2025

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 4, 2025, U.S. mortgage applications jumped 20.0% compared to the previous week. The Market Composite Index, which measures total mortgage loan application volume, rose 20.0% on a seasonally adjusted basis and also increased 20% on an unadjusted basis. Refinancing activity saw a substantial boost....

A bipartisan duo of members in the House of Representatives who largely operate with very different political positions have come together to begin what they’re calling an “initiative to gather public input” on the potential reauthorization of two federal housing programs. Reps. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) and Emmanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), the chairman and ranking members, respectively of the House Financial...

Illustration of a mortgage loan officer struggling with rate volatility. Image created with ChatGPT 4o While the trade war initiated last week by the Trump administration has brought volatility to mortgage rates, some loan officers have seen an uptick in home loan applications as some borrowers are “staying on course.”  “There’s been a tremendous amount of volatility. I don’t think I’ve...

Last week, beneficiaries of the Social Security Administration (SSA)’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program were erroneously told that they were no longer receiving benefits, and could no longer access account history through the program’s online portal. This is according to reporting at CBS News, as well as a letter from a coalition of Democratic senators to Lee Dudek, acting commissioner of...

Despite long maintaining a reputation as being behind the times of technology development — whether that is due to a perception of being slow-to-adopt emerging technologies, or due to regulatory compliance concerns — one top 10 reverse mortgage lender has now rolled out hybrid e-closing processes for its Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) business. Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. announced...

President Donald Trump’s trade war against China is escalating. The White House confirmed Tuesday that Trump is placing a 50% tariff on China that is in addition to previously implemented or announced levies. Trump hit China with a 20% tariff at the beginning of his term, and his “Liberation Day” tariff rollout included another 34% on China. The new tariff brings the cumulative total on China...

The quarterly U.S. Houzz Renovation Barometer asks more than 1,000 construction and architecture and design firms on Houzz about their expected, current and recent business activity. The just-released Q2 2025 Barometer, fielded March 14-28, was expanded to include...

After kicking off 2025 feeling bullish, construction and design professionals have tempered their optimism about business activity in the second quarter of the year. This follows a significant dip in Q1 performance among construction firms and relatively stable performance among...

This Minnesota couple sold their existing home and vacation cabin to build a beach-style lakeside house in the Twin Cities area, where their extended family could easily gather. To complete the “lake life” experience and nod to Minnesota’s Scandinavian heritage, they requested a bathroom with a...

Image Matthew DiLiberto says SL Green sees growing opportunity through JVs and debt...