The majority of people in the United States build their wealth and their financial future with the equity of their home. >> A consumer horror story that's becoming all too real for thousands of homeowners. >> And these zombie mortgages are robbing people of the equity.Mortgages that they thought were paid off a long time ago are actually coming back to haunt them, putting some at risk of ending up on the street. >> We know it's tens, if not hundreds of thousands of these loans are still out there on the boo ...

6.75% to 6.77%. The move ends a brief period of stability seen in late November and signals renewed pressure for homeowners looking to refinance heading into December.The increase represents a clear shift from recent trends. Freddie Mac reported a 6.23% average 30-year mortgage rate for the week ending November 26. That figure reflected a multi-week decline. But the daily refinance rate data for December 2 shows the average now almost 50 basis points higher.The 0.01%, but over a $300,000 loan, even $11 more ...

Mortgage rates have bounced a bit higher. According to Zillow, the average 30-year rate rose 11 basis points to 6.11%. The 15-year rate stepped down two basis points to 5.48%. Today's mortgage rates Here are the current mortgage rates, according to our latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.11% 20-year fixed: 5.99% 15-year fixed: 5.48% 5/1 ARM: 6.12% 7/1 ARM: 6.08% 30-year VA: 5.52% 15-year VA: 5.16% 5/1 VA: 5.10% Remember that these are the national averages and rounded to the nearest hundred ...

SAN DIEGO & CORAL GABLES, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Guild Holdings Company (NYSE: GHLD) ("GHLD†), Guild Mortgage Company ("Guild†) and Bayview Asset Management, LLC ("Bayview†) jointly announced today that Bayview MSR Opportunity (U.S.) Master Fund, L.P., a fund managed by Bayview (the "MSR Fund†), has completed its all-cash acquisition of GHLD. On June 18, 2025, GHLD announced that it had signed a definitive agreement under which a fund managed by Bayview would acquire all of the outstanding shar. ...

Group 1 - Mortgage rates have decreased slightly ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, with 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaging 6.23%, down from 6.26% the previous week and 6.81% a year ago [2] - The average for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages is 5.51%, a decrease from 5.54% last week and 6.10% a year ago [2] Group 2 - Pending home sales are at their highest level since last November, indicating strong homebuyer activity as the year comes to a close [3]

Core Insights - The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage has decreased to 6.23% from 6.26% last week, marking a decline from 6.81% a year ago, ending a three-week streak of increases [1] - The average rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages also fell to 5.51% from 5.54% last week, down from 6.10% a year ago [2] - The decline in mortgage rates is influenced by the Federal Reserve's interest rate policies and the bond market, particularly the 10-year Treasury yield, which is currently at 4.01% [3] Market Trends - Easing mortgage rates have contributed to a rise in sales of previously occupied U.S. homes for the fourth consecutive month on an annual basis, although affordability remains a significant challenge for many potential buyers [4] - Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes have remained around a 4-million annual pace in 2023, compared to a historical average of approximately 5.2 million [5] Federal Reserve Influence - Mortgage rates began to decline this summer following the Federal Reserve's decision to cut its main interest rate in September, with another cut occurring last month amid signs of a slowing labor market [6] - Speculation is growing that the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates again in December, with Wall Street traders estimating an 83% probability of a cut, although this may not lead to a significant drop in mortgage rates [7]

Core Insights - The conforming loan limit for one-unit properties in the U.S. will increase to $832,750 in 2026, up from $806,500 in 2025, reflecting a rise of $26,250 [1][4] - The increase in the conforming loan limit is in line with the 3.26% rise in average U.S. home prices reported by the FHFA [4][5] - High-cost areas will see higher loan limits, with a ceiling of $1,249,125 for one-unit properties, and specific limits for Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands [5][6] Conforming Loan Limits - The new baseline conforming loan limit for 2026 is set at $832,750, which is a significant adjustment based on the average home price increase [3][4] - The FHFA's House Price Index indicates a 3.26% increase in home values over the past year, justifying the rise in loan limits [4][10] - For high-cost areas, the conforming loan limit will be higher than the baseline, with a ceiling limit established at 150% of the baseline [5][6] Market Trends - The mortgage market is experiencing shifts due to changing economic conditions, with consumer confidence dropping to a seven-month low [9][10] - Retail sales showed a modest increase of 0.2% in September, indicating a cautious consumer spending environment [10][15] - The bond market has seen rallies, with Treasury yields dipping as investors react to economic data and consumer sentiment [12][14] Compliance and Regulatory Changes - Credit unions are facing evolving compliance expectations, emphasizing the importance of risk reduction and long-term trust [2][3] - A webinar is scheduled to address compliance challenges and opportunities for credit unions, focusing on regulatory pressures and operational demands [2][3] Industry Initiatives - Symmetry Lending has introduced enhancements to its HELOC products, including lower FICO score requirements and new tax return policies for self-employed borrowers [2] - Spring EQ is launching a charitable initiative, "Giving TWO-SDAY," to support veterans and children battling cancer, linking business activities to social causes [2]

Market Trends - US mortgage applications to buy a home surged to the highest level since early 2023 [1] Financial Implications - Surge occurred despite still-elevated borrowing costs [1]

Core Insights - The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is increasing the conforming loan limit for government-backed home loans to $832,750, reflecting rising housing prices [1][5] - This new limit represents a 3.3% increase from the previous year's level [1][4] - The FHFA adjusts conforming loan limits annually based on changes in U.S. home values, which have been increasing, albeit at a slower pace [3][4] Industry Overview - FHFA oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which purchase home loans and guarantee them against default, subsequently bundling them into securities for investors [2] - Conforming loans are defined as those within the limits set by FHFA, while loans exceeding these limits are classified as jumbo loans [2] - The U.S. housing market has faced challenges since 2022, with mortgage rates rising from historic lows, leading to a significant decline in home sales [3][4] Market Trends - Home sales have remained sluggish in 2025, showing little change compared to the previous year, despite a recent decline in average mortgage rates [4] - The FHFA's House Price Index indicates a 3.3% increase in average U.S. home prices for the July-September quarter compared to the same period last year [4] - Higher conforming loan limits are permitted in certain states and counties with median home values significantly above the national average, such as Los Angeles and New York, where the limit will be $1,249,125 [5]

Market Trends - More than half of homes in the United States have fallen in price over the last year, contributing to improved affordability [1] - Foreclosure activity is returning to normal levels after years of low volumes due to COVID-era forbearance programs, with foreclosure starts hitting 103,000 in Q3, a 23% increase year-over-year [1] - FHA-backed loans account for approximately 38% of all active foreclosures nationwide, with a 44-basis point rise in non-current rates [1] Mortgage Industry Developments - Independent mortgage banks (IMBs) are facing increased loan production expenses, which rose to 326 basis points in Q3 2025, with per-loan costs at $11,109 [4] - The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) is advocating for changes in the credit reporting system to reduce costs for consumers, highlighting the need for more competition in the market [5][6] - The median age of first-time homebuyers has risen to 40 years, with their share falling to 21%, indicating a significant shift in the demographics of homebuyers [7] Economic Indicators - The economic calendar includes various reports such as retail sales and producer prices, which are crucial for understanding market conditions [13] - Treasury trading is influenced more by equity market stability than incoming data, with the 10-year Treasury facing resistance near 4.00% [11] Regulatory Environment - FHFA Director Bill Pulte is under federal grand jury scrutiny as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac propose rule changes that would require independent mortgage banks to hold more capital, potentially increasing mortgage costs [12]