Mortgage News
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News for: Scotsman Guide
Showing 49 - 72 of 142 results
Feb 24, 2026 5:31 PM
— Interest Rates
Fannie and Freddie MBS plan brings short-lived rate relief amid unclear execution
President Trump directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase up to $200 billion in agency mortgage-backed securities, which led to an immediate tightening of mortgage spreads. However, the impact on mortgage rates was short-lived, with only slight improvements since the announcement. Economists are uncertain about the long-term effects and are still waiting for details on how the MBS purchases ... more
Feb 24, 2026 3:31 PM
— Mortgage Lenders
See the 2025 Top Originators
Scotsman Guide has been ranking the nation's top-producing residential mortgage originators since 2010, establishing itself as a benchmark in the mortgage industry.
Feb 23, 2026 1:50 PM
— Mortgage Lenders
Banking groups press regulators to ease mortgage capital rules
Eight financial trade associations, including the Mortgage Bankers Association, highlight concerns regarding current capital requirements on banks for mortgage-related assets. They emphasize the need to ease these requirements to increase competition and access to mortgage credit. The letter calls for reducing risk weights for single-family mortgages and mortgage servicing assets. The trade groups... more
Feb 23, 2026 12:44 PM
— Mortgage Rates
U.S. homebuyer purchasing power surges by $30,000 as mortgage rates cool
The recent dip in mortgage rates and rise in incomes has significantly increased the homebuying power of median-income U.S. households. They can now afford a $331,483 home with a 20% downpayment, the highest purchasing power since March 2022. This improvement has led to 82,300 additional affordable listings nationwide and is expected to boost existing home sales by 4% in 2026. The primary driver b... more
Feb 23, 2026 10:31 AM
— Housing Market
Mortgage lock-in effects remain entrenched in 2026: Realtor.com
Despite historically raising mortgage interest rates putting downward pressure on home prices, higher borrowing costs in the past four years have failed to yield substantial price declines due to an inventory shortage cushioning seller equity. Mortgage rate lock-in effects are a key factor in the weakened relationship between supply and demand. With low-rate mortgages and high levels of home equit... more
Feb 19, 2026 4:18 PM
— Mortgage Rates
Millions gain buying power as rates fall to lowest level in more than three years
Mortgage rates have fallen to their lowest point since September 2022, with the average rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages at 6.01%. This has improved affordability for homebuyers and allowed homeowners to reduce their mortgage payments. The National Association of Realtors estimates that about 5.5 million more Americans now qualify for a mortgage due to the lower rates.
Feb 19, 2026 1:31 PM
— Housing Market
TransUnion forecasts refinances to level off in 2026 as purchase loans accelerate
TransUnion's 2026 mortgage forecast projects a nearly double increase in purchase originations compared to 2025, with a 4% growth expected. Refinance originations, on the other hand, are anticipated to grow by just 4.2%, a significant drop from the 28.1% growth in 2025. Mortgage volumes rose by 6.5% in the third quarter of 2025, totaling around 1.3 million originations, with increasing cash-out ac... more
Feb 18, 2026 4:07 PM
— Interest Rates
Fed minutes underscore magnitude of volatility weighing on policymakers
The Federal Reserve officials seem to have paused rate cuts in January, focusing on stabilizing job markets and returning inflation to 2%. There was discussion regarding President Trump's policy to lower mortgage rates through MBS purchases, as well as the possibility of future rate hikes to combat inflation. Uncertainty remains regarding labor market conditions and data quality.
Feb 18, 2026 11:01 AM
— Mortgage Lending
Mortgage defect rate rises for third straight quarter as refinance market heats up
The critical defect rate for U.S. mortgages increased during the third quarter of 2025, driven primarily by income and employment defects as the industry faced operational challenges due to a shift from a purchase-dominant to a refinance-dominated market. Refinance loans accounted for a disproportionate number of critical defects due to documentation refresh requirements and validation timing issu... more
Feb 16, 2026 11:38 AM
— Mortgage Lending
Bowman signals Fed prepared to revive banks’ role in mortgage market
The Federal Reserve is proposing two mortgage-related regulatory rules to encourage banks to participate more in mortgage origination and servicing, as these activities have shifted significantly to nonbanks in recent years. The proposals aim to make capital requirements more risk-sensitive and align them with the actual risk profile of mortgage lending and servicing.
Feb 13, 2026 12:40 PM
— Mortgage Lending
Refinances overtake purchase mortgage share in the fourth quarter
In the fourth quarter of 2025, despite a 6% decrease in the number of loans originated, the dollar volume of originations increased by 1% to $627.3 billion. Refinance activity surpassed purchase activity for the first time since early 2022, with refinances making up 42.6% of lending activity and purchases 39.9%. This switch was likely driven by lower average mortgage rates. Home equity lending dec... more
Feb 13, 2026 12:31 PM
— Commercial Mortgage Market Growth
Commercial, multifamily mortgage volumes jump in the fourth quarter
Commercial and multifamily mortgage activity in 2025 experienced robust growth, with origination volumes 30% higher over the year in the fourth quarter. The growth was mainly driven by depositories, while office, multifamily, industrial, and health care properties led the gains. Retail and hotel property originations saw declines. Despite stagnating rent growth and high financing costs, a post-pan... more
Feb 10, 2026 3:31 PM
— Mortgage Lending
Mortgage credit availability rises on refinance, jumbo demand in January
The Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI) increased in January, indicating a loosening of credit standards. Refinance volumes rose due to lower mortgage rates. Most of the expansion in mortgage credit availability occurred among programs requiring lower loan-to-value ratios and higher credit scores.
Feb 10, 2026 11:37 AM
— Mortgage Rates
Refinance surge, purchase pause drive January rate-lock narrative
Refinance activity was strong in January, with rate-and-term refinance lock volumes increasing significantly. Purchase activity, however, was slow at the start of the year. Average rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages remained around 6.1%. Refinance locks accounted for 44% of all mortgage activity in January. Government mortgages backed by FHA slipped while loans backed by VA saw modest growth.
Feb 6, 2026 3:03 PM
— Mortgage Rates
Stagnant mortgage rates threaten purchase demand as buyers hit pause
A recent poll showed that many potential homebuyers will hesitate to purchase in 2026 if mortgage rates remain above 6%. The survey revealed that high mortgage rates have already delayed plans for two-thirds of potential buyers, and 58% believe current rates make homeownership unattainable. Mortgage rates hovering around 6% have influenced buyers' perceptions, as historically, rates have been much... more
Feb 5, 2026 1:31 PM
— Mortgage Rates
Mortgage rate lock volumes see mixed recovery in January after recent pullback
Mortgage rate lock volumes improved marginally in January after a December decline attributed to consumer caution due to economic uncertainty. The uptick in January was driven by a boost in rate-and-term refinance activity. Purchase rate locks declined, but total lock volumes were higher annually. Mortgage rates have hovered above 6% with potential for volatility depending on government actions. T... more
Feb 5, 2026 10:37 AM
— Mortgage Rates
Mortgage rates stay in a tight range above 6%
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has remained steady just above 6% for the past three weeks, with only small fluctuations. It averaged 6.11% for the latest survey period. The 15-year fixed rate also saw a slight increase. The decrease in mortgage rates was initially caused by the government's purchase of mortgage-backed securities and tightened spreads.
Feb 5, 2026 10:31 AM
— Housing Market
Mortgage payments fall 8.4% as home values extend losing streak: Zillow
U.S. home values decreased for the sixth consecutive month in January, but buying conditions are improving with lower monthly mortgage payments. The typical home value is just slightly higher than last year, and the housing market is expected to recover gradually as spring approaches.
Feb 5, 2026 8:31 AM
— Mortgage Application Fraud
Elevated investor share drives spike in real estate fraud risk index
The rapid growth of debt-service coverage ratio (DSCR) lending has contributed to an increase in mortgage application fraud risk, particularly in the investor and multifamily sectors. Real estate fraud risk has risen year over year, and non-owner-occupied homes have a significantly higher incidence of undisclosed real estate debt alerts. Refinance applications also experienced a 19% annual spike i... more
Jan 29, 2026 11:45 AM
— Mortgage Affordability
Improvement in mortgage affordability may be lost on borrowers who need it most
Mortgage affordability improved slightly for the seventh consecutive month in December, with median mortgage payment amounts decreasing. The improvement was attributed to lower mortgage rates and growth in household earnings. However, not all borrower segments are seeing the same degree of improvement, with wealthier borrowers primarily benefiting. FHA borrowers saw a decline in mortgage amounts, ... more
Jan 28, 2026 1:32 PM
— Interest Rates
Fed pauses interest rate cuts, with future easing uncertain
The Federal Reserve has paused its monetary easing campaign and decided to hold rates steady in the range of 3.5% to 3.75%. Some FOMC members dissented, but the rate-cut pause was widely anticipated. The decision was influenced by stable inflation readings and a tepid labor market. Speculative contracts had previously predicted the Fed would stand pat. The article also discusses the factors that l... more
Jan 28, 2026 9:05 AM
— Mortgage Rates
Mortgage demand dampens as interest rates tick up
Mortgage application volume decreased by 8.5% due to a rise in interest rates affecting refinancing activity. Despite the decline, purchase demand remained higher than the previous year. The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 6.24%, leading to a decrease in the refinance share of total mortgage activity. Federal Housing Administration refinancing increased... more
Jan 28, 2026 4:33 AM
— Housing Market
Almost half of U.S. home listings have HOA fees, with dues steadily rising
The prevalence of HOAs in the U.S. is on the rise, with a significant portion of home listings now belonging to HOAs. These associations cover services such as snow removal, landscaping, security, and amenities upkeep, redistributing the costs of homeownership from individual owners to the community. The share of homes with HOA fees has increased in recent years, leading to a rise in average month... more
Jan 27, 2026 12:31 PM
— Mortgage Lenders
Class action lawsuit accuses Rocket of ‘illegal steering’ scheme
Rocket Companies and its subsidiaries are facing a nationwide class action lawsuit alleging that they engage in a 'pay-to-play' referral scheme, violating federal regulations by coercing real estate agents to steer clients towards Rocket Mortgage loans. Rocket denies any wrongdoing and the lawsuit seeks treble damages for affected consumers. The lawsuit also cites a 2019 agreement requiring partne... more
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All logos, trademarks, and brand names appearing on this website are the property of their respective owners.
The mortgage rates displayed on this site are collected daily from publicly available sources provided by more than 800 lenders. LoanGlass does not receive compensation for listing these rates, and all rates are presented as published by the respective lenders. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the information may contain errors or omissions. Mortgage rates are highly dependent on an individual’s financial circumstances, credit profile, loan terms, and other factors. As such, the rates you are quoted directly by a lender may differ materially from the rates displayed here.
Users should contact lenders directly to obtain formal, binding loan offers. If you identify any discrepancies in the data or would like to have your institution’s rates included, please contact us at content@loanglass.com.
All logos, trademarks, and brand names appearing on this website are the property of their respective owners.