The Trump administration continues to pressure homebuilders to address affordability by focusing more on first-time homebuyers.

Urban Institute researchers believe credit score gaming by lenders will raise scores for 44% of borrowers. Officials at FICO claim shopping appears to be occurring now that the GSEs accept VantageScore.

Pennymac laid off origination staff and is counting on technology to keep its lending capacity elevated. Leaders at Newrez and loanDepot are also touting their tech investments.

Homebuying picked up in the summer months after a slower than usual spring season.

New business grew at both enterprises despite an across-the-board decrease in refinance loan acquisitions.

Trade groups urged federal regulators to follow through on an executive order to modernize appraisal requirements.

The industry originated an estimated $570.00 billion of first-lien mortgages during the second quarter of 2026, thanks to a resilient purchase-mortgage market. (Includes two data tables.)

Homebuilders reported a slight decline in incentive use in the second quarter, but still project incentives to remain elevated compared to historical average for the foreseeable future.

Construction loans may be too risky for the GSEs to purchase at scale, but Fannie has other products that help increase and preserve supply.

MBS disclosures show that, from April to June, VantageScore 4.0 has only been used to qualify roughly $579 million in mortgages in Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac pools.