Amid recent reporting that President Trump is weighing a $500 billion stock offering for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and that he might be considering a merger of the two mortgage giants, Mortgage Bankers Association‘s CEO and President Bob Broeksmit authored a blog post highlighting the benefits of h

U.S. real estate investors bought about 52,000 homes in the second quarter, the lowest level for that period since 2020, according to a report from Redfin. Purchases were down 6% from a year earlier — the largest drop since late 2023. Redfin, which analyzed purchase records across 39 major metropoli

Griffin Funding has launched an internal artificial intelligence-driven platform designed to help loan officers navigate the complex world of non-QM lending. The tool, known internally as “LIA,” pulls hundreds of pages of program guidelines into a single system and uses AI to deliver tailored answer

Recent efforts to cut down on vacant residential properties in Baltimore have proven to be effective, according to new Urban Institute data. By 2020, the city had more than 16,000 vacant buildings and a residential vacancy rate of 7.7%. In parts of east and west Baltimore, the rate was nearly one in

Christie’s International Real Estate has appointed G. Scott Hurlock as senior vice president of strategic growth, a new role at the company. Hurlock will oversee network expansion for the luxury real estate brand by pursuing new partnerships and working with affiliates on organic growth, mergers and

A bill on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk could give county clerks new tools to combat deed fraud, but one industry expert says the measure doesn’t go far enough to protect against scams carried out online. Senate Bill 15 — approved by the Texas Legislature in August — would require clerks to ask for

On Thursday, mortgage rates data from Mortgage News Daily (MND) showed that the 30-year fixed rates for government loans fell below 6%. As of Thursday afternoon, the average Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan rate was 5.97% and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rate was 5.99%. Mort

One of the most important parts of a real estate agent’s job is helping buyers understand why working with you matters, especially now that the new rules around representation and compensation have changed the conversation. Now, more than ever, it is important for buyers to understand the value your

Mortgage rates have reached a new low for 2025, despite the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation being well above the target and showing a stronger increase in the core goods component. Why are mortgage rates at 6.27%? Jobless claims experienced a significant spike today, which suggests that the lab

Mortgage rates remain below the 50-year average, but most homebuyers see them as unusually high — a perception that is driving stress, delaying purchases, and reshaping major life decisions, according to a nationwide survey conducted in August. The survey of more than 1,000 buyers, released this wee

With the oldest members of Generation X set to turn 60 by the end of 2025, many are approaching retirement with financial concerns. Northwestern Mutual’s 2025 Planning & Progress Study, released this week, found that more than half (54%) of Gen Xers born between 1965 and 1980 don’t believe they’ll b

Opendoor Technologies announced Wednesday that it has named Kaz Nejatian, the former chief operating officer of Shopify, as its new CEO. Nejatian will also join Opendoor‘s board of directors as he takes over for Carrie Wheeler, who stepped down last month. The San Francisco-based iBuyer also announc

Borrowers rushed to refinance in August as mortgage rates eased, pushing rate-and-term refi lock volume up 70% from July, according to Optimal Blue’s Mortgage Market Advantage report released Wednesday. “Borrowers are responding quickly to rate improvements, driving the strongest month for rate-and-

U.S. Reps. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) introduced the Streamlining Manufactured Housing Standards Act on Wednesday, which clarifies that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has the sole authority to establish energy efficiency and safety standards for manuf

Tennessee-based homebuilder Clayton Homes presented the first official single-section CrossMod manufactured homes at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2025 Innovative Housing Showcase this past weekend. The event allowed the public, policymakers and housing leaders to tour the m

The Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) has named 109 individual agents and 64 teams to its annual A-List of top producers. Honorees closed 7,743 transaction sides and recorded $8.49 billion in sales volume in 2024. The top 50 agents and 25 teams will be recognized at AREAA’s national c

Scott White, Virginia’s commissioner of insurance, has issued a warning to both title insurance companies and consumers in his state about attorney opinion letters (AOLs). In a letter sent Tuesday addressed to all title insurance companies, agents and entities in the state of Virginia, and obtained

Mortgage lending fintech LitFinancial announced on Wednesday the launch of litUSD, a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin built on the Ethereum blockchain in partnership with Brale and Stably. The company said the token is designed to “modernize” mortgage lending, streamline treasury operations and increas

We all have the same amount of time, yet how you utilize your time and energy will make or break your business. Creating and following your schedule in a purposeful, strategic way is the key. And once you get a routine going, your business (and personal life) can run on autopilot. Check out our ulti

Fidelity National Financial (FNF) has partnered with CLEAR Secure to use biometric identity verification in real estate transactions to mitigate real estate fraud, the companies said Wednesday. The initiative integrates CLEAR’s identity platform into FNF’s inHere digital system, which manages title