Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) announced a multiyear licensing agreement with REdistribute for permissioned access to multiple listing services (MLS) information. The deal, in addition to existing agreements with the Realty Alliance and the National Association of Realtors, brings ICE’s MLS data coverage to more than 90% of active listings across the country. “The data produced when […]
The worst times for mortgage originations may be over as the market appears to be turning, but it’s still an unaffordable environment for younger borrowers in particular, according to a fourth-quarter 2023 lending report from Maxwell. Loan volume between the third and fourth quarters declined by 21%, but that was far less than the 37% […]
A lawsuit against the “All-In” initiative at United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) should be dismissed, a federal judge said, citing inadequate evidence to prove accusations against the lender. Florida-based Okavage Group sued UWM in April 2021, following the lender’s announcement of an ultimatum that the wholesale lender will no longer partner with brokers who also work […]
E-signature company DocuSign laid off 6% of its workforce, or about 400 employees, following reports that the fintech company’s talks in exploring a sale have stalled. A majority of the impacted positions came from the company’s sales and marketing organizations, the company said. DocuSign had 7,336 employees at the end of 2023. DocuSign began to […]
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Mortgage Technology reported an improved adjusted operating income of $193 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, up 98% from one year earlier and fueled by record sales of its loan origination system (LOS) Encompass. For full year 2023, ICE Mortgage Technology posted an adjusted operating income of $508 million, down slightly […]
Rocket Homes Real Estate rolled out its new app on Apple Vision Pro, Apple’s new virtual reality and mixed-reality headset. It will allow users to view and tour properties by blending their physical and virtual worlds, Rocket said. When homebuyers launch the Rocket Homes app in Apple Vision Pro, a home search page and map […]
Banks reported having tightened lending standards across almost all categories of residential real estate loans over the fourth quarter of 2023 amid an elevated interest rate environment. There’s some optimism, however. With the central bank expected to cut interest rates this year, banks reported that loan demand should strengthen across residential loan categories in 2024, […]
The 30-year fixed mortgage rate surpassed the 7% mark on Monday on the heels of strong economic data and the Federal Reserve signaling that it will move carefully with any future cuts to interest rates. The 30-year conforming fixed mortgage rate was at 7.04% on Mortgage News Daily and 6.91% on HousingWire’s Mortgage Rate Center. […]
Recent market trends — including an improvement in mortgage rates, housing affordability and potential refinance opportunities — suggest positive signs for the real estate market this year, according to February’s Mortgage Monitor report from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). Mortgage rates held at 6.71% as of Jan. 24, down more than a full percentage point since their […]
Freddie Mac will offer a $2,500 credit for very low-income purchase borrowers to help with down payment and closing costs amid elevated interest rates and low housing supply. Effective March 1, the credit will be available for homebuyers earning 50% of area median income (AMI) or less through Freddie Mac’s Home Possible and Housing Finance […]
United Bank will consolidate its mortgage subsidiaries into one unified mortgage business amid the housing industry struggles with elevated interest rates. United Bank has been delivering mortgage services through three channels, including two mortgage subsidiaries — Crescent Mortgage Co. and George Mason Mortgage — and an in-bank channel. “In an effort to better serve our […]
One of the biggest takeaways from the Wednesday press conference held by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is that the central bank isn’t likely to cut interest rates in March as investors had hoped. After signaling interest rate cuts for 2024 in its previous meeting, the focus shifted to when such a move might come […]
Dark Matter Technologies (DMT) tapped Tony Fox, former director of ICE Mortgage Technology, as its new chief of client engagement. Fox is responsible for directing the company’s account management and client success teams. He will report to Sean Dugan, chief revenue officer at DMT. Fox was director of client management at ICE Mortgage Technology for […]
Atlanta-based nonqualified mortgage (non-QM) lender Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions is tapping into the home equity line of credit (HELOC) market amid elevated equity levels. Unlike traditional HELOCs that require a homeowner to have at least 20% equity in their home, Angel Oak’s HELOC qualifies borrowers based on trailing 12- or 24-month bank statements and provides […]
The U.S. housing market has reached its least affordable point in decades and housing agencies have increasingly rolled out homebuyer assistance programs to tackle this issue. A total of 135 new homebuyer assistance programs were introduced in 2023, a 6% increase over the previous year. This brought the nationwide tally up to 2,294, according to […]
After nearly three years of doom and gloom in the mortgage industry, housing experts — including Fannie Mae economists — are expecting interest rates to ease. While Fannie Mae expects mortgage rates to drop to below 6% by the end of this year, the government-sponsored enterprise also forecasts that if there isn’t significant supply growth […]
The past three years in the mortgage industry were cutthroat, with origination volume shrinking, and while things are looking better for 2024, lenders are still in a position where they must make bold moves to stem losses on the production side of the business, according to a report from Stratmor Group, a mortgage advisory firm. […]
California-headquartered LoanSnap was hit with a temporary order to cease and desist from Connecticut’s Department of Banking for “systemic” unlicensed mortgage loan origination activity. Connecticut Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez alleged that LoanSnap violated the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). But the crux of the commissioner’s findings focuses on unlicensed […]
Financial services firm Consolidated Analytics acquired Real Info, Inc. — a provider of property data and valuation technology solutions. With the acquisition, Consolidated Analytics expands its valuation solutions, offering clients tools — from data and analytics to appraisals — to predict market value and access a more comprehensive selection of collateral assessment products, the company […]
Chicago, Illinois-based mortgage tech firm Gateless announced an integration of its Smart Underwrite solution product with The Work Number – a digital verification solution – from consumer credit reporting agency Equifax. Smart Underwrite allows lenders to digitally analyze and interpret all essential loan data and documentation the moment they are received. For instance, when a […]
