News for: HousingWire
Showing 193 - 216 of 367 results
Jan 15, 2026 4:37 AM
— Interest Rates
Mortgages with rates above 6% now outnumber sub-3% loans
The share of U.S. mortgages with rates at or above 6% has surpassed those below 3%, reaching 21.2% in Q3 2025. This shift is expected to significantly impact the housing market due to historically low borrowing costs in prior years.
Jan 14, 2026 3:48 PM
— Housing Market
Stock buybacks become housing policy’s latest pressure point
The Trump Administration and FHFA Director Bill Pulte are criticizing public homebuilders for engaging in stock buybacks while many Americans struggle with home affordability. However, the buybacks are necessary for capital management in a low-margin, uncertain demand environment. Conditioning access to mortgage liquidity based on corporate decisions could increase builders' cost of capital and re... more
Jan 14, 2026 7:32 AM
— Mortgage Lenders
Glenn Kelman steps down as Redfin CEO
Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman announced his departure after two decades, months after Rocket Companies acquired the firm. Kelman expressed gratitude towards Rocket and CEO Varun Krishna for their support. With the mortgage rates expected to remain flat, lenders are focusing on attracting creditworthy borrowers through creative means.
Jan 14, 2026 4:37 AM
— Mortgage Security
Lawmakers move to restrict private listings in Washington
The article discusses the importance of verifying human identity to prevent fraud and ensure security online. It highlights various methods such as CAPTCHAs, biometrics, and two-factor authentication to confirm human presence.
Jan 14, 2026 4:33 AM
— Mortgage Rates
Bill Ackman proposes prepayment penalties to lower mortgage rates
Bill Ackman proposes adding prepayment penalties to new mortgages as a way to lower interest rates by around 65 basis points. He suggests giving borrowers the option between standard loans and lower-rate loans with restrictions on early payoff.
Jan 13, 2026 3:32 PM
— Housing Market
Lower mortgage rates support steady new home sales
Lower mortgage rates are keeping new home sales steady in October, with inventory remaining unchanged. The housing market is showing positive signs with sales at 2019 levels and the mortgage buy-down program benefiting builders.
Jan 13, 2026 3:32 PM
— Mortgage Rates
Trump pauses 50-year mortgage plan, drafts 401(k) down payment access
The Trump administration is no longer pursuing the idea of introducing 50-year mortgages, but instead is exploring options to improve housing affordability such as allowing Americans to use funds from 401(k) or 529 accounts for down payments. They are also considering a proposal to prevent large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes. Trump has directed Fannie Mae and Freddie ... more
Jan 13, 2026 12:32 PM
— Housing Market
Mamdani notches a loss in opening gambit to take on NYC landlords
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani lost a bid to delay the auction of 5,000 rent-stabilized units despite unresolved maintenance issues and tenant complaints, highlighting the challenges faced by mayors in federal cases. The winning buyer plans to free up capital for repairs through bankruptcy, but concerns remain about future improvements under profit-driven ownership.
Jan 13, 2026 9:32 AM
— Real Estate Transparency
Could Wisconsin’s new law set a national standard for real estate transparency?
Wisconsin's 2025 Act 69 requires written seller opt-outs for limited listings and new disclosure rules, focusing on transparency in real estate transactions. The law aims to ensure that sellers make informed decisions about marketing their property and the impact of limited exposure on buyer awareness and competition. It also addresses technology-altered marketing imagery and compensation arrangem... more
Jan 12, 2026 5:32 PM
— Housing Market
Appeal hearing threatens NAR settlement, raising industry uncertainty
The NAR commission settlement is under appeal in the Eighth Circuit, potentially leading to major industry changes and reshaping compensation rules and future litigation. The real estate industry may need to prepare for more commission lawsuit drama as the hearing progresses.
Jan 12, 2026 1:32 PM
— Housing Market
Affordable HOMES Act passes House
The House passed the bipartisan Affordable HOMES Act to boost affordable housing by focusing on manufactured housing. JPMorgan Chase reported a significant increase in mortgage originations in 2025.
Jan 12, 2026 8:32 AM
— Mortgage Lending
Worried about the Compass Anywhere merger? Here’s how to stay competitive
The article discusses actionable strategies for independent agents to remain competitive in the real estate market as consolidation accelerates. It emphasizes the importance of local expertise, client relationships, specialization, and consistent communication and service.
Jan 12, 2026 4:32 AM
— Housing Market
The 2–4% mortgage trap is freezing housing: Defeasance may be the way out
The U.S. housing market has a lack of sellers due to homeowners holding mortgages with low interest rates from 2020-2022. Defeasance, a concept from commercial real estate finance, offers a potential solution by substituting the loan's payment stream with highly secure assets. This could help homeowners unlock equity trapped within their mortgages and encourage more mobility in the housing market.
Jan 11, 2026 7:31 PM
— Interest Rates
DOJ opens criminal investigation into Federal Reserve and Powell
The Department of Justice served the Federal Reserve with subpoenas threatening criminal charges over Fed Chair Jerome Powell's Congressional testimony regarding the renovation of the Fed's D.C. headquarters. Powell stated that the threat is actually about the Fed's independence in setting interest rates, rather than the renovation itself.
Jan 11, 2026 12:32 PM
— Housing Market
The impact of lower mortgage rates on housing inventory
The U.S. housing inventory growth has slowed to 9.99% year-over-year with mortgage rates near 6%. Price cuts have increased to 34.7% and new listings are below normal, indicating a shift in supply and demand dynamics in the housing market.
Jan 10, 2026 4:32 PM
— Mortgage Rates
December jobs data continues to support lower mortgage rates
December saw the slowest job growth in years, leading to mortgage rates staying near 6%. Trump's MBS policy and stable bond yields played a role. Despite a brief drop in rates to the 5s, the 10-year yield remained mostly unchanged. The BLS report showed 50,000 jobs created, making 2025 the lowest job-growth year this century if it wasn't for health care and social services labor. Unemployment rate... more
Jan 10, 2026 4:32 AM
— Retirement Planning
Elon Musk says retirement savings could become ‘irrelevant’
Elon Musk suggested that future technological advancements could make retirement savings irrelevant, but critics disagree. Data shows retirees face challenges such as unexpected costs, housing and health care expenses, and fear of outliving savings. Experts warn that retirement insecurity is a current issue despite Musk's speculative vision.
Jan 9, 2026 3:32 PM
— Mortgage Rates
Mortgage rates dip, sparking potential refinance surge
Mortgage rates briefly dropped below 6% for the first time in nearly three years, driven by a proposed $200 billion push in the secondary market. This decline is expected to boost refinancing volumes by up to 25%, as historically a 22-basis-point drop in the 30-year fixed mortgage rate leads to a 15% to 25% increase in refinance activity.
Jan 9, 2026 1:32 PM
— Housing Market
WSJ: DOJ leadership halted antitrust review of Compass–Anywhere deal
DOJ senior officials allowed the Compass-Anywhere merger to close despite antitrust staff wanting further investigation, leading to warnings of market concentration. Many were surprised by the quick closure of the merger, with news outlets reporting that antitrust regulators were blocked from a deeper investigation by higher-ups in the Justice Department.
Jan 9, 2026 11:32 AM
— Mortgage Rates
Mortgage rates drop below 6% after Trump's MBS announcement
Mortgage rates dropped below 6% on Friday due to improved spreads, aided by Trump's MBS announcement and steady 10-year yields.
Jan 9, 2026 9:32 AM
— Housing Market
Why the fix-and-flip sector is poised for a breakout in 2026
The fix-and-flip sector, where investors rehabilitate residential properties, is expected to see growth in 2026 due to factors like improving capital availability, interest rate easing, potential inventory growth, and cost efficiencies. The industry is becoming more mainstream, with more accessible capital drawing new participants and housing inventory beginning to loosen. Renovation projects are ... more
Jan 9, 2026 6:32 AM
— Housing Market
Compass closes $1.6B Anywhere merger, forms industry giant
Compass and Anywhere have closed their $1.6B merger ahead of schedule after shareholder approval, creating a new real estate industry giant. Trump instructed GSEs to buy $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities to lower rates.
Jan 8, 2026 7:32 PM
— Housing Market
Compass-Anywhere merger forces brokers to adjust competitive playbooks
The Compass-Anywhere merger, which was initially expected to close in the summer or fall of 2026, may now close as soon as Friday. This merger will give the combined firm over 50% market share in several metropolitan areas across the U.S. Shareholders at both companies have already approved the merger, and upon closing, Compass will have about 340,000 real estate professionals across the U.S. and ... more
Jan 8, 2026 3:32 PM
— Mortgage Rates
Trump directs GSEs to buy $200B in mortgage bonds to lower rates
President Donald Trump directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities (MBS) to lower mortgage rates. This move comes as their MBS holdings are approaching regulatory limits. Experts have differing opinions on the impact of this directive.
DISCLAIMER: LoanGlass (previously known as mortgage-rates.ai) is an independent information platform created to promote greater transparency in the mortgage market for the benefit of borrowers. LoanGlass is not a lender, mortgage broker, or financial advisor, and is not registered with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS). Nothing contained on this website shall be construed as an offer to lend, solicit, or extend credit of any kind.
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.
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.