DelPrete: How Zillow pressures its agent partners to plug mortgages
Zillow is shoring up its Home Loans business by ratcheting up pressure on Flex agents, who refer clients to the mortgage arm or risk losing future leads, real estate advisor Mike DelPrete writes
by Mike DelPrete Nov 1
Sherman Bridge launches fix-and-flip investor loan marketplace
Underwriting engine helps investors compare options with 15 lenders offering short-term loans for rehabbing and flipping or renting single-family homes in 48 markets in all but 12 US states
by Matt Carter Nov 1
LoanDepot lets buyers cover FHA down payment with 2nd mortgage
Available everywhere except New York, loanDepot's new 'accessZERO' program provides a down payment of up to 5% in the form of a 10-year fully amortized 2nd mortgage
by Matt Carter Oct 31
New startup Foyer helps first-time homebuyers with savings program
The '401(k) for homeownership' helps first-time buyers achieve their savings goals with 4.51% APY high-yield savings accounts, as well as educational tools and matching with agents and lenders
by Lillian Dickerson Oct 31
First American settles 'no-poach' allegations with New York AG
The $4.5M agreement follows similar settlements with 'big four' title insurance underwriters Fidelity National Financial, Old Republic National Title Insurance and Stewart Title Guaranty
by Matt Carter Oct 30
Impact of 'lock-in effect' on listings may have been overstated
Fannie Mae researchers say rising mortgage rates aren't the only reason homeowners have been reluctant to sell, and that a decline in rates won't necessarily produce a flood of for-sale listings
by Matt Carter Oct 30
VantageScore: New scoring model could qualify 4.9M extra borrowers
Company puts heat on regulators to stick to 2025 timetable for requiring lenders working with Fannie and Freddie to use VantageScore 4.0; delays would impact 'creditworthy people of color'
by Matt Carter Oct 30
Biden administration backs plan to convert more offices to homes
Initiative provides new financing and technical assistance to developers and local government, and highlights grants and tax incentives that can make conversion projects more attractive
by Matt Carter Oct 27
Mortgage demand slips again as rates continue relentless rise
Loan applications slip to lowest level since 1995 as mortgage rates climb for the 7th week in a row, according to a weekly survey of lenders by the Mortgage Bankers Association
by Matt Carter Oct 25
Rocket subsidiary Lendesk launches mortgage AI assistant
Lender Spotlight AI Assistant sifts through the finer points of more than 7000 mortgage options to help mortgage brokers identify the right product and answer questions clients might have
by Matt Carter Oct 24
Project to tackle appraisal bias continues with Nov. 1 hearing
The public is invited to join leaders from the American Bankers Association and mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for an Appraisal Subcommittee hearing on tackling bias
by Matt Carter Oct 23
Mortgage rates ease after Powell weighs in on impacts of tightening
The Fed chair acknowledged that elevated term premiums — higher rates of return bond investors are demanding to compensate them for risk — could reduce the need for further rate hikes
by Matt Carter Oct 20
Ameris is now 10th lender to settle DOJ redlining charges in 2 years
In announcing the $9M settlement with the Florida lender, the DOJ says it 'currently has over 2 dozen active investigations into redlining, spanning neighborhoods across the country'
by Matt Carter Oct 19
FHA will consider rent from ADUs when qualifying borrowers
HUD says policy change is intended to help more first-time homebuyers, seniors, and inter-generational families tap the wealth building potential of homeownership
by Matt Carter Oct 19
Mortgage applications hit 28-year low as bond selloff keeps rates up
Mortgage rates continued their relentless rise this week to levels not seen in 2 decades, fueled by a bear market for bonds that fund government borrowing and most home loans
by Matt Carter Oct 18
ACI paying another $20M to settle mortgage payments debacle
In settling with state regulators, the Miami-based electronic payment processor is looking to close the books on a 2021 test that triggered $2.3B in erroneous mortgage payments
by Matt Carter Oct 17