Origination

The financial services firm boosted a private placement by $100 million on Wednesday and introduced a new product for third-party originators earlier this week.

Recent economic data pushed investors toward Treasurys over the past week, driving 10-year yields to as low as 4.1%.

The head of the short-selling firm Muddy Waters said he's short Blackstone Mortgage Trust, saying the publicly traded real estate investment trust is exposed to a perfect storm of economic conditions hitting commercial real estate and may face a liquidity crisis. 

Toll Brothers Inc. stock rose as the homebuilder's executives pointed to "solid" demand in recent weeks as mortgage rates pulled back from two-decade highs. 

Procedural limits on condo originations aimed at preventing issues like the Surfside building collapse have frustrated lenders, who will see if this helps.

Heightened government-backed activity also helped bring the average loan size down to its lowest mark in 2023, with purchase amounts falling below $400,000 for the first time since January, the Mortgage Bankers Association found.

Brokerage giants, reeling from a billion-dollar judgment against them a month ago, face another major trial next year.

The top five lenders have an average mortgage origination volume of more than $8.8 billion.

But the average cost for a mobile home is still more than $300,000 lower than a permanent construction.

While Fitch and CoreLogic predict home prices will rise next year, Redfin is forecasting a 1% drop in the second and third quarters.