Mortgages

The Rithm affiliate that acquired Specialized Loan Servicing will pay $4.65 million, an amount that includes borrower restitution.

While the 30-year average has hovered near the same level for weeks, the past year brought with it promising trends that may ease affordability in 2026.

Further mortgage payment reductions and other "aggressive" changes to federal policy impacting homeowners are on the roadmap for the coming year.

The bill's signing comes weeks after one of the most notorious NTRAP providers agreed to legal settlements in two states, nullifying existing contracts.

Mortgage activity fell 3.8% from one week prior for the week ending Dec. 12, led by a 4% drop in refinance applications, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

The deal significantly grows United Wholesale Mortgage's servicing portfolio, and it will increase the float on its common stock, making it more investable.

The trade group's letter to FHFA Director Bill Pulte pointed out that lenders were facing credit report price hikes for four straight years.

New-home purchase activity rose 3.1% year over year, but dropped 7% from October, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Higher unemployment has driven these indications of distress higher but most loans that financial institutions hold in their portfolios are still performing.

Nonfarm payrolls increased 64,000 in November after declining 105,000 in October, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data out Tuesday.

Remote work helped fuel migration and erased the loss of rural residents that occurred in the decade prior to the arrival of Covid, Harvard researchers found.

The threshold regards loans where the annual percentage rate is at least 1.5 percentage points higher than the average prime offer rate on first liens.

The home purchase market, which competes for consumers with rentals, should remain subdued in 2026 because of high mortgage rates and low affordability.

Rising labor and material costs could weigh on final expenses, despite a slower summer for hurricane and tornado claims, according to Verisk.

The partnership also includes a $50 million equity investment in Finance of America, securing long-term alignment between the companies.

Confidence among US homebuilders edged up in December as builders continued to deploy sales incentives to motivate buyers.

After home equity surged in 2023, average gains slowed last year before falling into negative territory over the past 12 months, Cotality said.

For 2026, the mortgage industry operating environment will improve, while nonbank financial metrics should be within Fitch's rating criteria sensitivities.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the FHA-insured loan caps for low- and high-cost areas, which are set based on conforming loan limits.

The new monthly reporting rule lists improved accuracy and timeliness of MBS payments among its goals, with implementation planned for February 2026.