The draft appropriations budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development is more lenient than the Trump administration’s request, but still zeroes out fresh funding for the HOME program.

An update to the credit scoring rules at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is expected to improve renters’ mortgage eligibility.

Competition heats up between VantageScore and the Fair Isaac Corporation.

Mortgage applications for new home purchases were up year-over year.

The agency rescinded a 2024 policy imposing certain standards on new construction in areas with a 1% annual chance of flooding.

The VA is on pace to reduce its total headcount by close to 30,000 by the end of fiscal 2025.

Two new repayment plan structures for student loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, were included within the tax and spending bill.

The Center for Responsible Lending said loss-mitigation offerings need to reduce monthly payments to avoid foreclosures.

One housing market that seems to be doing well is Rochester, NY.

Refinances were the key reason that Ginnie MBS issuance saw sharper-than-usual increases in the second quarter of 2025. Issuance was up 30.7% from the first quarter, including a nearly 50% increase in VA refi volume. (Includes four data tables.)