Author Archives: Matt Carter

Mortgage lenders innovate to help homebuyers cope with higher rates

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Rocket, Guild and UWM are among lenders providing homebuyers with options, such as temporary rate buydowns and reduced fees on refis if rates come down. Continue reading →

Homes could get more affordable even if prices don’t come down

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Homebuyer affordability could improve by 9 percent by the end of next year if mortgage rates continue to fall and home prices plateau as expected, First American economist predicts. Continue reading →

Family behind UWM to buy Phoenix Suns and Mercury

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The Suns and Mercury deal, valued at $4 billion, sets the stage for the nation’s largest mortgage lenders, United Wholesale Mortgage and Rocket Mortgage, to be court rivals. Continue reading →

Bah humbug! Mortgage rates fall, but holidays curtail buyer demand

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It’s a slow time of year for homebuying, so it’s not surprising to Mortgage Bankers Association Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni that purchase applications didn’t jump last week. Continue reading →

Stewart targets institutional investors with BCHH acquisition

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Coraopolis, Pennsylvania-based BCHH provides national title and settlement services to mortgage servicers, real estate investors, asset management companies and government entities. Continue reading →

Wells Fargo paying $3.7B to settle mortgage, auto loan allegations

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Federal regulators allege bank improperly denied thousands of mortgage loan modifications over at least seven years, in some cases leading customers to lose their homes. Continue reading →

Improved mortgage rate outlook could bode well for home sales

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Fannie Mae economists are not quite as gloomy about the 2023 home sales outlook as mortgage rates retreat from 2022 highs, with more room to ease. Continue reading →

Real estate transfer tax hikes create headaches for mortgage lenders

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Federal regulations provide “zero tolerance” for miscalculating real estate transaction taxes when providing TILA-RESPA integrated disclosure to borrowers, Black Knight warns. Continue reading →

Homebuyers have appetite for down payment assistance info, Zillow says

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Zillow revealed Thursday that 1 million users have queried its Down Payment Resource database since the real estate search portal partnered with the data provider a year ago as home prices soared. Continue reading →

Fed slows rate hikes, but remains wary of entrenched inflation

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Half a percentage point “is still a historically large increase and we still have some ways to go,” Fed Chairman Jerome Powell warns as policymakers wrap up final meeting of the year. Continue reading →