Mortgages

For the first time in six weeks, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage dropped, with observers expecting a steady but challenging housing market for the rest of 2026.

In the latest round of posturing between the one-time merger partners, Two Harbors said the filing was part of a "familiar refrain" by UWM to blame others.

Homeowners won't trade in their cheap mortgages so lenders keep finding other ways to reach that equity. Bond buyers keep showing up.

The new record arrives after five months of annual home-price growth, which surged to its highest in more than a year, according to ICE Mortgage Technology.

Despite the variety of loans in the pool, the vast majority of assets are considered qualified mortgages, with only 10.9% considered non-QM.

The 10-year Treasury yield rose to the highest level in more than 18 months last week after Fed Chair Kevin Warsh gave conflicting signals about the US central bank's plans to control inflation.

The company's affiliate has been issuing non-QM deals that include a small percentage of second liens, some of which also involve alternative documentation.

An industry sentiment index hit a new low, with 45% of investors saying the current business environment has worsened compared to a year ago.

Lenders reported July declines of HECM endorsements and new securities issuances, but proprietary lending drove a 28% year-over-year surge in originations.

The real-estate investment trust affiliate has been focusing on making more funding available for new loans but also seeks to hold the line on credit quality.

The agency delayed an offering of occupied units until September to ensure compliance with President Trump's executive order made earlier this year.

In line with broader trends, the GSEs have been putting new limitations on forbearance and putting more of an emphasis on mods.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are under directives to make mortgage-backed securities purchases that can exert downward pressure on rates or limit increases.

The property market has been held back in recent months by elevated borrowing costs, which had fallen below 6% in late February before the Middle East conflict boosted energy prices.

The approvals expand BSI's ability to support Ginnie Mae-backed digital mortgage assets across securitization and servicing, the company said.

So far this year, the volume of closed-end second and home equity line of credit securitizations is near last year's $29 billion, Bank of America Securities said.

The drop in the annual metric for FHA loans was the biggest in over four years but other performance indicators ICE Mortgage Technology tracked were mixed.

Originators need to keep an eye on the 10-year Treasury yield used in pricing mortgages, which not only broke through 4.6%, climbed above 4.7% on Thursday.

Equity levels grew to start 2026 after pulling back to end last year, as older homeowners increasingly say they prefer to remain in place rather than downsize.

Servicers of ACHM Trust 2026-HE1's underlying mortgages are also not required to forward any principal and interest advances on the mortgage loans they service.