National Mortgage News - September 2019

Lenders have vastly improved the user experience for consumers but staff often operate in archaic systems. That imbalance brings risks...and is only going to grow.

The race to optimize mobile capabilities for consumers is far outstripping efforts to improve the back-office experience. That imbalance carries substantial risks.

Bankers are downplaying such concerns, but others say a sharp decline in values on rent-regulated buildings means landlords will have less cash flow to acquire new properties.

The Federal Housing Administration program insured three-quarters of the mortgages obtained by millennial homebuyers as most had trouble saving up for a 20% down payment, a LendEDU study found.

Fannie Mae's current tack could help it weather some of the new challenges confronting the government-sponsored enterprises, including the planned expiration of its qualified mortgage rule exemption and rate-driven earnings volatility.

It’s hard to time the next economic slowdown. But lenders, many with lingering memories of the financial crisis, are taking steps now to limit exposure in commercial real estate, construction and other loan segments.

Mortgage lenders continue prioritizing technology efforts over all else in hopes of tackling a slew of market hurdles and threats, according to Fannie Mae.

Black Knight created a pair of tools for its MSP servicing system in order to help mortgage services identify loans in their portfolio tied to areas affected by natural disasters.

With the agency mulling changes to the “Qualified Mortgage” regulation, mortgage lenders say little-known standards for how they document a borrower’s income would be a good place to start.

Some believe the administration will delay action on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to avoid any political fallout. Others say the window for reform is closing.

The regulator of the government-sponsored enterprises retreated from an earlier proposal that had barred VantageScore because of its ties to the credit bureaus.

A new wave of mortgage production technologies empower lenders to create a more personalized approach to serving borrowers compared with the ubiquitous loan origination systems created over 10 years ago.

A more sustainable approach to home flipping is a responsible one that benefits not just real estate investors, but also the neighborhood, local economy and even the eventual resident.

From Jacksonville, Fla., to Seattle, here's a look at the 12 most favorable housing markets for homebuyer purchasing power, based on a combination of local wages, lower property values and mortgage rates.