Publicly traded lenders, including UWM, Rocket Mortgage and Guild Mortgage, saw personnel expenses increase significantly throughout last year.

The lender says its technology will supercharge scale, preventing a potential hiring and firing spree which doomed it after the recent refinance boom.

Large mortgage companies are targeting mergers and acquisitions as well as home equity lending in their 2025 business plans, Boston Consulting Group said.

After two consecutive quarters of profits, independent mortgage bankers lost money in the most recent period, for the ninth time in the last three years.

The Irvine, California-based firm reported a net loss of $67.5 million in the fourth quarter.

The company is a leading player in the primary and secondary markets for government-backed reverse mortgages and also has been developing proprietary products.

Origination volume at the San Diego-based company rose 57% to $24 billion in 2024.

Easing regulations on the GSEs will likely drive elevated activity in non-QM if or when it occurs, leaders at the real estate investment trust also said.

Its Arc Home lending business made money in December and January as the company leans more into home equity originations, which helped financial performance.

Company executives touted the immediate returns from its rebranding and Super Bowl advertising campaign, with February activity exceeding expectations.