Home Flippers Face Great Recession‑era Returns as Costs Catch Up
Home flippers ended 2025 with sharply reduced returns as acquisition costs and high resale prices pushed gross ROI to 25.5%, the weakest level since the 2008 crisis. The sector’s share of total home sales fell to 7.4%, the lowest volume since 2020, with a typical profit of $65,981 per flip. Investors are turning to older properties—median build year 1978—and tighter renovation budgets to stay viable. Financing grew modestly, accounting for 37.7% of flips, but most deals remain cash‑driven.
Bowman Signals Deeper Fed Cuts
Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman signaled support for a deeper rate‑cut trajectory, proposing three cuts by the end of 2026 despite the March FOMC’s decision to hold the benchmark at 3.5‑3.75%. She highlighted lingering labor‑market concerns and...
The Homeowners Insurance Crisis Is Now a Mortgage Crisis. A Federal Fix Is Being Proposed
Homeowners‑insurance premiums have surged 64% since 2019, pushing average annual costs to $1,950 and exceeding $4,400 in high‑risk states. The spike is inflating borrowers' debt‑to‑income ratios, causing 37% of lenders to lose deals and delaying closings. Brookings economists propose a...
Helping Customers Build Wealth: How Investment Properties Help Homebuyers Get Ahead
Fortress Mortgage Advisors’ partners Craig Andriulli and Michael LiPari are urging first‑time homebuyers to view their primary residence as a stepping stone to investment properties. By using the equity in a newly purchased home, they help clients acquire vacation rentals...
Broker Shares How Poor Lender Communication Can Derail Mortgage Deals
Independent mortgage brokers rely on strong lender relationships to close deals efficiently. Recent insights from Edge Home Finance’s Nguyen Mai and RCG Mortgage founder Andrew Russell highlight that proactive, over‑communication from lenders—especially underwriters—can prevent bottlenecks and improve client outcomes. Speedy,...
Michigan Court Blocks Mortgage Holder From Claiming Tax-Foreclosure Surplus Proceeds
The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that Banyon Investments lost its claim to surplus proceeds from a tax‑foreclosure sale after missing required filing deadlines. Under the General Property Tax Act, mortgage holders must file a Form 5743 by July 1 and a...
Refinance Boom Stalls as Rate Shock Jolts Mortgage Market Into Retreat
Mortgage refinance demand stalled in mid‑March as the 30‑year fixed rate jumped to 6.30%, the highest level since December 2025. The MBA’s weekly survey showed total applications down 10.9% and the refinance index falling 19% week‑over‑week, while purchase applications edged up...
Couple Sues Carrington Mortgage Alleging Ignored Requests and Foreclosure Push
Barry and Allison Schneider have sued Carrington Mortgage Services in federal court, alleging the servicer ignored four written information requests and proceeded with a foreclosure demand exceeding $30,000. The dispute began when the couple discovered portal errors, missing escrow data,...
Non-QM Solutions: Helping Self-Employed Borrowers Navigate Modern Lending
Non‑QM products, especially bank‑statement loans, are filling a financing gap for self‑employed borrowers whose income patterns defy conventional underwriting. By evaluating cash deposits rather than taxable income, these loans capture true cash flow and enable credit access with higher down‑payment...
Using Crypto in Mortgage Approvals: What Brokers Need to Know
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have begun counting cryptocurrency as an asset in mortgage applications, following FHFA’s directive to implement the change immediately. Lenders such as Newrez and Rate now accept crypto holdings, converting them to dollars for down‑payment calculations...
AI Is Coming for Loan Officers. Some Will Adapt. Many Will Not
A new Brookings‑NBER study identifies mortgage‑industry roles such as loan processors, underwriting assistants and compliance clerks as the most exposed to AI‑driven displacement while having the lowest adaptive capacity. The research combines AI exposure scores with an adaptive‑capacity index that...
This Is What Makes Renting Work for Gen Z
Rently’s January 2026 survey of 800 U.S. renters reveals a sharp generational divide in rental priorities. Sixty‑three percent of Gen Z respondents say speed and ease are critical, compared with 44 percent of Boomers, and more than half of younger renters favor...
Good News for Mortgage Rates? What One Analyst Says Could Drive Them Back Down
Mortgage rates have risen back into the mid‑6s after recent geopolitical and economic shocks. Analyst Eric Hagen of BTIG says further rate declines depend on banks re‑entering mortgage lending, regulatory changes, and the potential release of Fannie Mae and Freddie...
How Wholesale Mortgage Companies Are Pulling in Brokers with Back-Office Support
Wholesale mortgage firms are increasingly absorbing independent brokers by providing back‑office services such as compliance, HR, and technology platforms. UMortgage, led by CEO Anthony Casa, bundles these capabilities with flat‑fee pricing and a corporate margin cap that rewards high‑volume originators....
A Stronger Spring Housing Market? Real Estate Agents Think So
The Real Brokerage’s February 2026 Agent Survey shows a pronounced optimism among its agents, with 73% expecting a stronger spring selling season than 2025 and 36% forecasting a significantly stronger market. Despite a dip in the Transaction Growth Index to...
Why Jerome Powell Is Going to Focus on Stagflation
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is shifting focus to stagflation as sluggish growth meets persistent core‑PCE inflation, prompting the Fed to keep policy rates steady. The resulting “higher‑for‑longer” stance is lifting 10‑year Treasury yields, which directly raise 30‑year mortgage rates....
GDP Downgrade Puts Fed in a Bind as Inflation Stays Elevated
The Commerce Department revised fourth‑quarter 2025 GDP down to a 0.7% annualized gain, half the initial estimate and far below the 1.4% growth economists expected for the year. The downgrade reflects weaker consumer and government spending, softer exports, and a...
Fed Reveals Plan to Ease Banks’ Capital Requirements, Boost Mortgage Lending
The Federal Reserve announced it will overhaul capital rules for large banks, moving to a single standardized risk‑based framework that explicitly accounts for loan‑to‑value ratios. Under the proposal, lower‑LTV mortgages would carry lighter capital charges, while high‑LTV loans face higher...
FAPA Blocks Fannie Mae, U.S. Bank From Reviving Stale Foreclosures
On March 11, 2026 New York’s Appellate Division, Second Department, dismissed foreclosure actions by Fannie Mae and U.S. Bank, finding the filings untimely under the state’s six‑year statute of limitations. Both lenders relied on strategies—voluntary case dismissals and challenges to prior acceleration—to reset the clock,...
Why AI-Fueled White-Collar Layoffs Could Devastate the Housing Market in 2026
AI‑driven automation is prompting a wave of white‑collar layoffs at major tech firms, boosting stock prices but raising concerns about long‑term employment. Mortgage broker Amir Nurani warns that the loss of high‑pay roles could suppress demand for homes as potential...
Rocket Pro's Niemiec Plans to Win Brokers with ‘True Partnership’
Rocket Pro’s chief revenue officer Austin Niemiec announced a partnership‑first strategy aimed at easing long‑standing tension between the two wholesale mortgage giants, United Wholesale Mortgage and Rocket. He highlighted the company’s new technology platform, which lets brokers retain full data ownership...
Andrew Russell on Strong Broker-Lender Partnerships
Mortgage broker Andrew Russell emphasizes that strong lender partnerships hinge on three pillars: product quality, speed, and service. He highlights that while rates matter, rapid turnaround and accessible, knowledgeable account executives are equally critical for client satisfaction. Russell points to...
Damon Germanides on Bank Statement Loans for Brokers
Damon Germanides explains how bank‑statement loans are becoming a mainstream tool for mortgage brokers serving self‑employed and non‑traditional borrowers. By validating income through deposit analysis rather than tax returns, these non‑QM products expand qualifying capacity and offset pressure on conventional...
Strait of Hormuz Strikes Fuel Fresh Fears over Bond Volatility
Bond market volatility spiked on Wednesday after three cargo vessels were struck near the Strait of Hormuz, pushing 10‑year U.S. Treasury yields from just above 4.14% to near 4.20%. The attacks revive concerns over oil‑supply disruptions, keeping Brent crude roughly...
Wyoming Court Upholds Dragnet Clause Costing Family Property and Home Equity
The Wyoming Supreme Court affirmed a mortgage dragnet provision that linked a $235,000 loan to a separate $1.49 million debt, causing the Adams family to lose their commercial property and a portion of their home equity. The clause, buried on page...
Mr. Cooper Hit with Class Action over Prepayment Penalty Overcharges
Mr. Cooper, a major mortgage servicer, faces a class‑action lawsuit alleging it overcharged borrowers on prepayment penalties by misinterpreting the undefined “anniversary date” in loan notes. The suit claims the servicer applied a five‑percent penalty instead of the correct four...
Texas Housing Market Cools
Texas home prices slipped 1.2% to a median of $335,000 in 2025, while most metros posted price gains and sales volume rose modestly. Active listings jumped 23.1%, pushing months of inventory to 4.6, a level near market balance. Fourteen of...
Lender Sues JLL, Acore over Alleged $62m Secret Property Sale
US Income Partners, a lender, filed a federal lawsuit alleging that a Florida property valued at $62 million was secretly sold without its consent. The complaint says CH Realty and JLL closed the deal for a nominal $10 consideration, while land...
The Broker Is the Backbone of American Homeownership
Independent mortgage brokers are a critical access point for American homebuyers, especially first‑time, self‑employed, and credit‑challenged borrowers. Unlike retail loan officers, brokers can shop dozens of lenders to secure the best rates and programs. The National Association of Mortgage Brokers...
Hialeah Bet on Senior Tax Relief Tests Florida’s Shifting Property Landscape
Hialeah’s new mayor launched a $1.2 million property‑tax rebate that wipes out city taxes for low‑income seniors, delivering average checks of $539. The program, funded by front‑loading pension commitments, is presented as budget‑neutral and was implemented in under 45 days. At...
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Georgia Bill to Let Owners Sue Cities over Homelessness
Georgia’s House Bill 295 would let property owners sue cities or counties that adopt policies limiting enforcement of illegal camping, loitering, drug possession, shoplifting or sanctuary rules. The bill creates a civil cause of action, capping damages at the amount...
Why Today’s Mortgage Delinquencies Aren’t Flashing Crisis Signs Yet
TransUnion reports mortgage delinquencies rose modestly in Q4 2025, reaching 1.58% for loans 60 days past due—a 19‑basis‑point year‑over‑year increase but still below the pre‑pandemic 1.64% peak. SVP Satyan Merchant attributes the uptick mainly to FHA and VA loans, while agency‑backed...
Online Lender Bets on 47-Second Mortgages in AI Race with Giants
Better Home & Finance has launched a ChatGPT‑powered underwriting tool that can evaluate mortgage applications in as little as 47 seconds, positioning the company as a mortgage‑as‑a‑service provider for banks, brokers and fintechs. The solution integrates Better’s Tinman engine with...
Why the Fed’s Proposed New Rules Likely Won’t See Mortgage Borrowers Flock Back to Banks
The Federal Reserve is considering rule changes that would remove the requirement for banks to deduct mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) from regulatory capital and tie mortgage risk weights to loan‑to‑value ratios. The aim is to make mortgage lending more attractive...
Class Action Targets UWM over Brokers' Unsolicited Text Campaign
UWM is facing a federal class‑action lawsuit alleging that its brokers sent unsolicited text messages to a consumer despite his Do‑Not‑Call registration. The plaintiff claims the texts were dispatched using UWM’s proprietary Lead Pipeline, Action IQ and ChatUWMAssist tools, and...
Top Originators on the Growth of AI in Mortgage Lending
In January 2026 mortgage brokers reported a surge in activity, with the broker channel now holding about 30 % of market share and out‑competing banks on rates and speed. Insignia Mortgage and Edge Home Finance highlighted AI‑driven lead nurturing and probability...
Expert Analyses: Why "Cheap Money" Policies Can Fuel Market Instability
In the January 2026 MPA TV podcast, mortgage veterans Damon Germanides and Tom Ahles examined a market rebounding on higher application volume but constrained by limited housing supply. They highlighted the broker channel’s surge toward a 30% share, the imminent trigger‑lead ban,...
Fear, Pressure and Economy Drive Rising Buyer Remorse
A new Best Interest Financial and Clever Real Estate survey finds two‑thirds of recent homebuyers—over three‑quarters of first‑time purchasers—experience buyer’s remorse, chiefly over paying too much or not negotiating hard enough. Emotional pressure, fear of missing out, and macro‑economic anxiety...
Financial Advisors Telling Homebuying Clients to Relax if They Missed Mortgage Rate Lows
The 30‑year fixed mortgage rate briefly fell to 5.98% last week, the lowest since September 2022, before climbing again amid heightened geopolitical risk. Financial advisors warned home‑buying clients not to chase this short‑lived dip, urging decisions based on overall portfolio health...
CMBS Trust Sues Starwood, Alleges $54.5m Loan Backed by Crumbling Garage
A CMBS trust has sued Starwood Mortgage Capital over a $54.5 million loan that was allegedly secured by a parking garage deemed unsafe. The trust claims Starwood misrepresented the collateral as free of material damage, despite a 2021 safety report and...
Investors Sue Texas Agents over Undisclosed Stake in $850k Syndication Deal
Two Texas-licensed real‑estate agents, Christopher Aldridge and Harry Gibbs, organized an $850,000 private syndication to buy a 5.057‑acre parcel in Jarrell, Texas, while secretly holding an undisclosed interest in the land. The investors allege the agents failed to disclose the...
Midwest Heat, Sunbelt Chill as 2026 Home Prices Barely Budge
The Cotality Home Price Index reported U.S. single‑family home prices rising only 0.74% year‑over‑year in January 2026, a sharp slowdown from the 3.43% pace seen early 2025. While the Midwest posted a 3.56% annual gain and the Northeast saw pockets of...
How Brokers Can Position Private Lending as a Strategic Advantage
Real estate brokers can turn private lending into a strategic advantage by offering faster, more flexible financing than traditional banks. Private lenders specialize in distinct property types and deal sizes, allowing brokers to match investors with the right capital source....
Homeowner Sues Rocket Mortgage over Shredded Money Orders, Wrongful Foreclosure
A Columbus homeowner has filed a federal lawsuit against Rocket Mortgage, alleging the servicer shredded two money orders totaling $1,700 and proceeded with a foreclosure despite internal confirmation that the account was not in default. The loan, originated in 2006,...
Small Town Commercial Prices Rise as Big City Prices Fall
CoStar’s January Commercial Repeat‑Sale Indices show a split between market tiers: smaller, secondary‑market properties rose 1.3% month‑over‑month, while premier assets in major cities slipped 0.4% in the value‑weighted gauge. Over the past year the equal‑weighted index gained 1.1% versus a...
A Condo Surge? As Rates Enter 5s, Veteran Investor Reveals the Hottest Markets for Brokers
Mortgage brokers targeting investors are scouting hot markets as rates dip below 6%. Veteran investor Danny Fishman highlights South Florida’s condo boom, driven by international buyers, as the top opportunity. He also points to strong fundamentals in Nashville, West Palm...
Two Mortgage Veterans Boost Business Growth with Proactive Referral Partnerships
Mortgage veterans Craig Andriulli and Michael LiPari launched Fortress Mortgage Advisors to transform traditional referral relationships into true partnerships. They argue that sharing marketing expenses alone does not create a bond; instead, they train real‑estate agents, CPAs and financial advisors...
Building Broker–Lender Partnerships That Actually Work
Tom Ahles, a mortgage broker, outlines how effective broker‑lender partnerships require consistency, transparency, and direct access to decision‑makers. He highlights the use of AI to decode lender guidelines, service‑level agreements for communication, and technology integrations that accelerate loan processing. The...
New York Court Wipes U.S. Bank Mortgage Off the Books in FAPA Ruling
A New York appellate court ruled that U.S. Bank’s mortgage on homeowner John Williams is permanently cancelled because the bank filed a foreclosure action beyond the six‑year limit set by the Foreclosure Abuse Prevention Act (FAPA). The bank’s four attempts...
Artificial Voice Cold Calls Spark Class Action Against Mortgage Lender
Mortgage One Funding LLC, a Michigan‑based lender, faces a federal class‑action lawsuit alleging it used artificial‑voice technology to cold‑call consumers about cash‑out refinancing without prior consent. The calls targeted numbers listed on the National Do Not Call Registry, violating the...
