Mortgage rates may have decreased only slightly this week, but the decline marks a significant moment: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has dropped to its lowest point in 2025. The national average 30-year rate is now 6.15%, according to Freddie Mac. So, what does this mean for the upcoming 2026 housing market? Will mortgage rates continue to go down? Are mortgage rates dropping? Yes, mortgage rates are dropping in general. Weekly declines are small, but longer-term changes are more drastic. As of Dece ...

Mortgage rates have remained largely unchanged since the Fed cut the federal funds rate last week. You may be waiting to buy a house or refinance your loan until mortgage rates go down. However, according to many experts' 2026 housing market predictions, rates are likely to decrease only slightly next year. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad time to buy or refinance. Are mortgage rates dropping? Yes and no. Weekly rates have barely moved, but annual rates have decreased. As of December ...

Core Insights - Mortgage rates have increased after a period of stability, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage now at 6.30%, higher than the previous year’s rate of 6.08% [1][2] - The Federal Reserve's recent rate cut has not led to a decrease in mortgage rates, which is contrary to expectations [3][4] - The current housing market is characterized by high demand and limited supply, keeping home prices elevated [11][12] Mortgage Rate Trends - The 15-year fixed mortgage rate has risen to 6.49%, which is 33 basis points higher than the same time last year [2] - Mortgage rates typically follow trends in the 10-year Treasury yield, which is currently at 4.12%, up from 3.75% a year ago [9][10] - The spread between the 30-year fixed mortgage rate and the 10-year Treasury yield is currently 2.18% [10] Federal Reserve Influence - The Federal Reserve lowered the federal funds rate by 25 basis points in September 2025, marking its first cut of the year [4][5] - Historically, mortgage rates do not always decrease following a fed funds rate cut, as seen in previous years [6][7] Housing Market Dynamics - The median sale price of single-family homes has increased from $208,400 in Q1 2009 to $410,800 by Q2 2025 [12] - The imbalance between buyers and available homes is contributing to sustained high home prices [11] Future Outlook - Predictions for mortgage rates vary, with the Mortgage Bankers Association forecasting a 30-year fixed rate of 6.5% by the end of 2025, while Fannie Mae is more optimistic, predicting a drop to 5.9% [21]

Mortgage rates are now at their lowest points in over three years. The national average 30-year rate is now 6.06%, according to Freddie Mac. So, what does this mean for the 2026 housing market? Will mortgage rates continue to go down? Are mortgage rates dropping? Yes, mortgage rates are dropping overall. They are at their lowest levels in more than three years. As of January 15, Freddie Mac reported that the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate is at its lowest since the fall of 2022, now sitting ...

The national average 30-year rate is the lowest it's been since 2022 — now sitting at 5.98%, according to Freddie Mac. What does a sub-6% home loan rate mean for 2026 housing market? Will mortgage rates continue to drop? Are mortgage rates dropping? In short, yes. As of February 26, Freddie Mac reported that the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate is 5.89%. This is three basis points lower than last week, and 78 basis points lower than this time last year. In late February 2025, mortgage rates ave ...

Core Viewpoint - Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation plans to redeem all outstanding $25 million of its 5.40% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures early on May 12, 2025, prior to their maturity date of June 30, 2025 [1][2]. Group 1: Redemption Details - The redemption price will be $1,000 for each $1,000 principal amount of debentures, including all accrued and unpaid interest up to the redemption date [2]. - The corporation will utilize cash on hand to pay the redemption price for the debentures [2]. - Formal notice of redemption will be delivered to debenture holders through the Debenture Trustee, Computershare Trust Company of Canada [3]. Group 2: Company Overview - Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation operates as a non-bank lender providing residential and commercial short-term bridge and conventional real estate financing [4]. - The corporation's investment objective focuses on preserving shareholders' equity while providing a stable stream of monthly dividends from investments [4]. - The corporation is classified as a mortgage investment corporation (MIC) under the Income Tax Act (Canada), allowing it to avoid taxation on income if distributed to shareholders as dividends within 90 days after year-end [4].

Core Points - Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation announced a monthly cash dividend of $0.078 per share, with specific record and payable dates for the upcoming months [1] - The Corporation operates as a non-bank lender, focusing on residential and commercial short-term bridge and conventional real estate financing, including construction and equity investments [2] - The investment objective of the Corporation is to preserve shareholders' equity while providing a stable stream of monthly dividends from investments in niche markets underserved by large lending institutions [2] Dividend and Share Purchase Plan - The Corporation has a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) allowing shareholders to reinvest dividends in additional shares at a discounted price of 97% of the weighted average trading price, with no commission costs [1] - Participants in the Share Purchase Plan can purchase additional shares, with a maximum of $12,000 per year and a minimum of $250 per month, also with no commission fees [1] Taxation and Financial Reporting - As a Mortgage Investment Corporation (MIC), the Corporation is not taxed on income as long as taxable income is distributed to shareholders as dividends within 90 days after year-end [2] - Dividends are generally treated as interest income for shareholders, aligning their position with direct mortgage investments [2] - Full financial results and management discussions are available on the SEDAR website and the Corporation's website [2]

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on "buying high and selling higher," contrasting with traditional strategies of "buying low and selling high" [1] Group 1: Momentum Investing Strategy - Momentum investing can be risky as stocks may lose momentum if future growth does not justify high valuations [1] - Identifying the right entry point for fast-moving stocks is challenging, and traditional momentum parameters may not always be reliable [1] Group 2: Bargain Stocks with Momentum - Investing in bargain stocks that have recently shown price momentum may be a safer strategy [2] - The Zacks Momentum Style Score is useful for identifying strong momentum stocks, while the 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen helps find attractively priced fast-moving stocks [2] Group 3: Tree.com (TREE) Analysis - Tree.com (TREE) has shown significant price momentum with a four-week price change of 31.8% [3] - Over the past 12 weeks, TREE's stock gained 26.1%, indicating its ability to deliver positive returns over a longer timeframe [4] - TREE has a beta of 1.9, suggesting it moves 90% higher than the market in either direction, indicating fast-paced momentum [4] Group 4: Valuation and Earnings Estimates - TREE has a Momentum Score of A, indicating a favorable time to invest [5] - The stock has a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) due to upward revisions in earnings estimates, which attract more investors [6] - TREE is trading at a Price-to-Sales ratio of 0.75, meaning investors pay 75 cents for each dollar of sales, indicating a reasonable valuation [6] Group 5: Additional Investment Opportunities - Besides TREE, there are other stocks that meet the criteria of the 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen [7] - Zacks offers over 45 Premium Screens to help identify potential winning stock picks based on various investing styles [8]

TORONTO, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (the "Corporation") (TSX FC, FC.DB.I, FC.DB.J ,FC.DB. K and FC.DB.L) today released its financial statements for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024. NET INCOME For the three months ended December 31, 2024, net income increased by 9.9% to $9,164,362 as compared to $8,335,525 for the same period in 2023. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by 3.1% to $35,228,450, as compared to $34,1 ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2024, the company achieved a 19% year-over-year increase in funded loan volume, totaling $3.6 billion, and a 50% increase in revenue, reaching $108 million [10][11] - The adjusted EBITDA loss was reduced by 26% year-over-year, amounting to $121 million [10] - For Q4 2024, funded loan volume was $936 million, a 77% year-over-year increase, while revenue was $25 million, up from $18 million in Q4 2023 [12][49] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Funded loan volume growth in Q4 was driven by home equity products and refinance loans, with purchase loan volume increasing by 25% and refinance loan volume surging by 611% year-over-year [14] - Home equity loan volume increased by 416% in Q4 2024 compared to the previous year [14] - The company reported that 81% of funded loan volume in Q4 was generated through the direct-to-consumer (D2C) channel, with 62% being purchase loans [50] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall mortgage market saw improvements in Q4 2024, but 30-year fixed mortgage rates remained high, impacting mortgage demand [16] - The company outperformed the market, with a reported 619% increase in HELOC originations compared to a 10% industry-wide increase [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage AI and technology to enhance the home ownership experience, focusing on growth, efficiency improvements, and diversification of distribution channels [9][10] - The partnership with NEO Home Loans is expected to enhance local loan officer capabilities and improve conversion rates [33][45] - The company is committed to reducing expenses and improving operational efficiency to achieve profitability in the medium term [16][47] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the growth potential in 2025, despite macroeconomic headwinds and the wind down of the Ally business [51][53] - The company anticipates a 10% to 15% decrease in funded loan volume in Q1 2025 due to seasonal slowness and the exit from non-core businesses [51] - Management highlighted the importance of AI in driving down operational costs and improving customer experience [18][30] Other Important Information - The company has implemented significant cost-saving measures, including reducing loan origination expenses by 28% and marketing expenses by 27% in Q4 [17] - The AI-driven assistant, Betsy, has significantly increased customer interactions, growing from 5,000 in June 2024 to over 115,000 by February 2025 [19][20] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does the underwriting and AI technology adjust for high property insurance costs? - Management explained that their technology integrates multiple data sources to provide instant homeowners insurance quotes, significantly reducing the need for manual processing [58] Question: How does profitability impact risk-taking? - Management clarified that their marketplace model does not involve holding loans on the balance sheet, thus minimizing risk while focusing on efficiency and cost reduction [62][68] Question: Can you walk through the savings opportunities from Tinman's AI application? - Management detailed that AI has reduced costs associated with loan officer tasks and improved customer service efficiency, leading to significant savings per funded loan [78] Question: How are gain on sale margins trending in Q1? - Management reported that gain on sale margins are trending higher, particularly with the NEO partnership, which is expected to enhance overall profitability [85][88] Question: Can you contextualize contribution profit per loan? - Management indicated that contribution margins have been improving, and they are focused on reducing costs in the mortgage business to drive profitability [98][100]