Do mortgage rates have room to drop lower?

What a rollercoaster for economic news so far in 2025! As we head into March, many wonder, can mortgage rates dip even lower than we’ve seen since Jan. 14? Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday that “The housing market is stuck right now, but it will unfreeze in weeks.” Which begs the questio

The 29 mortgage servicers that received top marks from Fannie Mae

Fannie Mae on Tuesday announced the results of its 2024 Servicer Total Achievement and Rewards (STAR) program, recognizing 29 mortgage servicers for “competency, capability, and overall performance.”“Our servicers continue to show their commitment to operational excellence while reducing credit loss

Windsor Mortgage CEO explores technology services, coaching in the wholesale market

In the most recent episode of the Power House podcast, host and HousingWire President Diego Sanchez sits down with Chris Vinson, CEO of Windsor Mortgage, a division of Plains Commerce Bank. The conversation covers Windsor’s growth and success in recent years, including its focus on wholesale lending

Win some, lose some: Appraisers wrestle with the CFPB’s dismantling

Some housing industry professionals have cheered the Trump administration’s actions to disable the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), but appraisers have mixed feelings about it.On one hand, they welcome the end of the Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (PAVE) Interagency Task Force,

Mortgage rates dip below 7% after retail sales surprise

This Valentine’s weekend brought an unexpected gift to the housing market as a weaker-than-expected retail sales report sent the 10-year yield tumbling, bringing mortgage rates down to under 7%. Although it’s a welcome decline, we’re still seeing rates considerably higher than the near-6% levels we

Could government funding scrutiny come for reverse mortgage programs?

Housing leaders are naturally interested in knowing how recent cost-cutting efforts by the federal government could be focused upon the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and its wide array of programs, including reverse mortgages.In the first Trump administration, housing offici

loanDepot enhances home equity access with two new product options

California-based mortgage lender loanDepot on Wednesday announced the expansion of its equityFREEDOM portfolio to provide nearly 50 million U.S. homeowners with access to their tappable home equity.The expansion adds 10- and 30-year fixed-term options to the company’s existing 20-year fixed-rate hom

Will higher inflation and mortgage rates create a recession?

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) came in with inflation higher than expected today, particularly in the month-to-month data, which caused the 10-year yield to spike sharply within seconds after the report. This is what I discussed on today’s episode of the HousingWire Daily podcast — that there are ri

Sherry Chris urges brokers to stick with NAR in 2025

In this week’s episode of the Power House podcast, host Diego Sanchez sits down with a close observer from within the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Sherry Chris, special advisor to NAR CEO Nykia Wright, joins the show to discuss the trade association’s response to post-settlement changes a

Proprietary reverse mortgage business in Oregon could be in danger

A bill introduced into the Oregon Senate that seeks to limit the amount of equity a reverse mortgage lender can receive after the sale or transfer of a property could potentially halt the availability of proprietary product offerings in the state.This is according to a version of the bill reviewed b

Mortgage servicing executives grapple with tech stack questions

Mortgage servicing is more complex than ever, and while some large servicers are sinking real resources into innovation, many are hesitant to branch out beyond the decades-old systems they’re comfortable with. This could be risky if delinquencies continue to rise in the coming years.“I think service

Mortgage rates remain high due to labor market resilience

The labor market is showing signs of softness but is not breaking down yet, which has kept mortgage rates higher for longer. Since 2022, my guiding principle has been that the labor market is more important than inflation in determining mortgage rates. For those seeking lower mortgage rates, it’s mo

This Real Estate Scam Could Cost You Thousands of Dollars

You’re smart. You’re careful. But even savvy buyers and homeowners fall victim to real estate fraud. Criminals are impersonating sellers and title companies, resulting in swindles that can take months of legal hassle to repair and cost you thousands of dollars.Do You Know the Targets?It starts with

Understand the Difference Between Prequalification and Preapproval

Have you been prequalified for a mortgage loan? Or preapproved? Are they the same?While both are steps in reaching homeownership, they have different meanings.What’s Prequalified?Prequalification is an informal process. You describe your financial situation—debt, income, and assets—and the lender es