CRE Borrowing’s 2025 Improvement Masks Ongoing Strains In Market

CRE Borrowing’s 2025 Improvement Masks Ongoing Strains In Market

Commercial real estate lending is in a pivotal moment, despite recent data suggesting improvement last year. CRE borrowing was up 16% YOY in 2024 to an estimated total of $498 billion, according to a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association. It remains down, however, from $816 billion in 2022, a 39% drop. Reggie Booker, MBA’s…

Future Of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac On The Table Under Trump
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Future Of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac On The Table Under Trump

By CHUCK GREEN and KIMBERLEY HAAS The fate of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is being debated as the new Trump administration lays out its priorities for the next four years. Let’s start analyzing the situation by looking back in time. In 2008, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were in trouble. In fact, without government…

Winning Business With Ron Vaimberg
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Winning Business With Ron Vaimberg

By KIMBERLEY HAAS As mortgage rates continue to stabilize, loan originators hoping for a successful year can benefit from the power of networking. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s finance forecast for February, interest rates for a 30-year fixed mortgage will remain at an average of 6.9% until the middle of 2025. They could drop…

The State Of Foreclosure Activity As 2025 Nears
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The State Of Foreclosure Activity As 2025 Nears

By ERIN FLYNN JAY There has been an uptick in foreclosure activity this year but industry professionals say the impact on the national housing market will be manageable moving into 2025. Marina Walsh, vice president of industry analysis at the Mortgage Bankers Association, recently told The Mortgage Note that delinquencies increased across all product types….

How Do Unemployment Rates Affect The Housing Market?

How Do Unemployment Rates Affect The Housing Market?

By ERIN FLYNN JAY With buyers already taking a “wait-and-see” approach due to high interest rates, low inventory, and an upcoming Presidential election, economists say another factor – the unemployment rate – could affect the housing market moving forward. “Higher unemployment can make individuals and families feel less secure about their personal financial situations, which…

Applications Slip As Rates Tick Up

Applications Slip As Rates Tick Up

Mortgage applications slipped after a weeks-long upward rally as rates ticked up. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey shows that the adjusted Market Composite Index — a measure of mortgage loan application volume — fell by 5.7%, reversing last week’s gains. Adjusted purchase applications declined by 1%, while the unadjusted index was down 3% and…

Mortgage Industry Leaders React To Crackdowns On “Junk Fees”
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Mortgage Industry Leaders React To Crackdowns On “Junk Fees”

By ERIN FLYNN JAY As the Biden administration’s war on “junk fees” continues, mortgage industry leaders are saying closing costs are not the source of home affordability challenges. In March, leaders at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau asked for input in a blog post aimed at challenging these costs. “Families who manage to save up…

CFPB Takes Aim At “Junk Fees” In Mortgage Servicing

CFPB Takes Aim At “Junk Fees” In Mortgage Servicing

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is taking aim at mortgage “junk fees” yet again, this time in the servicing sector. The bureau released supervisory highlights addressing what it classifies as illegal junk fees, such as prohibited fees, deceptive notices sent to homeowners, and violations of loss mitigation rules. “Homeowners cannot just simply switch providers if…

Good Jobs Report Means Bad News for Borrowers, Experts Say
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Good Jobs Report Means Bad News for Borrowers, Experts Say

Americans watching cable news might have been cheered when they saw the latest jobs report: the United States added 303,000 new nonfarm jobs in March and unemployment fell to 3.8%. Both numbers exceeded expectations. But viewers who are also shopping for a mortgage may have had a different reaction. Economics and housing experts say less…

Could Portable Mortgages Thaw A Frozen Housing Market?

Could Portable Mortgages Thaw A Frozen Housing Market?

By ERIN FLYNN JAY The concept of mortgage porting, or transferring the terms of an existing loan over to a new property, has gained popularity as Americans locked into low interest rates try to figure out ways to navigate the current housing market. It is estimated that trading up to a 25% more expensive home…

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