Home prices increased by 0.4% on a monthly basis in October, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Among the top 50 producers, all but one are nonbanks.

Endorsement activity involving traditional HECMs declined slightly and production of HECMs for home purchase increased during the third quarter. Mutual of Omaha remained the top HECM lender. (Includes three data tables.)

Among a large group of FHA/VA lenders, the broker channel accounted for 24.8% of government-insured originations in the third quarter. UWM and PennyMac sharply increased their broker volume in the quarter. (Includes data table.)

Bank of America remained the top originator of home equity loans in the third quarter.

Jon Jaffe, co-CEO and president of Lennar, noted that the firm took steps during the previous Trump administration to reduce the impact of tariffs.

Among many other issues, the shutdown would pause authorization for new flood insurance policies under the National Flood Insurance Program, potentially impacting home sales.

The changes are focused on rating criteria for private student loans and will have a mixed impact on outstanding deals. Industry had raised concerns about the proposal, but Moody’s pushed forward.

There’s plenty of home equity available to homeowners but interest rates are constraining originations of home equity loans. Banks remained the top three originators of home equity loans in the third quarter. (Includes three data tables.)

After projecting four rate cuts for 2025 at their September meeting, members of the Federal Open Market Committee now project only two rate cuts next year.