Rocket Mortgage believes the $1.75 billion acquisition will boost its purchase origination volume and lower the cost of customer acquisitions. It will also add new data to Rocket’s artificial intelligence algorithm.

Mortgage applications increase, led by refinances; three M&A transactions involving lenders/branches; home price appreciation trends.

Rate is contemplating selling its title unit, a move that comes amid some states capping how much coverage providers can charge consumers. Meanwhile, the nonbank is selling MSRs on a regular basis.

UWM is pondering sales of $52 billion of product. Will other sellers follow suit or maybe opt for a bank-financing transaction?

WaFd Bank is ending its mortgage origination activity; TD Bank is considering selling jumbo mortgages; some banks are still increasing their mortgage business; President Trump issues order on housing, freezes regulatory efforts.

In 2025, servicing sales should remain hot, but franchise deals involving the transfer of “whole” companies will likely be few and far between.

This year will yield fewer sales than the two previous years but those were aberrations. Small MSR portfolios are available, but nothing in the “mega” $10 billion range.

HPS Investments, which owns nonprime originator/servicer Acra Lending and more, is toying with an IPO. Acra is a small part of what HPS owns, but it would open up the lender to public disclosures.

Private-equity firms still love MSRs, apparently. But will declining mortgage rates diminish PE demand for servicing?

Believing in its prowess as a servicing recapture expert, Rocket Mortgage is itching to buy MSR packages. In other M&A news, a distillery wants to enter the origination business. Think of the cross-selling opportunities!