Trump administration lays out 5-year goals for Fannie, Freddie

Equitable housing and climate change risk are out, deregulation and combating fraud are in. The plan sheds little light on Trump administration’s bid to spur homebuilders into expanding housing supply. Continue reading

Rocket Mortgage rolls out bullish $822,550 conforming loan limit

The 2.4 percent increase ahead of an official announcement in November surpasses more cautious 1.5 percent increases adopted last month by UWM, Pennymac, CrossCountry and Rate. Continue reading

Fathom Realty buys a ‘proven model’ for first-time homebuyers

START Real Estate has just 70 agents, but founders Randy and Terri Bell have built a business model with a 70 percent mortgage attach rate that Fathom wants to take nationwide. Continue reading

Mortgage rates ebb as Powell hints at end of ‘quantitative tightening’

Fed chair dismisses suggestion that central bank could resume its purchases of mortgage-backed securities to bring down mortgage rates and improve housing affordability. Continue reading

LoanDepot revamps leadership as it fights steering allegations

Since returning in July as CEO of the company he founded, Anthony Hsieh has cleaned house, hiring or promoting 10 executives who can help take loanDepot “back to our roots.” Continue reading

LendingTree founder, CEO Doug Lebda dies in ATV accident

Doug Lebda founded LendingTree in 1996 to simplify consumers’ mortgage loan search. He led the company through several busts and booms, growing its market value to more than $750 million. Continue reading

Equifax cuts VantageScore 4.0 mortgage credit scores to $4.50

Once Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are ready to start accepting VantageScore 4.0, the algorithm will go head-to-head with the less inclusive FICO Classic score. Continue reading

Feds charge Trump nemesis Letitia James with bank fraud

James calls allegations over $109,600 mortgage baseless retribution, and a “continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.” Continue reading

Shutdown slowing FHA, VA approvals; USDA loans are on hold

The FHA’s Office of Single Family Housing and some of its mortgage insurance programs are “operational but with limited services,” HUD said in bulletin to lenders. Continue reading

Fannie, Freddie close NY offices as Trump battles Letitia James

The Trump administration is using its tight control over the mortgage giants to continue a vendetta against New York attorney general and other political opponents, critics say. Continue reading