Mortgage rates aren’t expected to move down much even if the Fed cuts interest rates next month; GSE economists slash projections for home price appreciation; ICE integrates origination and servicing platforms to originate home equity loans; majority of homeowners feeling financially stressed.

Declining equity and surging escrow payments may be a precursor to market stress in some parts of the country, analysts say.

FHA and VA purchase-mortgage volume increased by nearly 30% in the second quarter of 2025 compared with the previous quarter. GSE mortgages with private MI and agency purchase mortgages without primary MI lagged behind. (Includes two data tables.)

The FHFA director last week directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to figure out how to use cryptocurrency in the mortgage underwriting process.

Zillow’s “enhanced markets” strategy pairs high-performing real estate agents with loan originators from Zillow’s mortgage unit. The effort helped Zillow double its originations on an annual basis in 2024.

In states with data privacy laws, the mortgage-denial gap between minority and non-minority mortgage borrowers is 3% lower than in states without the privacy laws, according to researchers.

The MBA projects that nearly 30% of originations will be through eNotes in 2028, up from 10% now. eNotes can help reduce costs for lenders and improve customer service, according to industry participants.

Rocket prevails in shareholder lawsuit alleging insider trading; FHFA director looking into mortgage costs; mortgage tech vendor seeing interest from potential buyers.

Economists at the MBA don’t think interest rates on mortgages will decline much this year. Economists at Fannie Mae project a sizeable drop.

Amerant Bank launched national mortgage operations in 2021. Now, the bank is reducing its footprint, focusing on lending in Florida where its bank branches are located.