BREAKING NEWS ▸ Fed pauses interest rate cuts, though Waller and Miran dissent

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Fed's preferred inflation gauge in spotlight as Iran war fuels price fears

PCE price index dips in calm before expected war-fueled inflation wave

Mortgaged homeowners' equity remained historically high in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Mortgaged homeowners’ equity remains ‘historically high’ in fourth quarter

Economic confidence slips as Iran conflict rattles U.S. households

Economic sentiment slips as Iran conflict rattles U.S. households

Early March survey data shows improving consumer attitudes were ‘completely erased’ by start of Iran war

Mortgage rate reality sets in as Iran war spikes homebuying costs

Mortgage groups press VA for changes to proposed loss mitigation rules

Senate passes massive bipartisan housing bill, but House roadblocks await

February rate-lock data affirms boost in purchase mortgage demand

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The Myth of AI Madness: Practical Playbook for Commercial Lenders

MBA raises ‘significant concerns’ over Senate housing bill changes

Tillis praises Warsh — but still won’t lift Fed chair blockade until Powell probe is resolved

1 in 4 are delaying major purchases amid Iran war, but majority undeterred

Early homeownership accelerates generational wealth, but affordability gaps delay buyers

Early homeownership expedites generational wealth, but affordability gaps delay buyers

Foreclosure activity dips monthly but continues annual rise in February

Single-family housing starts declined in January 2026, but multifamily strength netted overall gains.

Shaky start for single-family housing starts in 2026

LoanDepot’s return to the wholesale channel headlines several notable mortgage industry moves over the past few weeks.

Industry Watch: loanDepot, Newfi, Rocket, Newrez and others make waves

Asset-Based Lending in Commercial Real Estate: Why Ongoing Education Is No Longer Optional

Mortgage

Real Estate

Monetary Policy

Mortgaged homeowners’ equity remains ‘historically high’ in fourth quarter

Early homeownership expedites generational wealth, but affordability gaps delay buyers

Economic sentiment slips as Iran conflict rattles U.S. households

Mortgage rate reality sets in as Iran war spikes homebuying costs

Mortgage groups press VA for changes to proposed loss mitigation rules

Senate passes massive bipartisan housing bill, but House roadblocks await

February rate-lock data affirms boost in purchase mortgage demand

Foreclosure activity dips monthly but continues annual rise in February

Shaky start for single-family housing starts in 2026

1 in 4 are delaying major purchases amid Iran war, but majority undeterred

Softening home prices, rising foreclosures underscore vulnerable Florida markets

PCE price index dips in calm before expected war-fueled inflation wave

Tillis praises Warsh — but still won’t lift Fed chair blockade until Powell probe is resolved

February inflation meets consensus forecasts now reeling from global energy risks

The Fed’s quandary: Weak jobs report collides with war-stoked inflation

MORE ▸

Mortgage rate reality sets in as Iran war spikes homebuying costs

Mortgage groups press VA for changes to proposed loss mitigation rules

Senate passes massive bipartisan housing bill, but House roadblocks await

February rate-lock data affirms boost in purchase mortgage demand

Foreclosure activity dips monthly but continues annual rise in February

Shaky start for single-family housing starts in 2026

1 in 4 are delaying major purchases amid Iran war, but majority undeterred

Softening home prices, rising foreclosures underscore vulnerable Florida markets

PCE price index dips in calm before expected war-fueled inflation wave

Tillis praises Warsh — but still won’t lift Fed chair blockade until Powell probe is resolved

February inflation meets consensus forecasts now reeling from global energy risks

The Fed’s quandary: Weak jobs report collides with war-stoked inflation

MORE ▸

Data & Analysis

Early homeownership expedites generational wealth, but affordability gaps delay buyers

MBA raises ‘significant concerns’ over Senate housing bill changes

Senate expected to pass 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act this week, where House challenges await

Trade groups balk at build-to-rent provision in bipartisan Senate housing bill

21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passes procedural hurdle Tuesday, setting the stage for floor vote

Mortgaged homeowners’ equity remains ‘historically high’ in fourth quarter

But negative equity levels rose amid concentrated home price declines

Investment Properties

Midwest emerges as rental cash cow in barren market for real estate investors

As investor margins tighten, wage growth and home price gains are under scrutiny

Despite White House and Senate attention, single-family investor activity remains muted

Out-of-market interest has redrawn the map of homebuyer demand

Regional markets on the front lines of AI adoption are seeing a surge in out-of-market buyer demand

Home flippers bullish despite tougher pricing climate

Lower rates and steadier inventory support confidence, even as 4 in 10 flippers cut prices in the fourth quarter

Contributing Authors

Seven tectonic tech shifts that transformed the mortgage industry

Inside the innovations that moved an industry from manila folders to cloud-powered platforms

Cindy Borden

Residential transition loans: A $30 billion solution to the housing crisis

Tom Davis

What Latino loan originators are doing to shape the future of homeownership

Oralia Herrera

The lender’s secret weapon

T. Robert Finlay, Esq.

How smarter tech can be used to usher in new industry standards

Roby Robertson

The mortgage market’s quiet quitting crisis: Why consumers disengage without a word

Laurie Barrett

Inside the underwriting gap holding back independent living

Avi Zukerman

Know the keys to unlocking CERCLA defenses

Gary Reynolds

How lenders can stand out with earned media

Dawn Ringel

The business case for fighting redlining: Why smart lenders won’t wait for Washington to act

Jason Keller

Experienced investors navigating a fix‑and‑flip recalibration in tightening market

Matt Lavinder

From likes to liability: How social media habits can trigger RESPA scrutiny

Michael Eising

The three lines of defense for cybersecurity compliance

Anna DeSimone

Private Lending

Homeowners increasingly turn to ‘buy now, pay later’ to manage budgets

Midwest emerges as rental cash cow in barren market for real estate investors

Real estate investors report mixed outlook for acquisitions in 2026

Twice as many fix-and-flippers than rental investors expect investment conditions to improve in 2026, revealing a widening confidence gap

Single-family rent growth deteriorates for fifth straight month in November

Rents for the least expensive price tier averaged no annual growth, while luxury rentals held up

Small landlords control the buy-for-rent market, not the mega-investors targeted by Trump

Investors owning fewer than 11 rentals bought over 1 million homes through the first three quarters of 2025

A real estate investor ban would yank the price floor out of the housing market

In a post-pandemic homebuying environment few can afford, single-family real estate investors are helping an entire mortgage market hold on to profitability

Stalling rents, climbing vacancies deal double blow to real estate investors

Rent growth at 15-year lows and rising vacancy rates are flashing warning signs

Industry Watch: UWM, Kiavi, Pennymac and others make headlines

A roundup of notable mortgage industry activity over the past two weeks

Non-QM

Non-QM impairments hit record pace in November

Non-QM delinquencies rise, but sector looks stable

November mortgage lock volume hits four-year high as refinances surge

Industry Watch: Freddie Mac, Deephaven, Absolute, Fidelity Direct and others make moves

Exclusive: Investors anchor housing market as non-QM loans surge

Non-QM issuance hits record $20B in third quarter

Non-QM momentum cools in January, though bank statement volumes strengthen

Credit weakness builds across non-QM sector in 2025

November’s steep rise in non-QM loan impairments persists into December

December marks new record for non-QM volumes

Fitch flags mounting non-QM delinquencies in its first-quarter 2026 report.

Fitch flags mounting non-QM delinquencies in sign of ‘collateral deterioration’

The non-QM sector experienced consistent growth in 2025

Government-Sponsored Enterprises

Legislation

Government Loans

Technology

Investment Properties

Market Trends

Wholesale

Servicing

✉️ Newsletter

Start your day with our email newsletter, The Originator, to receive the latest news, insights and data from all of your favorite mortgage professionals.

Begin Tablet Layout

Economic sentiment slips as Iran conflict rattles U.S. households

Early March survey data shows improving consumer attitudes were ‘completely erased’ by start of Iran war

Mortgage rate reality sets in as Iran war spikes homebuying costs

Mortgage groups press VA for changes to proposed loss mitigation rules

Senate passes massive bipartisan housing bill, but House roadblocks await

February rate-lock data affirms boost in purchase mortgage demand

Early homeownership expedites generational wealth, but affordability gaps delay buyers

Tillis praises Warsh — but still won’t lift Fed chair blockade until Powell probe is resolved

1 in 4 are delaying major purchases amid Iran war, but majority undeterred

Softening home prices, rising foreclosures underscore vulnerable Florida markets

The Myth of AI Madness: Practical Playbook for Commercial Lenders

Asset-Based Lending in Commercial Real Estate: Why Ongoing Education Is No Longer Optional

PCE price index dips in calm before expected war-fueled inflation wave

Mortgaged homeowners’ equity remains ‘historically high’ in fourth quarter

Rising Treasury yields tied to the Iran war push mortgage rates higher.

Mortgage rate reality sets in as Iran war spikes homebuying costs

Mortgage industry groups press VA for revisions, 180-day delay on partial claim program.

Mortgage groups press VA for changes to proposed loss mitigation rules

Foreclosure activity dips monthly but continues annual rise in February

Shaky start for single-family housing starts in 2026

MBA raises ‘significant concerns’ over Senate housing bill changes

Mortgage

Mortgaged homeowners’ equity remains ‘historically high’ in fourth quarter

Mortgage rate reality sets in as Iran war spikes homebuying costs

Mortgage groups press VA for changes to proposed loss mitigation rules

Senate passes massive bipartisan housing bill, but House roadblocks await

February rate-lock data affirms boost in purchase mortgage demand

MORE ▸

Real Estate

Early homeownership expedites generational wealth, but affordability gaps delay buyers

Foreclosure activity dips monthly but continues annual rise in February

Shaky start for single-family housing starts in 2026

1 in 4 are delaying major purchases amid Iran war, but majority undeterred

Softening home prices, rising foreclosures underscore vulnerable Florida markets

MORE ▸

Monetary Policy

Economic sentiment slips as Iran conflict rattles U.S. households

PCE price index dips in calm before expected war-fueled inflation wave

Tillis praises Warsh — but still won’t lift Fed chair blockade until Powell probe is resolved

February inflation meets consensus forecasts now reeling from global energy risks

The Fed’s quandary: Weak jobs report collides with war-stoked inflation

MORE ▸

Data & Analysis

Early homeownership expedites generational wealth, but affordability gaps delay buyers

MBA raises ‘significant concerns’ over Senate housing bill changes

Senate expected to pass 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act this week, where House challenges await

Mortgaged homeowners’ equity remains ‘historically high’ in fourth quarter

Trade groups balk at build-to-rent provision in bipartisan Senate housing bill

21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passes procedural hurdle Tuesday, setting the stage for floor vote

Investment Properties

Midwest emerges as rental cash cow in barren market for real estate investors

As investor margins tighten, wage growth and home price gains are under scrutiny

Despite White House and Senate attention, single-family investor activity remains muted

Out-of-market interest has redrawn the map of homebuyer demand

Regional markets on the front lines of AI adoption are seeing a surge in out-of-market buyer demand

Home flippers bullish despite tougher pricing climate

Lower rates and steadier inventory support confidence, even as 4 in 10 flippers cut prices in the fourth quarter

Contributing Authors

Seven tectonic tech shifts that transformed the mortgage industry

Inside the innovations that moved an industry from manila folders to cloud-powered platforms

Cindy Borden

Residential transition loans: A $30 billion solution to the housing crisis

Tom Davis

What Latino loan originators are doing to shape the future of homeownership

Oralia Herrera

The lender’s secret weapon

T. Robert Finlay, Esq.

How smarter tech can be used to usher in new industry standards

Roby Robertson

The mortgage market’s quiet quitting crisis: Why consumers disengage without a word

Laurie Barrett

Inside the underwriting gap holding back independent living

Avi Zukerman

Know the keys to unlocking CERCLA defenses

Gary Reynolds

How lenders can stand out with earned media

Dawn Ringel

The business case for fighting redlining: Why smart lenders won’t wait for Washington to act

Jason Keller

Experienced investors navigating a fix‑and‑flip recalibration in tightening market

Matt Lavinder

From likes to liability: How social media habits can trigger RESPA scrutiny

Michael Eising

The three lines of defense for cybersecurity compliance

Anna DeSimone

Private Lending

Homeowners increasingly turn to ‘buy now, pay later’ to manage budgets

Small landlords control the buy-for-rent market, not the mega-investors targeted by Trump

Investors owning fewer than 11 rentals bought over 1 million homes through the first three quarters of 2025

Midwest emerges as rental cash cow in barren market for real estate investors

Real estate investors report mixed outlook for acquisitions in 2026

Twice as many fix-and-flippers than rental investors expect investment conditions to improve in 2026, revealing a widening confidence gap

Single-family rent growth deteriorates for fifth straight month in November

Rents for the least expensive price tier averaged no annual growth, while luxury rentals held up

Exclusive: Fix-and-flip investors are still bleeding profitability

Returns for home flippers have fallen to 2008 levels as a ‘triple squeeze’ on profits sends some in the sector running for rentals

Repair, remodeling costs rise steadily in third quarter

Trump administration tariff policies ‘not apparent in material costs’ says analytics firm Verisk

Cost-burdened renter share doubles that of homeowners

Half of U.S. renters spend more than 30% of gross monthly income on rent, led by California, Florida and Nevada

‘Renting for the long run’ drives U.S. housing shift

Nevada, Texas and North Dakota have all seen more than 50% growth in renter households since 2000

Non-QM

Manufactured homes gain policy momentum amid affordable supply shortage

Trump policies pinch home investor profits

Fitch reports rising RMBS delinquency rates across most sectors in third quarter

Zillow partners with Esusu on credit-building service for renters

Fitch flags mounting non-QM delinquencies in sign of ‘collateral deterioration’

The non-QM sector experienced consistent growth in 2025

Non-QM impairments hit record pace in November

Non-QM delinquencies rise, but sector looks stable

November mortgage lock volume hits four-year high as refinances surge

Industry Watch: Freddie Mac, Deephaven, Absolute, Fidelity Direct and others make moves

Exclusive: Investors anchor housing market as non-QM loans surge

Non-QM issuance hits record $20B in third quarter

Company News

The three major credit bureaus dropped the standalone price of VantageScore 4.0 to one dollar just months after the FHFA director publicly slammed their opaque pricing models.

Credit bureaus slash VantageScore 4.0 pricing to $1 following FHFA scrutiny

Daniel Banta

The price drop is projected to save the mortgage industry up to $1 billion while serving as a strategic concession to federal regulators

Industry Watch: loanDepot, Newfi, Rocket, Newrez and others make waves

Michigan mortgage lender faces class action lawsuit over ‘artificial voice technology’

Zillow moves to dismiss a class action lawsuit, denying claims of steering buyers to lenders and artificially inflating agent commissions via Zillow Flex.

Zillow requests dismissal of class action RESPA lawsuit, claiming insufficient evidence

Power Moves: An overview of recent mortgage industry personnel news

Regulation and Compliance

PCE price index dips in calm before expected war-fueled inflation wave

Economic sentiment slips as Iran conflict rattles U.S. households

Mortgaged homeowners’ equity remains ‘historically high’ in fourth quarter

But negative equity levels rose amid concentrated home price declines

Mortgage rate reality sets in as Iran war spikes homebuying costs

Interest rates have continued climbing alongside oil prices and Treasury yields

Government-Sponsored Enterprises

Legislation

Government Loans

Technology

Investment Properties

Market Trends

Wholesale

Servicing

✉️

Daily News Straight To Your Inbox

Start your day with our email newsletter, The Originator, to receive the latest news, insights and data from all of your favorite mortgage professionals.

Begin Mobile Layout

Mortgage rate reality sets in as Iran war spikes homebuying costs

Mortgage groups press VA for changes to proposed loss mitigation rules

Bipartisan Senate passage of 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act pushes forward a major housing package now headed for House negotiations.

Senate passes massive bipartisan housing bill, but House roadblocks await

February rate-lock data affirms boost in purchase mortgage demand

Early homeownership expedites generational wealth, but affordability gaps delay buyers

Foreclosure activity dips monthly but continues annual rise in February

Shaky start for single-family housing starts in 2026

MBA raises ‘significant concerns’ over Senate housing bill changes

Tillis praises Warsh — but still won’t lift Fed chair blockade until Powell probe is resolved

1 in 4 are delaying major purchases amid Iran war, but majority undeterred

Softening home prices, rising foreclosures underscore vulnerable Florida markets

Foreclosure activity dips monthly but continues annual rise in February

Shaky start for single-family housing starts in 2026

MBA raises ‘significant concerns’ over Senate housing bill changes

Tillis praises Warsh — but still won’t lift Fed chair blockade until Powell probe is resolved

Industry Watch: loanDepot, Newfi, Rocket, Newrez and others make waves

Economic sentiment slips as Iran conflict rattles U.S. households

Early March survey data shows improving consumer attitudes were ‘completely erased’ by start of Iran war

PCE price index dips in calm before expected war-fueled inflation wave

Mortgaged homeowners’ equity remains ‘historically high’ in fourth quarter

Mortgage rate reality sets in as Iran war spikes homebuying costs

Mortgage groups press VA for changes to proposed loss mitigation rules

Senate passes massive bipartisan housing bill, but House roadblocks await

February rate-lock data affirms boost in purchase mortgage demand

Early homeownership expedites generational wealth, but affordability gaps delay buyers

Foreclosure activity dips monthly but continues annual rise in February

Shaky start for single-family housing starts in 2026

MBA raises ‘significant concerns’ over Senate housing bill changes

Industry Watch: loanDepot, Newfi, Rocket, Newrez and others make waves

Tillis praises Warsh — but still won’t lift Fed chair blockade until Powell probe is resolved

1 in 4 are delaying major purchases amid Iran war, but majority undeterred

Softening home prices, rising foreclosures underscore vulnerable Florida markets

Daily News Straight To Your Inbox

Start your day with our email newsletter, The Originator, to receive the latest news, insights and data from all of your favorite mortgage professionals.