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.

Vishal Garg’s mortgage fintech Better originally thought it would be a public company by yearend. But now? Stay tuned.

The thirst for mortgage servicing rights continues, be it bulk or flow. Meanwhile, Zillow’s foray into fix-and-flip did not end well.

MSRs are no longer the best-kept secret when it comes to value and investor returns. But might the bidding soon get too frothy?

CRA trade-offs and nonbanks: Let’s make a deal? Maybe, maybe not. Meanwhile, investors are still willing to sink cash into good mortgage ideas.

Commercial banks cranked up the value of their servicing portfolios in the third quarter, but not dramatically. Soon, we’ll find out how the nonbanks viewed the same asset.

CoreLogic this week completed its purchase of ClosingCorp., while SimpleNexus wrapped up a deal to buy LBA Ware.

Profits (and profitability) drive the decision to sell a mortgage company. Several lender/servicers are at an inflection point or soon will be. In sum, the rest of 2021 should be interesting.