Longbridge CEO Chris Mayer on reverse mortgage partnerships with forward companies

In 2024, a key element for the reverse mortgage industry was a sense of newfound collaboration that many industry participants felt with forward mortgage players. Longbridge Financial largely sees that dynamic as one that is likely to continue, according to CEO Chris Mayer.In an interview with Housi

With Ginnie Mae under fire, concern about market disruption is growing

Rumors of large-scale staffing cuts at Ginnie Mae are spooking Wall Street and the housing industry, who fear potential repercussions to the mortgage-backed securities market.Mortgage lenders and developers are reportedly working their contact lists in Washington, D.C. to try and protect the company

Trump’s special envoy says California wildfire aid will come with conditions

Richard Grenell, the special envoy to President Donald Trump, said there will be strings attached to California wildfire aid, Politico reported on Friday.During a conversation with Politico’s Dasha Burns at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Grenell shared t

Mortgage rates fall as economic softness sends bond yields lower 

Mortgage rates decreased again today on weak economic data, following last Friday’s similar drop in the 10-year yield. Furthermore, the mortgage spreads in today’s pricing are favorable. According to the latest quote from Mortgage News Daily, mortgage rates are now around 6.89%. This represents a de

eXp rides Clear Cooperation to international growth

While Robert Reffkin and Compass are touting their success while pushing for the repeal of the National Association of Realtors‘ (NAR) Clear Cooperation Policy, eXp Realty executives are claiming that the North American MLS system is helping to fuel their company’s strong international growth. “I wa

Judge clears way for federal layoffs, including at the CFPB and VA

A U.S. District Court judge in Washington, D.C., cleared the way for mass layoffs of federal employees — including at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) — when he ruled Thursday that four labor unions that filed suit against the Trump administ

NAR, Phoenix Realtors settle dispute over three-way agreement

The Phoenix Association of Realtors (PAR) has blinked first in its game of chicken with the National Association of Realtors (NAR).The groups announced Thursday that they’ve come to an agreement that will pare down PAR’s membership option to agents who are not Realtors, bringing PAR into compliance

Massachusetts AG sues Hometap over ‘illegal reverse mortgage’

The Attorney General of Massachusetts has filed suit against home equity contract provider Hometap, alleging that the company “pervasively and systematically violated the state’s consumer protection laws, including mortgage and foreclosure prevention laws, putting financially vulnerable homeowners a

Gen Z seeking inventive homeownership paths

While affordability challenges persist, Gen Z is proving resilient, carving out traditional and non-traditional paths to homeownership — particularly in the Midwest. New data from LendingTree and CoreLogic highlights the struggles and successes of young buyers in today’s real estate landscape.Young

Fewer first-time homebuyers emerged in 2024, but Black Americans bucked the trend

While the share of first-time homebuyers has declined across the country, Black homebuyers are bucking the trend and showing resilience in an increasingly difficult housing market.A recent Zillow survey found that 62% of all Black homebuyers in 2024 were first-timers, the same level as the previous

Why mortgage originations should pick up in 2025

U.S. mortgage originations are projected to grow moderately in 2025, despite continued economic uncertainty and elevated interest rates, according to TransUnion’s newly released credit insights in the fourth quarter of 2024.After years of sluggish origination growth due to inflation, high borrowing

Milwaukee housing authority owes $5M to the city, officials say

The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM), an independent agency in Wisconsin’s largest city that was already embattled following the discovery of millions of dollars in misappropriated federal funds, is facing further financial scrutiny this week after the city’s comptroller said it is

NAHB to Congress: Ease regulatory burdens for builders

The Trump administration wants to improve housing affordability and availability, as emphasized by an executive order signed by the president on his first day back in office. The order called upon the heads of all executive departments and agencies “to deliver emergency price relief, consistent with

ServiceLink’s Melinda Maloney on the next generation of housing leaders

The HousingWire award spotlight series highlights the individuals and organizations that have been recognized through our Editors’ Choice Awards. Nominations for HousingWire’s 2025 Rising Stars Award are open now through February 28, 2025. Click here to nominate.The mortgage industry is undergoing r

Former FHFA Director Mark Calabria joins CFPB in interim role

Mark Calabria is the latest addition to the leadership roster at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), despite the bureau’s near shutdown. Calabria, director of the FHFA in President Trump’s first term, will be serving a key role at the CFPB until Jonathan McKernan is confirmed as the per

Two CFPB critics appointed to leadership roles at the bureau

The newest senior leaders of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) might not be anticipating long-term employment.Jeffrey Clark was appointed as senior advisor to Mark Paoletta, the CFPB’s new chief legal officer. Both had a tenure at the Center for Renewing America, a conservative think-t

HMBS 2.0 rollout could be hobbled by reported Ginnie Mae staff cuts

Staffing cuts at Ginnie Mae could table or delay the rollout of a complementary reverse mortgage securities program announced last year, according to an interview with a former Ginnie Mae official who requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation and reports of staff cuts by multiple outlets.But a

The Trump administration thinks HUD’s Disaster Relief is a waste of money. They’re wrong

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced its own DOGE Task Force this week, after Elon Musk’s team ravaged the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) last week. While American voters have little transparency into this undemocratic firing squad, we know that they

Massive FHA cuts would create dysfunction for mortgage industry, homeowners: ex-official

If a rumored large-scale layoff at the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) occurs, it could result in major damage to key programs that mortgage lenders and investors rely on, such as project-based rental assistance, Section 202 and even financial losses to the national mortgage insurance fund.This

Fair housing nonprofit sues Scott Turner, HUD over ‘DEI’ orders

Three civil rights nonprofits including the National Fair Housing Alliance have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump and his administration for allegedly violating the First and Fifth Amendments with three executive orders Trump signed in January related to diversity, equity and inclusion