Mike Cagney’s blockchain lending startup Figure Technologies plans to raise $250 million through a new blank-check company, according to an SEC filing.

First Foundation is relocating its corporate headquarters to Dallas, where the tax burden is lighter and it sees more opportunity to beef up lending, add wealth management clients and pursue acquisitions of community banks.

Also, private money is expected to return to the mortgage securitization market, according to lenders who responded to an Altisource survey.

The deal definitively ends a monthslong war of words between the data provider and stakeholders who attempted a hostile takeover.

The acquiring company does business under the name Excelerate Capital and will extend that name to Castle in order to expand its footprint.

The California company acquired Civic Financial Services, which makes loans to residential real estate investors.

The company is exploring a range of options to diversify its balance sheet, but new CEO Thomas Cangemi says the best plan of attack is to merge with or acquire another institution.

United Wholesale Mortgage is the third nonbank lender to complete the process of going public since the wave of announcements started last year.

The acquisition brings the credit report provider into the commercial and residential appraisal technology space.

The bank agreed to acquire A Mortgage Boutique, which operates in six states.