The three major consumer reporting agencies are using discounted pricing and other strategies to drive adoption of VantageScore 4.0 among mortgage lenders. The score is the main competitor to FICO.

Lenders that focus on non-qualified mortgages are optimistic that originations will continue to increase this year.

David Neylan, president and chief operating officer at Guild Mortgage, said there is no quick fix to make homebuying more affordable.

Mortgages tied to Ginnie Mae accounted for 18.3% of total servicing outstanding at the end of September. Some servicing share shifted away from the GSEs, though Fannie and Freddie still dominate. (Includes two data tables.)

Some $13.26 billion of high-balance mortgages were included in agency MBS issued during the third quarter of 2025. Nine months into the year, agency high-balance sales were down somewhat on an annual basis, with the decline concentrated in sales to the GSEs. (Includes three data tables.)

Lenders are expected to increase production of prime jumbos, non-QMs and home equity loans in the coming year.

Homeowners are tapping their equity to pay off consumer credit debt and student loans.

Acra, a top player in the non-qualified mortgage market, has a new CEO, Shawn Stone.

Non-QM lender/servicer Acra is in the hunt for a new CEO. Other changes may be in the offing too — as the sale of Acra’s parent, HPS, to BlackRock draws closer.

It’s not every day that an expanded-credit specialist branches out into conventional funding. But that’s what A&D Mortgage is doing via its acquisition of Flagstar’s TPO unit.