path, with an average timeline of just 0.9 years, due to a high statewide average score of 742.
Real estate
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 month ago

Lender choice relies on the myth of adverse selection

Mortgage lenders choosing between FICO Classic and VantageScore 4.0 credit scores will not cause adverse selection because regulatory frameworks and GSE controls prevent gaming, and VantageScore 4.0 provides superior risk assessment.
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 month ago

Economic growth steady in 2025, but FHA delinquencies climb

the Federal Reserve Bank of New York show student loan and auto loan balances at record highs, while credit card balances have climbed to about $1.2 trillion. Delinquencies, particularly on credit cards, are also rising, with 90-day-plus late-payment rates for credit cards more than 12% higher than in prior years. Consumers are driving a lot of growth, but there are some signs of weakness for certain parts of the economy, Kan said, adding that these pressures could spill over into housing and mortgage performance.
Real estate
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 months ago

Mortgage defects stabilize as lenders face quality control issues

Quality control staffing stabilized in 2025, but origination cost pressures and volume surges cause fluctuating defect types and levels, increasing buyback and defect risk.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 months ago

Trade groups push for lower FHA premiums, LLPA cuts

End tri-merge credit reporting, adopt a single-file framework, lower FHA mortgage insurance premiums, reduce LLPAs and refinance fees to lower mortgage costs and expand homeownership.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 months ago

FHA report reveals HECM program is no longer a financial risk

FHA's HECM program is financially strong with negative Claim Type II losses, small overall losses (~0.38% of $64B insurance-in-force) and a $49B Secretary's Notes portfolio.
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 months ago

Mortgage fraud risk rises in Q4 2025

Investment and multifamily loans remained the highest-risk categories, according to the data. An estimated one in 43 investment property applications and one in 27 multifamily applications showed signs of fraud risk during the quarter, well above the broader industry average. The percentage ofrefinancesin the Cotality data set has increased year-over-year by19%, yetthe fraud index is up 1.5% over that time.
Real estate
fromFast Company
2 months ago

The mortgage industry just crossed a line it's avoided for years

"Today, an increasing number of consumers include crypto in their investment portfolios, while major financial institutions are deepening their involvement in crypto assets, supported by key regulatory developments," Newrez President Baron Silverstein said in the announcement, adding that now is the "right time" to weave crypto into the mortgage lending business.
Real estate
Real estate
fromAxios
2 months ago

Homeowners are holding onto their houses for a record-long stretch

Average U.S. homeownership tenure rose to a record 8.6 years in 2025, up from 4.2 years in early 2000.
fromRedfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling & More
2 months ago

Is an ARM Loan a Good Choice for First-Time Home Buyers?

Introductory period: The initial fixed-rate phase before adjustments begin. Adjustment period: How frequently the rate can change after the intro period ends. Index: The benchmark interest rate used to calculate future rate changes. Margin: The lender's fixed markup added to the index. Initial cap: Limits how much the rate can increase at the first adjustment. Periodic cap: Limits how much the rate can change at each adjustment. Lifetime cap: The maximum interest rate allowed over the entire loan term.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 months ago

Are 50-year mortgages, portable mortgages and assumable loans the future of U.S. housing?

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is deeply entrenched in the U.S. system. It benefits from decades of investor demand, a robust securitization framework and established insurance support. Once loan terms extend beyond 30 years, those structural advantages begin to erode. There is also a cost that often gets overlooked. A 50-year mortgage dramatically increases the total interest paid over the life of the loan. While monthly payments may appear more manageable, borrowers can end up paying nearly double the interest compared to a traditional 30-year mortgage.
Real estate
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 month ago

Mortgage escrow misconceptions persist as payment amounts rise

Rising property taxes, insurance premiums, and escrow misconceptions are causing unexpected mortgage payment increases and borrower surprise despite many claiming they understand escrow.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 months ago

Potential cuts to FHA premiums weigh on mortgage insurers

FHA may temporarily cut upfront premiums, risking some mortgage insurer business transfer, but impacts appear manageable and past cuts produced only temporary effects.
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 months ago

HMBS issuance rises to $563M in January as endorsements lag

Original, or first-participation, HMBS production totaled $382 million in January, $90 million more than December's $292 million and $49 million above November's $333 million, but $24 million below January 2025. Tail issuance totaled $179 million, down from $189 million in December. The 72 pools included 23 original pools, 46 tail pools, and three mixed pools. January also saw 21 pools with aggregate sizes under $1 million, totaling $12.1 million in unpaid principal balance (UPB), enabled by a Ginnie Mae rule allowing small pools.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 months ago

Homebuying power improves as prices cool, inventory expands

Realtor Todd Luong of REMAX DFW Associates in Frisco said his recent experience reflects meaningful improvement for buyers, even if affordability remains strained. Here in the Dallas real estate market that I serve, affordability remains a challenge, he says. However, there is a significant amount of data showing that buyer conditions have improved over the past year and that buyers are gaining affordability ground. This should eventually increase housing demand to some degree as we head into the busy spring buying season.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
1 month ago

Federal policy shifts drive new housing compliance challenges

APOR is baked into not only Dodd-Frank as a safe harbor against litigation which many lenders want to comply with and use for their business and pricing and risk but also there are a litany of 40 other statutes that are tied to APOR as it's described in Dodd Frank, over 27 states. Lenders frequently move ahead of formal rulemaking, Dunn added. You don't have to wait for the regulation to comply either, she said.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 months ago

Lower mortgage rates support steady new home sales

Sales of new single-family houses in October 2025 were at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 737,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 0.1 percent (14.2 percent)* below the September 2025 rate of 738,000, and is 18.7 percent (21.7 percent)* above the October 2024 rate of 621,000. There were some negative revisions to the past three months, but the trend still stayed positive.
Real estate
Real estate
fromThe Washington Post
2 months ago

Why nobody really knows the scale of the U.S. housing crisis

The United States faces a substantial housing shortfall, with estimates ranging from about 2 million to 20 million homes depending on measurement choices.
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