Mortgage rates are clinging just above 6%. According to Zillow, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.03%, and the 15-year fixed rate is 5.42%. Why are Zillow's rates usually lower than those reported by Freddie Mac and elsewhere? Each source compiles rates by different methods. Zillow gets rates from its lender marketplace and Freddie Mac pulls information from loan applications submitted to its underwriting system. Mortgage rates vary by state, by lender, loan type, and many other factors. That's ...

Mortgage rates are clinging just above 6%. According to Zillow, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.03%, and the 15-year fixed rate is 5.42%. Why are Zillow's rates usually lower than those reported by Freddie Mac and elsewhere? Each source compiles rates by different methods. Zillow gets rates from its lender marketplace and Freddie Mac pulls information from loan applications submitted to its underwriting system. Mortgage rates vary by state, by lender, loan type, and many other factors. That's ...

The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage edged lower this week, staying relatively close to its low for the year. The decline brings the average long-term mortgage rate to 6.21% from 6.22% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.72%. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also fell this week. The rate averaged 5.47%, down from 5.54% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.92%, Freddie Mac said. ...

Two Harbors Investment ( TWO ) is set to be acquired by UWM Holdings Corporation ( UWMC ) (the publicly traded indirect parent of United Wholesale Mortgage, the #1 overall mortgage lender in America) inI ventured into investing in high school in 2011, mainly in REITs, preferred stocks, and high-yield bonds, starting a fascination with markets and the economy that has not faded despite the years. More recently I have been combining long stock positions with covered calls and cash secured puts. I approach inv ...

Core Viewpoint - Investors with significant capital have adopted a bearish stance on Rocket Companies (NYSE:RKT), indicating potential upcoming changes in the company's market position [1][2]. Options Trading Activity - Benzinga's options scanner identified 11 unusual options trades for Rocket Companies, suggesting that large investors may have insights into future developments [2]. - The sentiment among these big-money traders is mixed, with 36% bullish and 45% bearish positions noted [3]. - The total amount for put options is $376,000, while call options total $643,589, indicating a stronger interest in calls despite the bearish sentiment [3]. Price Target and Market Analysis - The analysis of volume and open interest suggests that major players are targeting a price range of $19.2 to $26.2 for Rocket Companies over the past quarter [4]. - The volume and open interest data provide insights into the liquidity and interest surrounding Rocket Companies' options, particularly within the identified strike price range [5]. Recent Options Activity - The largest observed options trades include a bearish put trade valued at $320,000 and several bullish call trades, with the most significant being a $197.2K call trade expiring on January 23, 2026 [9]. - The average target price from analysts for Rocket Companies is $25.0, reflecting a cautious optimism despite the current bearish activity [11][12]. Company Overview - Rocket Companies, originally founded as Rock Financial in 1985, is based in Detroit and is primarily known for its Rocket Mortgage business, which has rapidly gained market share [10]. - The company is set to become the largest mortgage servicer in the U.S. following its acquisition of the Mr. Cooper Group, indicating a strong competitive position in the financial services sector [10].

Mortgage rates are holding mostly steady for yet another week. According to Zillow, the average 30-year fixed rate is up one basis point to 6.09%. The 15-year fixed home loan rate is down six basis points to 5.52%. The stability of mortgage rates over the past several weeks is welcomed by borrowers looking to lock in a rate. Today's mortgage rates Here are the current mortgage rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.09% 20-year fixed: 6.01% 15-year fixed: 5.52% 5/1 ARM: 6.19% ...

Core Insights - UWM Holdings, the largest wholesale mortgage lender in America, experienced a significant insider sale by CEO Mat Ishbia amid declining share prices [1][8] - Ishbia sold 1,224,574 Class A Common shares for approximately $6.8 million, representing a 23.39% reduction in his total pre-transaction holdings [2][6] - The company's stock has decreased by 10.90% over the past year, with a notable decline following a lawsuit against it [4][10] Company Overview - UWM Holdings specializes in residential mortgage loans, primarily through a wholesale lending channel, focusing on conforming and government-backed loans [5][7] - The company reported a total revenue of $1.37 billion and a net income of $16.89 million for the trailing twelve months [4] - UWM Holdings has a dividend yield of 6.08%, which may indicate a potential dividend trap [4][10] Transaction Details - The shares were sold at a weighted average price of $5.55, with the stock closing at $5.12 on December 12, 2025 [2][6] - Post-transaction, Ishbia retains 279,989 direct shares and 3,730,973 indirect shares [2][6] - The sale is consistent with Ishbia's historical trading patterns, aimed at increasing the stock's public float to attract institutional investors [8][9] Market Context - UWM's Q3 loan origination volume increased to $41.7 billion from $39.5 billion in 2024, contributing to revenue growth [10] - Despite the growth, the stock price fell after a lawsuit was not dismissed, raising concerns among investors [10][11] - The ongoing sales by Ishbia do not necessarily indicate a loss of confidence in the company, as he continues to hold a substantial number of shares [8][9]

Core Points - Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation announced a special year-end cash dividend of $0.084 per share for 2025, bringing total dividends declared and paid for the year to $1.02 per share [2] - The monthly cash dividend for December 2025 is set at $0.078 per share, and combined with the special dividend, total cash dividends will amount to approximately $0.162 per share, payable on or about January 15, 2026 [3] - The board of directors has approved monthly cash dividends of $0.078 per share for Q1 2026, with specific payment dates outlined [4] Company Overview - Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation operates as an investor in mortgages through Firm Capital Corporation, a non-bank lender that provides various financing options including residential and commercial real estate financing [5] - The company's investment objective focuses on preserving shareholders' equity while providing a stable stream of monthly dividends from investments in niche markets underserved by larger lending institutions [5] - The corporation aims to develop a diversified mortgage portfolio to produce stable returns for shareholders [5]

Core Insights - The average 30-year mortgage rate is currently in the low- to mid-6% range, with expectations to remain above 6% for the foreseeable future, although slight decreases may occur in 2026 [1][23]. Group 1: Mortgage Rate Strategies - Government-backed loans, such as VA, FHA, and USDA loans, often have lower rates than conventional loans, with an example showing a 30-year FHA loan at 5.88% compared to a conventional loan at 6.29% [2][3]. - Shorter-term loans, like 15-year mortgages, typically offer lower rates, with a 5.76% average compared to 6.29% for 30-year loans, potentially saving nearly $300,000 in interest over the loan term [6][7]. - Buying discount points can reduce the interest rate, with a cost of approximately 1% of the loan amount to lower the rate by 0.25%, exemplified by a reduction from 6.22% to 5.97% [8][9]. - Temporary buydowns can lower rates for a set number of years, such as a 3-2-1 buydown, which decreases the rate by 3% in the first year, 2% in the second, and 1% in the third [12][13]. - Improving credit scores can lead to better interest rates, with a 780 credit score yielding an average rate of 6.14% compared to 6.59% for scores under 680 [14][15]. - Shopping around for lenders can yield significant savings, with just four quotes potentially saving over $1,200 annually in interest [16][17]. - Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) often have lower initial rates compared to fixed-rate mortgages, but they carry the risk of rate adjustments after a set period [18][19]. - Waiting for rates to potentially drop below 6% may be an option, with Fannie Mae projecting a rate of 5.9% by the end of 2026, although predictions vary [20][23].

Core Insights - Mortgage rates have stabilized since mid-October, with the average 30-year rate at 6.08% and the 15-year rate at 5.58% [1][15] - The current mortgage refinance rates are generally higher than purchase rates, with the 30-year refinance rate at 6.12% [6][15] Mortgage Rates Overview - Current national average mortgage rates include: - 30-year fixed: 6.08% - 20-year fixed: 5.98% - 15-year fixed: 5.58% - 5/1 ARM: 6.28% - 7/1 ARM: 6.22% - 30-year VA: 5.63% - 15-year VA: 5.16% - 5/1 VA: 5.45% [5] Refinance Rates - Current national average refinance rates include: - 30-year fixed: 6.12% - 20-year fixed: 6.05% - 15-year fixed: 5.57% - 5/1 ARM: 6.26% - 7/1 ARM: 6.41% - 30-year VA: 5.74% - 15-year VA: 5.39% - 5/1 VA: 5.44% [6] Long-term Rate Predictions - Economists do not expect significant drops in mortgage rates before the end of 2026, with the MBA forecasting a 30-year mortgage rate near 6.4% through 2026 [14][16] - Fannie Mae predicts a slight decrease to 5.9% in Q4 2026, while the MBA expects rates to average 6.3% in 2027 [16][18] Comparison of Mortgage Types - A 30-year mortgage at 6.08% results in a monthly payment of approximately $2,419, leading to $470,773 in interest over the term [9] - A 15-year mortgage at 5.58% has a higher monthly payment of about $3,285 but results in significantly lower total interest of $191,361 [9] Fixed vs. Adjustable Rates - Fixed-rate mortgages lock in the interest rate from the start, while adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) have a fixed rate for an initial period before adjusting based on market conditions [11][12] - ARMs may start with lower rates but carry the risk of increases after the initial period [13]