https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/rss en-us bivey@imfpubs.com The jumbo share of first-lien originations increased from 16.4% in the first quarter of 2026 to 18.8% in the second quarter. Large banks and nonbanks are putting an emphasis on the products. (Includes three data tables.) http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238539 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:20:47 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238539-jumbo-share-of-originations-highest-since-2023 bivey@imfpubs.com The Federal Reserve hiked the federal funds rate by 25 bps this week. The move was already baked into mortgage rates, which aren’t expected to climb much higher even if the Fed hikes rates twice more in the next 12 months. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238554 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:16:32 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238554-interest-rates-on-mortgages-expected-to-hold-as-fed-hikes dhollier@imfpubs.com The FHFA director’s predilection for conducting official business on X provides housing-finance advocates a unique opportunity to lobby him directly. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238538 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:14:49 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238538-trades-use-social-media-to-reach-pulte bivey@imfpubs.com As originations remain subdued, warehouse lenders are focusing on market share. Chase, the top warehouse lender, reduced its footprint in the second quarter and some newer players are filling the void. (Includes data table.) http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238540 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:12:50 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238540-warehouse-lenders-fighting-for-share-in-tough-market jdohnert@imfpubs.com Pennymac and Rocket are focused on developing scale and technology to drive down costs as originations are expected to remain muted due to the higher-for-longer interest rate environment. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238551 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:08:52 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238551-rocket-pennymac-focus-on-servicing-and-tech-as-originations-slow bivey@imfpubs.com Retail originations increased by 10.5% on a quarterly basis in the second quarter of 2026. That pushed the channel’s share of total first-lien originations to 53.7%. (Includes six data tables.) http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238489 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:58:33 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238489-retail-lending-takes-some-share-from-brokers-in-2q dhollier@imfpubs.com VantageScore 4.0 is now available to all Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac sellers. And FHFA Director Bill Pulte is pondering ending the tri-merge standard. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238487 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:57:34 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238487-fico-monopoly-comes-to-an-end bivey@imfpubs.com Rocket is offering a permanent 60-bp pricing incentive for agency loans and a broker referral bonus, while UWM extended a 90-bp pricing incentive and removed LLPAs on conforming jumbos. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238491 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:56:37 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238491-rocket-intensifies-broker-competition-with-uwm jdohnert@imfpubs.com The lender removed the percentage split between loan officers and NEXA as well as some of the costs tied to other comp structures. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238490 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:53:43 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238490-nexa-updates-lo-comp-model-as-it-scales-up-operations bivey@imfpubs.com Housing affordability concerns are being blown out of proportion, according to Stanley Middleman, CEO of Freedom Mortgage. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238492 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:52:45 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238492-freedoms-middleman-brushes-off-affordability-concerns jdohnert@imfpubs.com Redfin found that 71.6% of ARM borrowers can refinance into a 30-year fixed rate that is at least 50 bps lower than their original rate. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238479 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:51:48 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238479-borrowers-who-bet-on-arms-usually-refi-to-a-lower-rate dhollier@imfpubs.com The think tank believes a smaller federal footprint in the mortgage market is the best way to lower prices and encourage homeownership. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238481 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:50:27 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238481-heritage-foundation-calls-for-smaller-government-role-in-mortgages nbhatia@imfpubs.com The conventional-conforming sector lagged in an otherwise upbeat mortgage market. (Includes two data files.) http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238372 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:54:57 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238372-all-products-gained-in-2q26-but-agency-market-lagged jdohnert@imfpubs.com The new third‑party origination channel, BrokerBrand TPO, is led by industry veteran Bob Marseilles. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238384 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:48:10 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238384-lenders-flock-to-wholesale-channel bivey@imfpubs.com Refi volume declined by 32.7% from the first quarter to the second but nearly doubled year to date. Meanwhile, purchase-mortgage originations increased by just 4.7% year to date. (Includes five data tables.) http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238303 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:59:08 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238303-refis-trail-off-purchase-lending-slightly-ahead-of-2025 bivey@imfpubs.com UWM President and CEO Mat Ishbia sees the equity from Oaktree as a positive. Shareholders and industry analysts aren’t convinced. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238243 Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:15:45 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238243-sharp-contrast-in-views-on-uwm-following-equity-raise dhollier@imfpubs.com New PMIERs tables assigning risk factors to loans based on credit scores and LTV ratios strongly resemble the GSEs’ LLPA tables. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238264 Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:12:47 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238264-pmiers-update-compares-relative-risks-of-vantagescore-40-and-classic-fico bivey@imfpubs.com The higher rates are diminishing demand for mortgages and officials at Rocket are projecting a drop in originations in the third quarter. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238248 Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:11:49 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238248-interest-rates-on-mortgages-expected-to-remain-elevated jdohnert@imfpubs.com More homebuyers are being forced to bring more cash, renegotiate the sale price or restructure their mortgage. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238246 Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:07:56 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238246-increasing-appraisal-gaps-leads-to-a-rise-in-loan-restructuring dhollier@imfpubs.com The Trump administration continues to pressure homebuilders to address affordability by focusing more on first-time homebuyers. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238255 Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:06:00 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238255-pulte-threatens-homebuilders-again dhollier@imfpubs.com Urban Institute researchers believe credit score gaming by lenders will raise scores for 44% of borrowers. Officials at FICO claim shopping appears to be occurring now that the GSEs accept VantageScore. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238173 Thu, 06 Aug 2026 11:50:29 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238173-credit-score-shopping-is-it-a-thing bivey@imfpubs.com Pennymac laid off origination staff and is counting on technology to keep its lending capacity elevated. Leaders at Newrez and loanDepot are also touting their tech investments. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238185 Thu, 06 Aug 2026 11:47:33 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238185-large-lenders-putting-even-greater-emphasis-on-tech jdohnert@imfpubs.com Homebuying picked up in the summer months after a slower than usual spring season. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238184 Thu, 06 Aug 2026 11:45:37 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238184-homebuying-season-extends-from-spring-to-summer dhollier@imfpubs.com New business grew at both enterprises despite an across-the-board decrease in refinance loan acquisitions. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238172 Thu, 06 Aug 2026 11:44:39 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238172-gse-purchase-volume-sustains-profits bivey@imfpubs.com Trade groups urged federal regulators to follow through on an executive order to modernize appraisal requirements. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238179 Thu, 06 Aug 2026 11:43:41 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238179-trade-groups-call-for-reductions-in-appraisal-standards nbhatia@imfpubs.com The industry originated an estimated $570.00 billion of first-lien mortgages during the second quarter of 2026, thanks to a resilient purchase-mortgage market. (Includes two data tables.) http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238130 Thu, 30 Jul 2026 11:14:00 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238130-originations-increase-in-2q-amid-headwinds-from-rates jdohnert@imfpubs.com Homebuilders reported a slight decline in incentive use in the second quarter, but still project incentives to remain elevated compared to historical average for the foreseeable future. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238116 Thu, 30 Jul 2026 11:08:00 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238116-homebuilders-expect-incentives-use-to-remain-elevated dhollier@imfpubs.com Construction loans may be too risky for the GSEs to purchase at scale, but Fannie has other products that help increase and preserve supply. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238040 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:55:22 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238040-fannies-supply-problem-strategies dhollier@imfpubs.com MBS disclosures show that, from April to June, VantageScore 4.0 has only been used to qualify roughly $579 million in mortgages in Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac pools. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238051 Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:06:00 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238051-vantagescore-40-uptake-still-scant bivey@imfpubs.com If the Federal Reserve is able to reduce inflation, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh believes that interest rates on mortgages will come down. Economists in the mortgage market aren’t expecting lower rates anytime soon. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238047 Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:05:00 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238047-warsh-looking-to-drive-down-mortgage-interest-rates