US mortgage rates climbed for the first time in four weeks, halting an early-year upswing in home purchase and refinancing activity https://t.co/NUmT8hm3Wj ...

Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - Builders Capital Mortgage Corp. (TSXV: BCF) (the "Company") announced today that its board of directors has declared a distribution of $0.40 per Class B Non-Voting share of the Company. The distribution will be paid on January 30, 2026, to holders of Class B Non-voting shares of record on January 27, 2026.Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsi ...

Core Insights - Freddie Mac released its Monthly Volume Summary for December 2025, detailing its mortgage-related portfolios, securities issuance, risk management, delinquencies, debt activities, and other investments [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Freddie Mac's mission is to make home ownership possible for families across the nation, promoting liquidity, stability, and affordability in the housing market throughout all economic cycles [2] - Since its inception in 1970, Freddie Mac has assisted tens of millions of families in buying, renting, or maintaining their homes [2]

Buying a home is traditionally the single largest purchase most Americans make in their lives. A mortgage is typically necessary for many would-be homebuyers to turn their dreams into reality. Personal finance expert Dave Ramsey doesn’t always see a mortgage as necessary, but he argues that if you do need one, then a 15-year fixed mortgage is the only option to consider. In a recent TikTok, Ramsey expert and employee Jade Warshaw explained why a 15-year mortgage is better than a 30-year fixed mortgage. ...

Summary of the January FOMC Preview Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call focuses on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy, specifically the expectations surrounding the January FOMC meeting and its implications for the U.S. economy and financial markets. Key Expectations - The Federal Reserve is expected to maintain the federal funds rate target range at **3.5-3.75%** during the January meeting, indicating a "dovish hold" [5][8][7] - The Fed has initiated bill purchases to keep reserve balances at "ample" levels, a policy expected to continue without additional changes in January [5][8] - The Committee is anticipated to upgrade its assessment of economic growth from "moderate" to "solid," reflecting improved consumer spending momentum [5][9] - The statement is likely to remove references to increased downside risks to employment, suggesting a more favorable outlook for the labor market [5][12] Communication Strategy - A key focus will be on how Chair Powell communicates the pause in rate cuts, with expectations leaning towards a "dovish hold" that emphasizes the potential for future rate reductions if inflation pressures ease [5][24][23] - There is a possibility of a "hawkish hold" if the committee signals a more durable pause, which would indicate the end of the rate-cutting cycle [5][24][25] Market Implications - Rates strategists recommend investors maintain a neutral position in U.S. Treasury duration and curve, while favoring long positions in 2-year UST SOFR swap spreads [5][5] - FX strategists note that the case for U.S. dollar (USD) weakness is less pronounced but remains, with a hawkish FOMC likely to weigh on the Australian dollar (AUD) more than other currencies [5][5] Economic Indicators - Recent stabilization in the labor market and solid economic activity data are seen as justifications for the Fed's decision to pause rate cuts [7][23] - The unemployment rate is projected to remain low, with a slight decline to **4.375%** noted, indicating limited slack in the labor market [23][23] - Inflation data has shown muted signals, with concerns shifting towards inflation persistence rather than further increases [11][11] Forward Guidance - The Fed is expected to maintain language regarding the "extent and timing of additional adjustments" to the target range, signaling an easing bias [5][13] - The anticipated changes in the FOMC statement reflect a shift towards a more optimistic economic outlook, while still acknowledging divisions within the committee regarding the appropriate policy path [5][27][29] Additional Considerations - The Fed's recent speeches indicate a narrowing of divisions among committee members, suggesting a more unified outlook on economic conditions [27][28] - Powell is likely to address various topics during the press conference, including productivity gains, AI's impact on the labor market, and risks to Fed independence [30][31] Conclusion - The upcoming FOMC meeting is poised to reflect a cautious yet optimistic stance on the U.S. economy, with the Fed maintaining a "dovish hold" while preparing for potential future rate cuts depending on inflation trends and labor market conditions [5][7][24]

Core Insights - U.S. home prices have decreased from their previous highs but remain high, with a median sales price of $410,800 in Q2 2025, up from $327,100 at the start of the decade [1] - The National Association of Realtors anticipates a further increase in average home prices by 2% to 3% in 2026 [2] Group 1: Housing Market Dynamics - President Trump plans to have Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds to lower housing costs, a strategy reminiscent of their past practices [3] - Fannie and Freddie previously held over $900 billion in mortgage-backed securities but currently hold a combined $247 billion as of November 2025, with a cap of $225 billion each [4] Group 2: Mortgage Strategies - Fannie and Freddie's role involves buying mortgages from lenders to facilitate credit availability, but experts question the effectiveness of increasing their bond purchases in reducing borrowing costs [5] - Trump has proposed a 50-year mortgage to lower monthly payments, although experts express skepticism about its practicality and long-term financial implications for homeowners [6][7]

Group 1 - The Investment Doctor emphasizes the importance of a diversified portfolio consisting of both dividend and growth stocks, particularly focusing on European small-cap companies with a 5-7 year investment horizon [1] - The investment group European Small Cap Ideas provides exclusive access to actionable research on attractive Europe-focused investment opportunities, highlighting high-quality ideas in the small-cap sector [1] - The offerings include two model portfolios: the European Small Cap Ideas portfolio and the European REIT Portfolio, along with weekly updates and educational content to enhance understanding of European investment opportunities [1] Group 2 - The analyst has a beneficial long position in GPMT.PR.A, indicating a positive outlook on this specific investment [2] - There is an intention to potentially increase the position in GPMT.PR.A when it reaches the low-$20 range, suggesting a strategic approach to investment timing [3]

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has granted Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac the authority to nearly double their mortgage bond purchases, raising the cap from $40 billion to $225 billion each, which could introduce new risks for these government-backed lenders [1][2][4]. Group 1: Changes in Bond Purchase Authority - The FHFA's email to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac eliminated previous caps, allowing each lender to hold up to $225 billion in mortgage bonds, effectively increasing their purchasing capacity by approximately $170 billion beyond the initial $200 billion directive from President Trump [2][3]. - This change reverses nearly two decades of bipartisan consensus on limiting the risk exposure of these lenders following their bailout during the 2008-09 financial crisis [4][12]. Group 2: Political and Economic Implications - Some Congressional members have expressed concerns that the benefits of increased mortgage bond purchases will be short-lived unless the housing supply is also increased, warning that lower interest rates could lead to higher home prices [5]. - Critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, argue that the new bond purchasing authority raises questions about the risks to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and may not effectively lower mortgage interest rates in the long term [6]. Group 3: Historical Context and Risk Management - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were created to stabilize the mortgage market, but their government affiliation allows them to borrow at lower costs while also exposing them to regulatory scrutiny [10][11]. - The FHFA had previously enforced strict limits on the mortgage investment portfolios of these lenders, which were capped at $450 billion, and had reduced their purchasing capacity to as low as $25 billion earlier this year [13][14]. Group 4: Future Outlook and Market Reactions - Analysts suggest that while the new authority could boost earnings ahead of potential initial public offerings, both companies may lack sufficient cash or liquid assets to execute the full $225 billion purchase without incurring debt [16]. - The political motivations behind these changes are evident, as mortgage interest rates have become a liability for the Trump administration ahead of the midterm elections [18].

Core Viewpoint - KBRA has assigned preliminary ratings to ten classes of mortgage-backed certificates from Angel Oak Mortgage Trust 2026-1, which is a $298.9 million non-prime RMBS transaction [1] Group 1: Transaction Details - The underlying collateral consists of 581 residential mortgages [1] - A significant concentration of loans is underwritten using alternative income documentation [1] Group 2: Loan Classification - 65.9% of the loans are classified as non-qualified mortgages (Non-QM) [1] - 34.1% of the loans are exempt from the Ability-to-Repay rule [1]

Core Viewpoint - The administration's plan to purchase up to $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities is unlikely to significantly reduce mortgage rates or improve housing affordability, as the primary issue in the U.S. housing market is insufficient supply rather than demand or financing [1][10]. Mortgage Rates and Market Impact - Analysts believe the bond purchase program will have only a modest effect on borrowing costs, with mortgage bond yields narrowing slightly compared to U.S. Treasury yields, but the overall impact remains limited [2][11]. - Benchmark 30-year mortgage rates fell to 6.15% by the end of 2025, down from just under 8% in late 2023, with rates briefly dipping to their lowest since 2022 following the announcement of bond purchases [3][11]. - Recent data from the Mortgage Bankers Association indicates that mortgage rates have declined further, reaching their lowest level since September 2024, which has increased refinancing activity [4][11]. Federal Reserve and Bond Purchases - The Trump administration has confirmed that mortgage bond purchases are in progress, but operational details remain sparse, with the Federal Housing Finance Agency not disclosing the pace or total volume of purchases [6][11]. - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the initiative aims to counteract the Federal Reserve's reduction of its mortgage-backed securities holdings, which have decreased from approximately $2.7 trillion in mid-2022 to about $2 trillion [7][11]. Economic Perspectives - Economists and central banking experts question the rationale behind offsetting the Fed's runoff, suggesting that the primary market impact of balance-sheet policies occurs at the announcement stage rather than during gradual reductions [8][11]. - Several Federal Reserve officials have expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of bond purchases in resolving housing affordability issues, emphasizing structural supply constraints as the main factor keeping prices elevated [8][11]. External Factors - Rising yields on longer-dated government bonds, particularly the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield, have climbed to their highest level in months, posing new challenges for falling mortgage rates amid a global bond selloff [8][11]. - Geopolitical tensions related to trade threats and confrontations with allies have negatively impacted demand for U.S. assets, including Treasuries, which could lead to higher borrowing costs and undermine any limited benefits from mortgage bond purchases [9][11].