Primary Mortgage Market Survey® U.S. weekly average mortgage rates as of 01/22/2026 MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.09%. “With the economy improving and the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage nearly a percentage point lower than last year, more homebuyers are entering the market,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Buy ...

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate ticked higher this week, but remains near its lowest level in more than three years. The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.09% from 6.06% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the rate averaged 6.96%. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose this week. That average rate inched up to 5.44%, up from 5.38% last week. A year ago, it was at 6.16%, Fre ...

Property Data, Construction Products; Webinars and Training; STRATMOR on Operational Readiness Products, Services, and Software for Brokers and LendersCurious when a shift from best efforts to mandatory delivery makes sense or how to sharpen an existing hedging strategy? Optimal Blue’s Hedging 101: The Benefits of Mandatory Delivery offers a clear look at the fundamentals that shape effective secondary marketing execution. In this Jan. 27 session, industry leaders Jim Glennon, SVP of hedging and trading op ...

Core Viewpoint - A sharp rise in mortgage rates could reverse the U.S. housing market's recovery, which has recently begun to show signs of improvement due to lower borrowing costs [1][2]. Group 1: Mortgage Rate Trends - The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 6.06% for the week ending January 15, 2026, marking the lowest level since late 2022 [2]. - The 15-year fixed rate dropped to 5.38%, leading to a noticeable increase in purchase applications and refinance volume [3]. Group 2: Policy Interventions - President Donald Trump's directive for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities (MBS) contributed to the decline in mortgage rates [3]. - This intervention increased demand for MBS and narrowed the spread to Treasuries, briefly pushing some daily quoted rates to 5.99% [4]. Group 3: Economic Concerns and Criticism - The policy has drawn criticism from economists who warn that diverting funds from Treasury purchases could lead to higher long-term yields and rekindle inflation [5]. - Critics like Peter Schiff and Mohamed El-Erian have labeled the strategy as a misallocation of credit and highlighted the risks of political interference in markets [6]. Group 4: Market Outlook - Industry observers believe the housing market is poised for a solid spring sales season if mortgage rates remain favorable [4]. - Cramer's concerns emphasize the fragility of the current market thaw, suggesting that any rebound in rates could re-lock homeowners and stall market momentum [6].

Core Insights - Mortgage rates have increased significantly due to President Trump's actions regarding Greenland, leading to the highest yield on 10-year Treasurys in five months [1] - The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is currently at 6.05%, while the 15-year fixed rate is at 5.50% [1][16] Mortgage Rates Overview - Current national average mortgage rates include: - 30-year fixed: 6.05% - 20-year fixed: 6.12% - 15-year fixed: 5.50% - 5/1 ARM: 6.34% - 7/1 ARM: 6.42% - 30-year VA: 5.54% - 15-year VA: 5.24% - 5/1 VA: 5.18% [5] Refinance Rates - Today's mortgage refinance rates are generally higher than purchase rates, although this is not always the case [3] Market Trends - Recent fluctuations in mortgage rates were influenced by political events, with rates dropping when proposals for home affordability were announced and rising again due to international tensions [17] - Despite recent increases, 30-year mortgage rates remain approximately half a point lower than they were a year ago [17]

Just days after mortgage rates hit a three-year low, sparking a near-instant surge in applications, fresh trade tensions are threatening to undo that progress. Rates on a 30-year mortgage jumped 14 basis points to an average of 6.21% on Tuesday morning, according to Mortgage News Daily, following new escalations in the standoff between President Trump and European leaders over the future of Greenland. Sign up for the Mind Your Money weekly newsletter By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms ...

Core Viewpoint - President Trump is planning a new rule allowing Americans to use funds from their 401(k) retirement accounts for home down payments, aimed at addressing housing affordability issues in a challenging market [1][2][18]. Group 1: 401(k) Withdrawal Plan - The proposed plan would permit individuals to withdraw money from their 401(k) accounts for home down payments, which is currently restricted and incurs penalties for most [2][18]. - Under existing regulations, early withdrawals from a 401(k) before age 59½ incur a 10% tax penalty in addition to regular income taxes [2][18]. - Hassett provided an example where a buyer could use 10% of their 401(k) for a down payment and then count 10% of the home's equity as an asset within the 401(k), allowing for potential growth of the retirement account [3][4][18]. Group 2: Housing Affordability Initiatives - The administration is exploring various strategies to enhance housing affordability, with the 401(k) proposal being one of several recent initiatives [9][18]. - Trump has expressed intentions to ban large investors from purchasing single-family homes, arguing that such practices disadvantage regular buyers [9][10][18]. - A significant mortgage bond-buying plan worth $200 billion has been ordered, aimed at lowering mortgage rates and making homeownership more affordable [12][18]. Group 3: Market Reactions and Future Plans - Following the bond-buying announcement, mortgage rates briefly fell below 6%, marking a significant decrease not seen in years, which led to a 40% increase in mortgage refinance demand the following week [12][18]. - The White House has not yet clarified whether there will be a cap on withdrawals from 401(k) accounts or when the new plan will take effect [7][18]. - The final details of the 401(k) home down payment proposal are still under discussion and will be closely monitored by potential homebuyers and savers [14][18].

Summary of Better Home & Finance FY Conference Company Overview - **Company**: Better Home & Finance (NasdaqGM: BETR) - **Industry**: Home finance and mortgage industry - **Founded**: Approximately 10 years ago by CEO Vishal Garg - **Business Model**: Utilizes a machine learning-driven AI matching engine to connect consumer credit, income, asset, and property data with investor preferences for mortgage and home equity loans Key Financial Metrics - **Growth in Loan Volume**: Increased by approximately 20% in the past year [4] - **Revenue Growth**: Grew by about 50% [4] - **Home Equity Business Growth**: Expanded over 10X, becoming the fastest-growing home equity platform in America [4] - **Revenue per Loan**: Increased from $7,400 to $8,500 [4] - **Contribution Margin**: Improved from $500 to $1,700 per loan [4] - **Labor Cost per Fund**: Reduced from $2,900 to $2,500, significantly lower than the industry average of over $9,000 [5] Product and Technology Developments - **AI Integration**: The company has integrated GenAI into its existing machine learning engine, enhancing efficiency and unit economics [3] - **Tinman Platform**: Represents a comprehensive end-to-end solution for the mortgage industry, consolidating multiple systems into one workflow [9][10] - **AI Loan Processing**: 70% of loans can be processed as one-day mortgages, with 44% going from lock to commitment letter in under a minute [10] - **Future Projections**: Anticipates that over 90% of loans will be processed entirely via AI in the coming years, potentially reducing labor costs to below $1,000 per loan [11] Market Position and Competitive Landscape - **Market Size**: U.S. homes represent a total asset value of approximately $34 trillion, with a mortgage market of about $15 trillion [6] - **Market Share**: At peak in 2021, Better held nearly 2% market share in the overall mortgage market [6] - **Competitors**: Direct competitors include Rocket Mortgage and loanDepot, with a shift towards a platform-based model rather than direct-to-consumer [26] - **Unique Selling Proposition**: Better's platform offers a unique per-funded loan pricing model, which is attractive to mortgage brokers and lenders [29] Strategic Partnerships and Growth Initiatives - **Partnerships**: Collaborations with major financial institutions and mortgage originators to implement the Tinman platform [15][17] - **Market Trends**: The company is positioned to benefit from a potential increase in refinancing as interest rates stabilize [27] - **Consumer Demand**: Over 2 million pre-approved consumers are waiting to purchase homes, indicating significant future demand [33] Challenges and Concerns - **Affordability Issues**: Concerns about housing affordability and the availability of homes to meet demand [33] - **Scaling Operations**: The need to scale operations effectively to handle increased demand when market conditions improve [34] - **Regulatory Changes**: Potential changes in capital gains tax thresholds could incentivize homeowners to sell, impacting market dynamics [34] Conclusion - Better Home & Finance is positioned for significant growth in the home finance sector, leveraging advanced AI technology and strategic partnerships to enhance its competitive edge. The company anticipates a favorable macroeconomic environment that could stimulate demand for its services in the coming years.

Core Insights - The U.S. housing market is experiencing a shift as borrowers with historically low mortgage rates are beginning to refinance or sell their homes, indicating a change in market dynamics [1] - The housing market is expected to gradually recover, with various factors such as mortgage rates, Fed policy, and demographic demand influencing this momentum [2] - FINOFR has successfully reset over $1.33 billion in mortgages in the last 120 days, benefiting from recent Fed rate cuts and maintaining a high mortgage retention rate [3] - Independent Mortgage Bankers (IMBs) can enhance profitability by adopting strategies similar to larger lenders, such as retaining servicing in-house, which has shown to increase profitability by approximately 50% [4] Market Trends - The housing market is showing signs of thawing after years of elevated mortgage rates and tight inventory, with expectations for a measured recovery in 2026 [2] - Recent Fed rate cuts have led to a surge in mortgage reset activity, with FINOFR completing 1,139 transactions without additional operational strain [3] - The profitability of IMBs is closely tied to their ability to retain servicing, which creates recurring revenue and strengthens borrower relationships [4] Regulatory and Compliance - Covius Compliance Solutions has released a report detailing the regulatory landscape for the mortgage industry, highlighting evolving compliance expectations and the CFPB's modified role [5] Upcoming Events - Various industry conferences are scheduled, including the Independent Mortgage Bankers Conference and the Optimal Blue Summit, focusing on networking and education for mortgage professionals [9][11]

Core Viewpoint - The initial public offering (IPO) of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two government-controlled mortgage giants, is still in progress six months after discussions began, with significant decisions regarding their future control and role in the housing market yet to be made [1][2][15]. Group 1: IPO Progress and Government Control - Trump met with major investment banks to discuss the IPO, which was expected to happen quickly, but it remains a work in progress [1][2][15]. - The government has hired a law firm for advice but has not appointed a major Wall Street bank to manage the offering [2][15]. - A critical decision is whether Fannie and Freddie will be released from government control after the IPO, as they were taken over during the 2008 financial crisis [3][15]. Group 2: Role in the Mortgage Market - Fannie and Freddie are essential in the $12 trillion mortgage market, buying mortgages and packaging them into bonds for institutional investors, which helps banks free up capital for more loans [3][6][15]. - Investors may be hesitant about the IPO if the firms remain under government control, as this could conflict with private shareholders' interests [6][15]. Group 3: Political and Economic Context - Trump aims to boost housing affordability through lower mortgage rates, making it a key policy goal amid midterm election pressures [7][15]. - The administration's recent decision to have Fannie and Freddie purchase up to $200 billion in mortgage-backed bonds suggests a reluctance to end government conservatorship soon [7][15]. - Experts believe that if Fannie and Freddie are freed from federal control, it would limit the administration's ability to influence housing affordability measures [8][15]. Group 4: Perspectives on Future Structure - Jim Parrott suggests that the administration views Fannie and Freddie as utilities, which may delay any decision to relinquish control [9][15]. - David M. Dworkin emphasizes the need for transparency and consultation with industry stakeholders before ending government conservatorship [10][15]. - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is cautious about a hasty IPO, preferring to maintain the status quo to avoid disrupting the mortgage market [11][15]. Group 5: Current Mortgage Rates - The current rate on a traditional 30-year mortgage is 6.06%, down approximately one percentage point from a year ago [11][15].