Black Knight has suggested mortgage servicers use predictive modeling data or aerial photography to help determine how likely it is that one of their borrowers’ properties was damaged in a natural disaster.

One economist is blaming the increasing tendency among older homeowners to stay in their homes for longer as one of the key reasons for the housing inventory crunch.

The social equity program offers downpayment assistance to residents and descendants of those who lived in Denver between 1938 and 2000.

An unexpected surge in inflation briefly created a “no-bid” moment for agency MBS.

Non-QM lending may sound good to conventional originators looking to bolster their menus, but headwinds are still evident. Low-yielding paper still needs to be moved but financiers and acquirers are having second thoughts.

Weak MBS trading activity usually isn’t a good sign. To some it portends a lack of liquidity, to others cloudiness in a market that has lost its way. Regardless, daily MBS trades in May were not pretty.

Fannie Mae will publish refi application activity on a weekly basis, helping MBS investors better gauge prepayment trends.

Recent court rulings on litigation involving non-agency MBS issued prior to 2008 are setting new precedents, with broad ramifications.

For now, the market is well served by two to four master servicers. But if any of them exit the market, servicing costs and transaction fees could increase.

Vacancy rates for single-family home rentals are expected to remain stable in the months ahead, but the rapid rise in rents is likely unsustainable, according to industry experts.