According to new data from Optimal Blue, rate lock data showed moderate signs of an early-January rebound in purchase locks, while refis remain constrained despite a full percentage point rate decline since its October 2022 peak.
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Pace of New Apartment Rentals Improves
With affordability still a concern amongst the homebuying public, the rental market continues to flourish, as nearly half the apartments built in the first quarter were snapped up by renters. The...
Could Homeowners Insurance Become the Next Housing Crisis?
According to a new Realtor.com report, a majority of the recent and prospective homebuyers surveyed cited concerns about obtaining or renewing homeowners' insurance. The post Could Homeowners...
Recognizing Mortgage Visionaries at Five Star Conference
Meet the finalists for Five Star’s Mortgage Visionary Award, recognizing those female mortgage professionals who have demonstrated inspirational leadership, and have shaped lending practices or...
Delinquencies Climb for Commercial & Multifamily Loans as CMBS Weakens
"The delinquency rate for commercial mortgages increased in the second quarter of 2025 across most major capital sources," said Reggie Booker, MBA’s Associate VP of Commercial Real Estate...
House Dems Raise Concerns Over Pulte’s Investigation of Fed Governor
Rep. Maxine Waters is leading a contingent of House Democrats in seeking information on FHFA Director Bill Pulte’s mortgage fraud investigation into Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. The post...
Rising Home Equity Is Driving Up Entry Barriers
A new Realtor.com report reveals that, as sellers benefit from big gains, buyers face higher down payments, fiercer competition, and shifting rate risks. The post Rising Home Equity Is Driving Up...
Is It a Buyer’s Season Yet? Housing Market Conditions Shift
While price growth dipped in July, well below the rate of inflation recorded in the Consumer Price Index during that same period, a new report from Cotality revealed the national average and...
Keeping an Eye on REO Trends
Upward movement in both foreclosure starts and completions may signal increasing financial strain for some homeowners, amid elevated home prices and interest rates. The post Keeping an Eye on REO...
Recognizing the Next Generation of Industry Leadership
Meet the finalists for Five Star’s Rising Star Executive Award, honoring dynamic women executives who represent the next generation of leadership who possess the ability to inspire teams, spark...
CFPB Reportedly Nearing Staffing Cuts
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau may be on the verge of reducing more of its workforce due to new limits under Congressional funding, with staffers concerned there may be insufficient...
More Seniors Are Renting Than Ever Before
The face of U.S. rentership is getting older. Between 2013 and 2023, the number of renters aged 65+ grew by 2.4 million, representing a nearly 30% jump and the largest increase of any age group....
Senate Banking Committee Advances the Nomination of Stephen Miran as Fed Governor
Nominated by President Trump after Adriana Kugler’s resignation from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, if confirmed, Miran will serve out a term expiring January 31, 2026. The post Senate...
Disaster Housing Bill Back in Play: Eviction and Foreclosure Moratoriums Proposed
The Federal Disaster Housing Stability Act provides housing protections for families experiencing economic hardship due to natural disasters, including a 120-day moratorium on evictions and a...
House Judiciary Committee Member Calls Out FHFA Director Over Fraud Investigations
House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin has sent a letter to Bill Pulte, accusing the FHFA Director of “brazen abuse” of authority and utilizing resources to “conduct deep-sea...
Median Rents Tick Up But Renters Remain Active
"Apartment construction boomed during the pandemic, but many of those projects have since wrapped up and fewer new ones are breaking ground," said Sheharyar Bokhari, Senior Economist at Redfin....
Scarce Buyer’s Markets Still Offer the American Dream for Some
While home affordability and supply remain a hurdle for many Americans, the U.S. housing market reached a "rare state of balance" this summer, according to Realtor.com’s August monthly housing...
Independent Mortgage Banks Express Concern Over Fannie/Freddie IPO
A group of 46 independent mortgage banks—non-bank mortgage loan originators—have sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and FHFA Director Bill Pulte, outlining recommendations to...
New Legislation Aims to Support Military Housing
Rep. Jimmy Patronis has introduced the HOMEFRONT Act, a measure that waives overcompliance that restricts the military’s ability to modernize and improve military housing, and protects...
VA Loan Holders Mistakenly Receive Foreclosure Letters
Approximately 35,000 U.S. veterans with homes backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have received a letter informing them they are at risk of their homes being foreclosed upon. The...
Report: Multifamily Lending Rebounded in 2024
"Following 2023’s low-volume year, multifamily lending picked up in 2024," said Reggie Booker, MBA’s Associate VP of Commercial Real Estate Research, "with activity increasing across lenders of...