A new study from Hire a Helper reveals three more U.S. towns—all located in the South—have officially reached a population of zero, and experts believe more population declines are expected to come. Click through to learn what’s driving these trends.
Most Recent Articles
2025 Experiences Strongest Buyer’s Market in More Than a Decade
Homebuyers had the strongest negotiating power in August, according to recent Redfin data, with over half a million more sellers than purchasers. However, could the situation experience reversal...
Bipartisan Bill Seeks Relief for FHA Borrowers’ Insurance Costs
Reps. Gregory Meeks and Pete Sessions have introduced the Mortgage Insurance Freedom Act, a bill which would allow borrowers to stop paying FHA mortgage insurance premiums once they have built up...
Fixer-Uppers Surge in Popularity, Giving U.S. Buyers More Opportunity
A new Realtor.com report showed searches for "fixer-upper" homes have more than tripled in the last four years, with homebuyers nationwide eyeing these heavily discounted homes to help break into...
Turning Risk Into Readiness: What Top Catastrophe Management Programs Offer Servicers
As disaster events intensify, mortgage servicers must demand more from their insurance partners and redefine what true catastrophe readiness looks like. The post Turning Risk Into Readiness: What...
OCC Restructures Supervision: Three Tracks, New Risk-Focus
With assets thresholds and risk profiles driving changes, the restructuring is said to be tailoring oversight and support for various bank types. The post OCC Restructures Supervision: Three...
Protecting Fair Housing: New Coalition Rises in Congress
In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, more than 40 members of Congress are urging the preservation affordable housing and the rights of Americans against housing...
Why Customer Retention Is the Most Urgent Priority in a Shifting Mortgage Market
Historically, retention has been viewed as a sales or origination function, but the truth is, servicing is the single most consistent and enduring touchpoint homeowners have with a lender. The...
Navigate Mortgage Claims With Confidence—and Speed
Strong and timely claims recovery reduces advances and curtailments, lowers servicing costs, supports MSR value, and can be the difference between profit and loss, especially on FHA/VA/USDA...
Active Home Listings Experience Largest Decline in Two Years
New Redfin data showed that active listings of homes for sale fell month-over-month in August. This represents the largest seasonally adjusted decline since June 2023, as sluggish demand continues...
Rep. Waters Introduces Bill to Expand Affordable Housing Tools
The “Strengthening Housing Supply Act” would authorize the use of Community Development Block Grant funds to support the development of affordable housing and establish a maximum limit for...
Glimmer of Improvement in New Homebuying Activity
New MBA data revealed that home purchase applications to buy newly constructed properties remained higher than last year, and although the monthly pace of applications slowed from July, Joel Kan,...
Hutchins Agrees to Extend Role as Freddie Mac Interim CEO
In a regulatory filing, Freddie Mac made clear that Michael Hutchins’ status as interim CEO and President of the GSE will continue until a successor is selected. The post Hutchins Agrees to Extend...
Freedom Mortgage CEO on Servicing: Growth, Tech & What’s Next
MortgagePoint’s quarterly Q&A feature with Freedom Mortgage CEO Stanley C. Middleman answering five topical questions. For this installment, Middleman discusses the evolving mortgage servicing...
Is the U.S. On the Path Back to ‘Normal’ Housing Costs?
While home prices near record highs and mortgage rates remain elevated, new Redfin data suggests housing costs could return to “normal” by 2030 if home-price growth stabilizes and mortgage rates...
Five Star Announces 2025 Servicing Excellence Award Winners
The Servicing Excellence Awards were created to honor the outstanding achievements of mortgage servicers across the industry driving stewardship and compliance, delivering seamless portfolio...
Q2 Snapshot: Signs of Mortgage Delinquency Pressure Returning?
New data shows shifts in loan performance for homeowners and lenders. Here's a look at regional trends, and where delinquencies may be heading. The post Q2 Snapshot: Signs of Mortgage Delinquency...
Embracing AI in Real Estate: Progress, Promise & Pushback
From automated valuations to marketing bots, tech is staking its claim, but is everyone convinced that the hype matches the reality? A new report weighs in. The post Embracing AI in Real Estate:...
Bipartisan Push Seeks Stronger Coordination Among Housing Agencies
The HUD-USDA-VA Interagency Coordination Act will require the Secretaries of HUD, the USDA, and the VA to establish a memorandum of understanding to share relevant housing-related research and...
Q2 2025 Home-Flipping Profits Eroded Amid Rising Costs
A new ATTOM report reveals that, after years of strong gains, market conditions are cutting into returns and challenging investor strategies. The post Q2 2025 Home-Flipping Profits Eroded Amid...
New Listings Drop to Record Low as Sellers Stop Short
Zillow data reveals that, as hopeful homebuyers' recent run of gaining purchasing power has been cut short, many sellers pulled back from the housing market in August, in response to lackluster...