Investor purchases of single-family rentals are on the rise, with many of the new rentals being owned by smaller independent investors.

Researchers find evidence that, in areas with significant flood risk, lenders charge higher interest rates and assess lower home values, even if those areas are not included in FEMA flood maps.

Originations of purchase mortgages with primary MI coverage fell slightly in the first quarter, but the spike in refi activity, especially in the government market, more than made up the difference. (Includes four data tables.)

Refinance volume was up across the board in first-quarter agency business, but the sharp spike in VA activity caught the most attention. (Includes three data tables.)

The postponement comes just weeks after Congress passed a short-term extension of the flood insurance program’s authorization.

Private MIs reported another strong quarter in financial results even though their share of insured first-lien originations slid to its lowest point since 2020. (Includes four data tables.)

Last year's pendulum swing in loan purpose toward the purchase-money market yielded a significant increase in the share of agency business with primary MI coverage. And a larger share of insured business layered heavy debt burden with lower credit scores. (Includes three data tables.)

First American Financial argues that title insurance is a negligible life-of-loan cost for homeowners and is not regressive.

The FHA Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund remained healthy despite the 30-basis-point cut in insurance premiums earlier this year.

The private MIs lost some market share to FHA and VA during the third quarter, but industry recorded a slight earnings boost. The inventory of PMI loans in default was up, as were claims paid. (Includes four data tables.)