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11th December, 25
Correspondent and Broker Products, LOS, Automation, FICO 10T, UAD 3.6 Tools
Lender and Broker Services, Products, and Software For some servicers, the idea of implementing workflow automation is both appealing and overwhelming. Often, knowing where to start is the most challenging part, especially when the path forward isn’t always obvious. Clarifire’s latest blog, “Three Cost-Saving Ways Servicers Are Using Workflow Automation,” explores real-world examples of how servicers are modernizing core processes with measurable results. From one-click trial modification letters to streamlined foreclosure collaboration and automated GSE exception handling, the blog
Correspondent and Broker Products, LOS, Automation, FICO 10T, UAD 3.6 Tools
Lender and Broker Services, Products, and Software For some servicers, the idea of implementing workflow automation is both appealing and overwhelming. Often, knowing where to start is the most challenging part, especially when the path forward isn’t always obvious. Clarifire’s latest blog, “Three Cost-Saving Ways Servicers Are Using Workflow Automation,” explores real-world examples of how servicers are modernizing core processes with measurable results. From one-click trial modification letters to streamlined foreclosure collaboration and automated GSE exception handling, the blog
11th December, 25
Follow-Through Rally. What's Up With Big Swings in Jobless Claims?
Bonds are adding moderate to yesterday's post-Fed gains. Most of today's rally has followed this morning's jobless claims data, but we wouldn't necessarily give it all the credit. This is a tricky week to try to make sense of jobless claims due to the very late Thanksgiving holiday this year. It threw a wrench in seasonal calculations. In a nutshell, last week's initial claims plummeted due to Thanksgiving and seasonal adjustments didn't help much because, on average, Thanksgiving falls on the 25th (thus, last week's claims were too late in the month to get much benefit from the
Follow-Through Rally. What's Up With Big Swings in Jobless Claims?
Bonds are adding moderate to yesterday's post-Fed gains. Most of today's rally has followed this morning's jobless claims data, but we wouldn't necessarily give it all the credit. This is a tricky week to try to make sense of jobless claims due to the very late Thanksgiving holiday this year. It threw a wrench in seasonal calculations. In a nutshell, last week's initial claims plummeted due to Thanksgiving and seasonal adjustments didn't help much because, on average, Thanksgiving falls on the 25th (thus, last week's claims were too late in the month to get much benefit from the
10th December, 25
Powell Avoided Throwing Cold Water on Rate Outlook. Bonds Approved
Powell Avoided Throwing Cold Water on Rate Outlook. Bonds Approved Today's gains ended up being all about Powell's press conference. While there were a few potentially friendly comments (current rates in high end of neutral range, recent job gains overstated, no decision yet on January, inflation coming down), we can also consider that Powell simply avoided the same sort of hawkish reminders seen in the last press conference. On a day where bonds had already been selling fairly aggressively for 2 weeks, this could be all the market needed to breathe a sigh of relief and reinforce the
Powell Avoided Throwing Cold Water on Rate Outlook. Bonds Approved
Powell Avoided Throwing Cold Water on Rate Outlook. Bonds Approved Today's gains ended up being all about Powell's press conference. While there were a few potentially friendly comments (current rates in high end of neutral range, recent job gains overstated, no decision yet on January, inflation coming down), we can also consider that Powell simply avoided the same sort of hawkish reminders seen in the last press conference. On a day where bonds had already been selling fairly aggressively for 2 weeks, this could be all the market needed to breathe a sigh of relief and reinforce the
10th December, 25
Mortgage Rates Improve After Fed Announcement
The Fed cut its policy rate by 0.25% today and mortgage rates moved lower after the announcement. That said, those two developments are not related. In fact, there was no movement in the bonds that underlie mortgage rates when the rate cut was announced. Instead, the market (and rates) moved in response to Fed Chair Powell's press conference. While there is a mistaken belief that such press conferences "always" result in upward pressure on rates, today shows they can go both ways. Key comments that may have helped: Powell: Job gains could have been overstated in recent months Powell: Growing
Mortgage Rates Improve After Fed Announcement
The Fed cut its policy rate by 0.25% today and mortgage rates moved lower after the announcement. That said, those two developments are not related. In fact, there was no movement in the bonds that underlie mortgage rates when the rate cut was announced. Instead, the market (and rates) moved in response to Fed Chair Powell's press conference. While there is a mistaken belief that such press conferences "always" result in upward pressure on rates, today shows they can go both ways. Key comments that may have helped: Powell: Job gains could have been overstated in recent months Powell: Growing
10th December, 25
Mortgage Apps Bounce Back, Led By Refi Reversal
Seasonally adjusted mortgage application activity rose 4.8% last week, according to MBA’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending December 5. Unadjusted applications jumped 49% from the prior week, reflecting a rebound following the Thanksgiving-related slowdown. The Refinance Index surged 14% from the previous week and remains 88% higher than the same week one year ago—another strong year-over-year showing as borrowers respond to modest rate improvement, particularly in FHA products. Purchase activity was softer on a seasonally adjusted basis, slipping 2% from the prior
Mortgage Apps Bounce Back, Led By Refi Reversal
Seasonally adjusted mortgage application activity rose 4.8% last week, according to MBA’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending December 5. Unadjusted applications jumped 49% from the prior week, reflecting a rebound following the Thanksgiving-related slowdown. The Refinance Index surged 14% from the previous week and remains 88% higher than the same week one year ago—another strong year-over-year showing as borrowers respond to modest rate improvement, particularly in FHA products. Purchase activity was softer on a seasonally adjusted basis, slipping 2% from the prior
10th December, 25
Here's What Changed in The New Fed Announcement
Available indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace. Job gains have slowed this year, and the unemployment rate has edged up but remained low through August; more September. More recent indicators are consistent with these developments. Inflation has moved up since earlier in the year and remains somewhat elevated. The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run. Uncertainty about the economic outlook remains elevated. The Committee is attentive to the risks to both sides of its dual mandate and
Here's What Changed in The New Fed Announcement
Available indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace. Job gains have slowed this year, and the unemployment rate has edged up but remained low through August; more September. More recent indicators are consistent with these developments. Inflation has moved up since earlier in the year and remains somewhat elevated. The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run. Uncertainty about the economic outlook remains elevated. The Committee is attentive to the risks to both sides of its dual mandate and
10th December, 25
DPA, Quick HELOC, Non-QM, Processing, AI Tools; Assumable Mortgages? Homebuyer Age Study
Somewhere, in a parallel universe, Mariah Carey is walking around some supermarket, sick of listening to me sing Christmas carols. This is, of course, a humorous assumption, but what isn’t so humorous is the discussion begun by the Trump Administration about assumable mortgages, arguably the bane of MBS investors. Locked-in mortgage rates and frozen inventory have pushed an old idea back into the spotlight: the assumable mortgage, a feature long limited to FHA and VA loans but now debated as a potential fix for an affordability crisis that rate cuts alone cannot solve. As millions of ultra-
DPA, Quick HELOC, Non-QM, Processing, AI Tools; Assumable Mortgages? Homebuyer Age Study
Somewhere, in a parallel universe, Mariah Carey is walking around some supermarket, sick of listening to me sing Christmas carols. This is, of course, a humorous assumption, but what isn’t so humorous is the discussion begun by the Trump Administration about assumable mortgages, arguably the bane of MBS investors. Locked-in mortgage rates and frozen inventory have pushed an old idea back into the spotlight: the assumable mortgage, a feature long limited to FHA and VA loans but now debated as a potential fix for an affordability crisis that rate cuts alone cannot solve. As millions of ultra-
10th December, 25
What to Watch in Today's Dot Plot
Bonds were modestly weaker overnight, but have moved back into positive territory after this morning's Employment Cost Index and NYSE. This means 10yr yields are at the bleeding edge of the 3-month range heading into this afternoon's Fed announcement. The rate cut is about as close to a foregone conclusion as normal, so the focus remains squarely on the dot plot (and the press conference, to a lesser extent). The last dot plot showed one more cut in 2025 and one additional cut in 2026, but 2026's dots are much more dispersed. With some of the more hawkish speeches recently, the risk is
What to Watch in Today's Dot Plot
Bonds were modestly weaker overnight, but have moved back into positive territory after this morning's Employment Cost Index and NYSE. This means 10yr yields are at the bleeding edge of the 3-month range heading into this afternoon's Fed announcement. The rate cut is about as close to a foregone conclusion as normal, so the focus remains squarely on the dot plot (and the press conference, to a lesser extent). The last dot plot showed one more cut in 2025 and one additional cut in 2026, but 2026's dots are much more dispersed. With some of the more hawkish speeches recently, the risk is
9th December, 25
Wednesday is All About Dot Plot and Powell
Wednesday is All About Dot Plot and Powell Bonds lost ground moderately and logically on Tuesday in response to the JOLTS data. From here, this week's volatility potential hinges on the Fed. Fed Funds Futures suggest that there's been no change in rate cut prospects for Wednesday's meeting. It remains a nearly a 90% probability and thus a non-event when the cut is announced. The more important events will be the 2pm ET release of the dot plot (individual Fed member forecasts for the Fed Funds Rate) and the 2:30pm press conference with Fed Chair Powell. While it may be
Wednesday is All About Dot Plot and Powell
Wednesday is All About Dot Plot and Powell Bonds lost ground moderately and logically on Tuesday in response to the JOLTS data. From here, this week's volatility potential hinges on the Fed. Fed Funds Futures suggest that there's been no change in rate cut prospects for Wednesday's meeting. It remains a nearly a 90% probability and thus a non-event when the cut is announced. The more important events will be the 2pm ET release of the dot plot (individual Fed member forecasts for the Fed Funds Rate) and the 2:30pm press conference with Fed Chair Powell. While it may be
9th December, 25
Can The Fed Pull Mortgage Rates Off The Ceiling?
Mortgage rates were surprisingly steady on Tuesday with most lenders roughly in line with Monday's levels. Why surprising? Because the bond market was noticeably weaker and bonds dictate day to day mortgage rate movement. In Tuesday's case, we can actually reconcile the steadiness with the timing of bond market movement. Specifically, bonds didn't lose ground until after the 10am release of the Job Openings data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most mortgage lenders consider bond market levels before 10am when setting rates for the day. The implication is that if bonds are at the
Can The Fed Pull Mortgage Rates Off The Ceiling?
Mortgage rates were surprisingly steady on Tuesday with most lenders roughly in line with Monday's levels. Why surprising? Because the bond market was noticeably weaker and bonds dictate day to day mortgage rate movement. In Tuesday's case, we can actually reconcile the steadiness with the timing of bond market movement. Specifically, bonds didn't lose ground until after the 10am release of the Job Openings data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most mortgage lenders consider bond market levels before 10am when setting rates for the day. The implication is that if bonds are at the