'Bro Culture' Makes Private Lending an Unsafe Space for Women, Says Industry Veteran
Women now make up roughly half of mortgage brokers and dominate back‑office roles, yet they remain under‑represented in C‑suite positions. Erica LaCentra, CMO of RCN Capital, says the private‑lending sector still feels unsafe for women because of lingering bro‑culture and crude comments. Over the past 13 years, mentorship programs and female networks have grown, giving newcomers more support and role models. LaCentra stresses that finding a company with inclusive leadership is critical for women to thrive in this traditionally male‑dominated space.
Class Action Targets Berkadia over Alleged Cyberattack Exposing Thousands' Data
Berkadia Commercial Mortgage, the leading Freddie Mac lender, faces a proposed class action alleging a March 20 cyberattack by the ShinyHunters group. The breach reportedly exposed thousands of individuals' personal and financial data, including Social Security numbers and banking details. Plaintiffs claim...
One in Six: How Rocket Swallowed America's Mortgage Market
Rocket Companies completed a $15.95 billion series of deals—acquiring Redfin for $1.75 billion and Mr. Cooper for $14.2 billion—creating a vertically integrated homeownership platform that now services roughly one in six U.S. mortgages, about 10 million borrowers and $2.1 trillion in unpaid principal. The combined entity...
Job Fears Push American Workers to Rethink Homebuying
A Redfin survey of 1,005 U.S. adults found that 36% of workers are postponing or canceling big‑ticket purchases, including homes, because of job‑security concerns, while 31% are accelerating purchases for the same reason. The poll also revealed that 7% missed...
Mortgage Activity Picks up for First Time in Five Weeks as Rates Fall
Mortgage demand in early April rose 1.8% after five weeks of decline, driven by a modest dip in 30‑year fixed rates to 6.42%. Refinance activity jumped 5% and now accounts for 45.5% of all applications, while purchase applications slipped 1%...
US Mortgage Payments Ease Slightly but Affordability Strain Persists
The average new mortgage payment in the United States slipped 2.4% year‑over‑year to $1,942 in 2025, offering modest relief to borrowers. Yet 24.3% of new homeowners still allocate at least 30% of their income to mortgage costs, a level deemed...
Brokers and Homebuyers Must Stop Waiting for a ‘Magical’ Rate Drop, Broker Says
Mortgage rates have settled in the high‑5% to low‑6% range after an early‑year dip, and the 10‑year Treasury appears stable amid current geopolitical tensions. Veteran broker Amir Nurani cautioned that the market won’t experience a sudden, "magical" rate collapse and...
What Residential Mortgage Brokers Must Know Before Doing Their First Commercial Loan
Residential mortgage brokers are increasingly pursuing commercial loans as the conventional market tightens and diversification becomes attractive. However, the commercial arena demands different metrics, such as debt service coverage ratios, and longer due‑diligence timelines that can stretch from 45 to...
Protect the Broker. Defend the Borrower.
National Association of Mortgage Brokers’ political action committee, NAMBPAC, is urging independent mortgage brokers to fund its advocacy efforts in Washington. The PAC pools member contributions—capped at $5,000 per person annually—to back candidates who support broker‑friendly legislation such as compensation...
Old Republic Wins Coverage Dispute over Land Borrower Legally Owned
The Massachusetts Appeals Court affirmed a lower‑court ruling that Old Republic Title Insurance is not liable for land under a stone wall that, while legally owned by the borrowers, fell outside the insured description. The court held that the state’s...
One in Four Americans Say Homeownership Out of Reach, Poll Finds
A KeyBank poll released in January 2026 finds that 25% of Americans consider homeownership unattainable, while only 13% believe they can buy a home by year‑end. Economic confidence has slipped, with housing costs now the top financial worry for 44%...
NAREB Urges FHA to Drop Spousal Debt Rule
The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) is urging the Federal Housing Administration to eliminate a rule that forces lenders to count a non‑borrowing spouse’s debts in community‑property states while ignoring that spouse’s income. The policy inflates debt‑to‑income ratios...
Top Brokers Aren’t Waiting — They’re Closing Deals in a Tough Market, Exec Says
Even as bond yields keep mortgage rates above 6% and existing‑home sales hit a nine‑month low, top mortgage brokers are still closing deals. Katie Fisher, EVP of broker strategy at Rocket Pro, argues that buyer demand persists but hinges on confidence...
White House Says the US Housing Shortage Is 10 Million Homes
The White House’s 2026 Economic Report of the President warns the United States is short roughly 10 million homes, a gap largely created by the sharp decline in single‑family construction after the 2007‑08 financial crisis. The report argues that excessive regulation...
Ohio Court Rules Landlord Must Mitigate After Restaurant Chain Walks
An Ohio appeals court ruled that a commercial landlord must attempt to mitigate damages after a tenant vacates, reversing a trial‑court decision that allowed full recovery without proof of re‑letting efforts. The case involved SPM Acquisition, the landlord of a...
