Deliveries of high-risk purchase loans to the GSEs saw minor increases in the third quarter. But lenders expanded the credit for such loans in the refi sector. (Includes two data tables.)

Small investors, who own five or fewer properties, are increasingly turning to debt service coverage ratio financing to grow their portfolios.

Employers are increasingly offering downpayment assistance programs as a way to boost employee recruitment and retention.

The perceived morality of mortgage forbearance increases when the borrower pays for the option to forbear, regardless of the political affiliation or personal characteristics of the borrower, according to researchers.

The use of positive rental payment data and cash flow underwriting in new credit score models is expected to increase the number of borrowers that qualify for mortgages.

Rocket Mortgage is leaning on artificial intelligence to improve lending efficiency. The nonbank is wrapping up its acquisition of Mr. Cooper and already seeing benefits from its acquisition of Redfin.

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.