Originations

Stephen Scherr starts this week as co-president at Pretium, a major landlord of U.S. single-family homes founded by his former Goldman colleague Don Mullen.

Jay Venkateswaran, business unit head of banking and financial services at WNS Global Services, said the best lenders are preparing now for expectations of increased business at least two quarters in the future.

Buyers aren't necessarily responding to greater inventory and lower mortgage rates.

The conforming 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose to 6.12% on Oct. 3.

The perpetrator faces up to 150 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for December.

The bank just added an additional $6 million to a program that pays for a 2 percentage point buydown in the mortgage rate for eligible borrowers.

The launch of joint-venture business Aclara Lending comes through a new agreement between the real estate enterprise and mortgage broker Barrett Financial Group.

Last week's lukewarm results come after a two-year high in application activity.

Mortgage applications were up and rates were down in the wake of the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut, but experts wonder will that be enough to counteract higher housing prices.

The president of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers shares her outlook for the trigger lead bill, secondary-market refinancing restrictions and more.

Activist John Hope Bryant has suggested the 40-year mortgage as a solution to affordability issues for first-time buyers. While it has some support, industry players also note questions about practicality remain.

The merger between the two retail mortgage businesses will grow the company's footprint, especially in the Pacific Northwest, according to Synergy One's CEO.

The disaster underscores Americans' dangerously low levels of flood insurance coverage, especially away from coastal areas. 

State housing finance agencies had a resurgent fiscal 2023 and the recent fed funds rate reduction could have a mixed impact on them, Fitch Ratings said.

"A slight upward turn reflects a modest improvement in housing affordability, primarily because mortgage rates descended to 6.5% in August," NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said in a prepared statement.

Affordability improved for a fourth straight month, but questions remain about whether recent trends will bring a significant number of buyers into the housing market.

Mortgage bankers feared a proposal related to lenders' access to a major secondary market and related reporting was too harsh. They're eyeing a redraft closely.

Mortgage rates being at a two-year low has not moved potential buyers off the sidelines, Freddie Mac says, but Redfin says demand for home tours is up.

CV3 Financial Services, started by long-time business purpose lending executive William Tessar, just celebrated one year in business and topping the $1 billion mark.

Purchase activity trudged along during what lenders describe as a traditional end-of-summer slump.