Servicing

Valon’s Valuation Spikes With Latest Funding Round

bivey@imfpubs.com — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 11:56:00 -0400

Valon Technologies raised $150 million and is hiring.

Fitch Downgrades Wells Fargo’s Servicer Ratings

bivey@imfpubs.com — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 11:56:00 -0400

“The rating downgrades reflect Wells Fargo’s continued reduction of its servicing portfolio and strategic shift toward government-sponsored enterprise and owned prime portfolios,” Fitch said.

Short Takes: Interest Rates Jump 25 BP in a Week / FHA Moves Forward With UAD 3.6 / FHFA OIG Explains Difference in Funding Level / The Loan Store Rebrands to Averra Financial

bivey@imfpubs.com — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 11:55:00 -0400

The average interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit 7.28% Thursday, according to Freddie Mac.

FHA Commissioner Nominee Jones Targets Cost Reductions

ewilley@imfpubs.com — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 11:58:00 -0400

Matt Jones, the Trump administration’s nominee for commissioner of FHA, plans to continue to work to reduce mortgage costs and housing costs if confirmed for the position.

Short Takes: FHFA Looking to Approve FICO Direct / Rate Hike Still Expected / Better’s Share Price Increases

bivey@imfpubs.com — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 11:55:00 -0400

FICO launched a direct license program a year ago but adoption has been hindered by lack of approval from FHFA for use by the government-sponsored enterprises.

Interest Rates on Mortgages Still Rising

bivey@imfpubs.com — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:59:00 -0400

The average contract rate for a 30-year fixed-rate conforming mortgage jumped by 18 basis points in a week, to 7.30% as of Sept, 25, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

GSEs Lose More Servicing Share in Second Quarter

bivey@imfpubs.com — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 11:57:00 -0400

The GSEs’ share of servicing topped out at 50.4% in March 2022 and has declined each quarter since then, through June 2026.

Short Takes: Borrowers Want to See More Digital Closing Options / Non-QM Impairments Rise / Aven Launches Co-Branded HELOC / Foreclosure Starts Slow

jdohnert@imfpubs.com — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:55:00 -0400

Some 82% of recent homebuyers said they would be swayed to work with a lender that offered the opportunity to close a mortgage virtually.

10-Year Treasury Rate Tops 5.1%, Hitting Lenders

bivey@imfpubs.com — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:59:00 -0400

A stronger than anticipated report on manufacturing Wednesday convinced a growing share of players in the financial markets that the Federal Reserve will have to hike the federal funds rate again in the coming months.

Production and Servicing Income Decline in Second Quarter

jdohnert@imfpubs.com — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:58:00 -0400

Servicing profits dropped even more than production income on a percentage basis.

Higher Bids for Fannie’s Latest NPL Sale

bivey@imfpubs.com — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 11:58:00 -0400

Funds managed by American Mortgage Investment Partners Management submitted the winning bids for the most recent sale and for one of the sales conducted in July 2025.

Mixed Signals in Home Price Appreciation Through August

bivey@imfpubs.com — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 11:56:00 -0400

Home price appreciation posted its fastest annual growth rate in a year in August, while also slowing on a monthly basis.

Short Takes: Interest Rates on Mortgages Spike / Pending Home Sales Hold Up in August / Housing Starts Increase / Mike Middleman New CEO of Archwell Capital

bivey@imfpubs.com — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 11:55:00 -0400

The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage increased by 19 basis points this week, to 6.95% as of Thursday, according to Freddie Mac.

Interest Rates on Mortgages Seen as Near Peak

bivey@imfpubs.com — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:59:00 -0400

“Longer-term rates, including mortgage rates, had already baked in the expectation of hikes at this and future meetings,” said Mike Fratantoni, a senior vice president and chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Short Takes: Foreclosure Activity Levels Off / Homebuilder Confidence Declines / Freddie Selling NPLs / Conflicting Advice for Better’s Shareholders

bivey@imfpubs.com — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:55:00 -0400

Foreclosure filings increased by 1% on a monthly basis in August, according to Attom.

Pulte Turns Focus to Private MI Profits

dhollier@imfpubs.com — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:57:00 -0400

Seth Appleton, president of USMI, promptly announced the PMI trade group’s support for Pulte’s efforts to align the GSEs’ policy regarding mortgage insurance.

Bessent Defends Treasury’s Efforts as 10-Year Yield Rises

bivey@imfpubs.com — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:56:00 -0400

The yield on the 10-year has increased from 4.8% at the beginning of the Trump administration to above 5.0% this week, even with recent efforts by the Treasury aimed at lowering the yield, such as bond buybacks.

HPC Working on Data Repository for Mortgages

dhollier@imfpubs.com — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:57:00 -0400

The trade group seeks industry comment on a plan to centralize data on the loans collateralizing both agency mortgage-backed securities and non-agency MBS.

Interest Rates Hit Another High for the Year

bivey@imfpubs.com — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:56:00 -0400

“Next week’s [Fed] meeting will be key, as the inflation and economic outlook will help shape the path of rates and homebuyer demand,” said Bob Broeksmit, president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Short Takes: Number of Homes for Sale Up to 2020 Level / Ginnie MSRs on Offer / MCT Hires Piercy / AngelAi Receives $100 Million Investment

bivey@imfpubs.com — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:55:00 -0400

Some 1.5 million homes were listed for sale as of the end of August.

Banks’ Mortgage Earnings Decline in First Half of 2026

bivey@imfpubs.com — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:57:00 -0400

Among the 333 banks and thrifts that report mortgage-banking income on call reports, income declined by 6.1% on an annual basis in the first half of 2026.

Pending Inflation Reading Key for Rates With Jobs Market Resilient

bivey@imfpubs.com — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 11:57:00 -0400

“Market sentiment was leaning toward a rate hike at the next Fed meeting, but this could give the Fed pause in hiking rates as they look to convene this month,” said Cody Echols, a capital markets technology advisor at Mortgage Capital Trading.

Large Servicers See Reduction in Jumbo Portfolios in 2Q

azimmardi@imfpubs.com — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:58:00 -0400

Jumbo servicing declined during the second quarter at Bank of America, Chase and Wells Fargo.

Short Takes: 10-Year Treasury Rate Down From Recent Peak / More Supply Than Demand With Homes for Sale / Trump Admin Moves a Little Faster on Housing Trust Fund

bivey@imfpubs.com — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:55:00 -0400

After getting close to 4.80% Tuesday, the 10-year Treasury rate declined somewhat Wednesday.

House Republicans Introduce Bill With Major Reforms to CFPB

sclark@imfpubs.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:57:00 -0400

H.R. 10184, the Consumer Financial Protection Accountability and Reform Act, would bring the CFPB under the congressional appropriations process, require cost-benefit analyses for rulemakings and stipulate periodic reviews of major rules to ensure their benefits justify their costs.

Short Takes: Applications Hold Steady / FHA Offers Relief in Indiana / Better’s Bills Piling Up in CEO Fight

bivey@imfpubs.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:55:00 -0400

Applications were essentially unchanged on a weekly basis last week even as interest rates ticked up.

Short Takes: Frater Shuns Garg / reAlpha CEO Takes Leadership Role at BAC / Stewart Acquires Two Companies

bivey@imfpubs.com — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:55:00 -0400

Former CEO of Fannie Mae said he'll resign from Better's board if former CEO returns; BAC appoints Jamie Cavanaugh as CEO; Stewart goes on acquisition spree.

New AI Platform Aims to Tackle Mortgage Admin

jdohnert@imfpubs.com — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:56:00 -0400

Founded by mortgage industry veteran Ben Anderson, Cindie is designed to work alongside mortgage professionals throughout the lending process.

Delinquencies Continue Easing

jdohnert@imfpubs.com — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 11:56:00 -0400

Delinquencies improved on a year-over-year basis, declining 5% from July 2025 to July 2026.

High Interest Rates, Market Uncertainty Weigh on Nonbank Earnings

jdohnert@imfpubs.com — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:59:00 -0400

A group of 13 publicly traded nonbanks reported a combined $2.20 billion in mortgage-banking income for the second quarter, down 32.3% from the first quarter.