It should be a banner year for mergers and acquisitions in the residential finance space. Already, two deals have been announced, with more likely to follow.

The market isn’t viewing publicly traded mortgage lenders favorably these days and that’s a problem for the one remaining IPO/SPAC candidate: Better.com.

FDIC Chair Jelena McWilliams’ resignation clears the path for Democratic control of FDIC rulemaking, which could translate into tougher bank merger rules.

It could be a brisk year for mortgage company sales. But how fierce might the roll-up be? Changes in Rocket’s C-suite.

One might think the mortgage SPAC thing has run its course. Maybe for lenders, but what about mortgage and real estate-related software? For star power, there’s Dave Winfield.

Faced with a not-so-welcoming IPO market earlier this year, AmeriHome and Caliber Home Loans did the next best thing: The two public-bound nonbanks found willing buyers to pay a decent price. Should Better.com do the same?

The servicing sales market continues to burn white hot, thanks to pent up demand. Next stop: 2022. Bring your checkbook.

Better.com’s dream of becoming a public company is on shaky ground these days. Events of the past week include a large layoff conducted over Zoom and the CEO apologizing after making disparaging remarks about those he cut.

The bulk market for MSR sales has never been better, and that’s a bit of a problem. Activity is so robust that due diligence reviews are piling up, delaying deal closings. A good problem to have? It depends on your profit goals.

We pointed it out before, but the situation has not changed: Nonbanks that went public over the past 16 months are not doing well when it comes to share price. As for meaning: Such a performance does not bode well for other nonbanks contemplating life in the public realm.