Underwriting

While private mortgage insurance still has a larger share of business than the Federal Housing Administration, the gap will continue to narrow through 2027.

New insurance written at the six private mortgage insurers increased by only 2% year-over-year, a sign of the sluggish home sales market at the low end.

Second quarter earnings at the nation's largest title underwriters, while mostly positive, were still affected by the rather weak purchase season this year.

Blend Labs had 23 new or expanded relationships in the fiscal period, double that of the first quarter, including 18 related to consumer banking or home equity.

From warehouse offerings from a subservicer to a development willing to take crypto for purchases, these firms are looking to fill holes in the market.

GSE loans acquired in the period have higher loan-to-value and debt-to-income ratios and lower credit scores, which Milliman said boosted serious default risk.

Pushing back on critics, VantageScore's Chief Strategist and Chief Economist says VantageScore 4.0 boosts competition and predicts risk better than FICO.

As high interest rates make refinancing impossible for many homeowners, increasing numbers of them are turning to HELOCs and home equity loans for cash.

Allowing the same three companies to control both credit scoring and credit reporting removes one significant check on manipulation or distortion of consumer data, writes the Director of Consumer Reporting and Data Advocacy at the National Consumer Law Center.

Community banks could be the answer to increase the supply of non-agency mortgage products in the secondary market, said Steve Thomas of FutureWave Finance.