Mortgage
Jobless Claims Near 1960s Lows Signal Labor Market Resilience Despite Slower Hiring
Layoffs remain historically low: Initial unemployment claims fell to 194,000 for the week ended Oct. 17, 2026, approaching levels last seen in the late 1960s. Employers are holding on to workers: Des…
Homeowners Tapped $47 Billion in Equity in Q1. Could a Blended-Rate Refinance Make More Sense Than a Second Loan?
Americans are increasingly turning to their home equity for cash, but homeowners with low existing mortgage rates face a difficult choice: preserve a favorable first mortgage by taking out a second l…
MCT and Dark Matter link Empower to automate loan sale data writeback
The integration, announced Oct. 15 and available now to mutual clients, writes post-commitment data including MCT Marketplace sales back to Empower. The time savings figure is a company estimate.
New Jersey opens fall state tax credit auction with $59.6 million in credits
NJHMFA's auction runs from Oct. 16 to Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. Eastern. The amount is face value of credits, not cash raised, and proceeds go to affordable and workforce housing production.
Freddie Mac refreshes its FAST servicing transfer upload tool Oct. 19
Same Gateway login and one-loan ZIP rules, plus single-screen drag-and-drop uploads, a new Upload Results page and on-demand reconciliation reports, per Freddie Mac's release notes.
Fannie Mae MBS files begin disclosing multiple credit score models Oct. 19
Starting with October 2026 securities, PoolTalk loan-level files add a Fannie Score, Freddie Score and Pricing Indicator. It is an investor disclosure change, not a new borrower qualification rule.
Realtor.com Market Clock moves to 4 o'clock as more metros tilt toward buyers
The Q3 2026 report counts 27 seller's markets, 49 balanced and loosening, 17 buyer's and 6 balanced and tightening among 99 metros. Realtor.com says buyer leverage is not the same as affordability.
Dynex Capital book value falls to $10.91 in third quarter as Agency MBS spreads widen
Dynex reported a negative 11.5% economic return for the quarter ended Sept. 30 and raised leverage to 9.0 times equity. The company blamed wider Agency MBS spreads; hedges partly offset losses.
HUD opens FHA multifamily insurance to build-to-rent communities
Mortgagee Letter 2026-12, effective Oct. 14, lets detached homes, duplexes and triplexes qualify under Sections 221(d)(4) and 223(f), with site, management and accessibility conditions.
FHFA July report: Fannie and Freddie foreclosure starts fall 22.4%, refinances slow
The report published Oct. 15 covers July 2026 enterprise loans: 16,195 prevention actions, 7,503 modifications and 46,974 refinances. It is not a read on October.
Is a Cash-Out Refinance a Good Way to Pay Off High-Interest Debt?
A cash-out refinance can help homeowners consolidate high-interest debt, simplify monthly payments and potentially reduce borrowing costs. But whether the strategy makes financial sense depends on th…
Fairway Home Mortgage Adds VantageScore 4.0 for Mortgage Lending
VantageScore says Fairway has implemented its 4.0 credit model. Borrowers should still ask which loan programs and investors accept it.
U.S. Debt Dispute Puts Mortgage Rates in Focus as Treasury Yields Climb
A dispute between the U.S. Treasury and the International Monetary Fund over the country’s mounting federal debt is highlighting a critical question for the housing market: Can economic growth bring…
Americans Are Falling Behind on Bills. Could Refinancing Help Homeowners Regain Control?
Rising delinquencies, mounting household debt and persistent cost-of-living pressure are putting renewed focus on a financial strategy for eligible homeowners: using a mortgage refinance to consolida…
MBA Releases 'Affordability in Action' Roadmap Urging Cuts to Credit, Pricing and FHA Insurance Costs
The Mortgage Bankers Association on Oct. 14 released a set of proposed administrative and regulatory changes aimed at lowering closing costs, monthly payments and the cost of building housing. None h…
Mortgage Hedging Is Adding Pressure to Treasurys, but Analysts Say the Effect Is Fading
Reuters reported Oct. 12 that rising yields have pushed mortgage bond investors to hedge, adding selling pressure to Treasurys. Analysts quoted said the impact is smaller than in past selloffs. Here…
Ocrolus Now Includes Its Detect Fraud Checks for All Mortgage Customers
Ocrolus said Oct. 12 that every mortgage customer now gets Detect, which screens bank statements, pay stubs and tax forms for tampering, at no added cost.
FHA Sets Score-Selection Rules for FICO 10T and VantageScore 4.0 Starting Jan. 1, 2027
FHA Mortgagee Letter 2026-11, dated Oct. 8, explains how lenders pick the Minimum Decision Credit Score when more than one credit score model is submitted, for case numbers assigned on or after Jan.…
ARM Demand Climbs as High Rates Push Borrowers Toward Lower Initial Payments
ICE's October Mortgage Monitor, released Oct. 5, found ARMs topped 11% of rate locks, their largest share in nearly four years. About 180,000 ARMs face first resets in 2027.
Small-Dollar Mortgages Keep Shrinking Despite New Federal Pilot
Realtor.com research published Oct. 7 finds loans of $100,000 or less are now under 3% of originations, as a July law gives HUD authority for a four-year FHA small-dollar pilot.
Why Now May Be the Right Time for a Cash-Out Refinance
Homeowners with substantial equity are increasingly looking to their properties as a source of financing for home improvements, debt consolidation and other major expenses. With years of home-price a…
Equifax Extends $1 VantageScore 4.0 Pricing as Mortgage Adoption Rises
Equifax said Oct. 8 that nearly 2,000 mortgage lenders and resellers used its free VantageScore 4.0 offer and that it will keep $1 mortgage pricing for the score through 2028. It also launched Mortga…
FHA Lending to Non-Permanent Residents Falls After Eligibility Change
ICE origination data reported by HousingWire on Oct. 8 show non-permanent residents' share of FHA purchase loans fell from about 5.8% to about 0.1% after HUD's May 25, 2025 eligibility change.
Freddie Mac Sells $428 Million in Nonperforming Loans, Awarding Four Pools to Two Buyers
Freddie Mac’s latest sale of deeply delinquent mortgages highlights how the government-sponsored enterprise manages distressed assets, transfers mortgage credit exposure and uses investor demand to m…
Fannie Mae's October Guide Update Loosens Verbal VOE Methods and Expands Attorney Opinion Letters
Fannie Mae's Selling Guide announcement SEL-2026-09, dated Oct. 7, removes prescribed verbal verification methods, changes income continuance timing and digitizes seller wire instructions. One K-1 ch…
HUD Raises the Section 184 Upfront Guarantee Fee to 1.50% for New Commitments
Since Oct. 1, new Section 184 firm commitments, including refinances, carry a 1.50% upfront fee instead of 1.00%. The annual fee stays at zero, and existing guaranteed loans are not affected.
Paid the VA Funding Fee, Then Got a Disability Award? Check the Effective Date
VA may refund the funding fee when a later compensation award is retroactive to before your closing date. The effective date, not the decision date, is what counts.
Three Insurance Lines at Closing, Three Different Jobs: Lender's Title, Owner's Title and Homeowners
Lender's title insurance protects the lender. Owner's title insurance is usually optional and protects your equity from past title problems. Homeowners insurance covers damage going forward.
Why Your Lender May Not Use the Student Loan Payment on Your Credit Report
Conventional underwriting counts a monthly student loan payment, but a $0, missing or wrong payment on the credit report can trigger a different number. Your loan statement often decides which.
FHA Gift Money Needs a Paper Trail. Plan the Transfer Before It Moves
FHA allows gifts toward a down payment and closing costs, but the lender must document who gave the money, that it is not a loan and how it reached you. Undocumented deposits slow closings.