Homebuyer demand for purchase mortgages up despite higher rates

Mortgage rates are expected to ease as markets anticipate Federal Reserve policymakers will raise rates just one more time this year and then reverse course. Continue reading

Fannie and Freddie’s fees going up Monday despite lender objections

The Federal Housing Finance Agency says risk-based fee increases are aimed at ensuring the mortgage giants’ safety and soundness, not to subsidize fee waivers for buyers of limited means. Continue reading

Home sales will be ‘subdued’ for rest of 2023, Fannie Mae projects

The housing sector’s resilience to higher prices and mortgage rates has bolstered prices, but a lack of for-sale inventory is expected to limit sales, according to Fannie’s latest monthly forecast. Continue reading

More tech vendors approved to support appraisal-free mortgages

Stewart Valuation Intelligence (SVI) is the latest technology vendor to be approved by Fannie Mae to support the new value acceptance + property data valuation process. Continue reading

Fairway loses 8 California branches to rival Guild Mortgage

The defection of former Fairway division manager John Lowe and 40 colleagues who originated $350 million in loans last year “is equal to that of a mini acquisition.” Continue reading

Legislation aimed at banning mortgage trigger leads is back

Despite lobbying by mortgage trade groups, two previous bills failed to attract cosponsors and died in the House Committee on Financial Services without a second reading. Continue reading

Listing shortages kept prices from falling in Q1: Fannie Mae

The mortgage giant’s quarterly Home Price Index shows national home prices were up 1 percent during the first quarter of 2023 compared to the final three months of 2022. Continue reading

Marketing guru’s run for POTUS puts speakers in awkward position

NAR’s Lawrence Yun is among the prominent figures scheduled to speak at a seminar where Momentifi CEO and U.S. presidential candidate Gibran Nicholas will hawk his book. Continue reading

Fathom Realty parent company borrows $3.5M from existing investor

Fathom Holdings will pay at least 8 percent interest on a convertible note company executives say will provide more flexibility as they seek “cash flow profitability” by Q3. Continue reading