Mortgages

Publicly traded lenders, including UWM, Rocket Mortgage and Guild Mortgage, saw personnel expenses increase significantly throughout last year.

The measure applies to mortgages closed in the months prior to the Southern California wildfires, which are now experiencing early-stage distress.

The postponement would pertain to Federal Housing Administration-insured single- and multifamily loans and other final determination dates that have not passed.

Scott Turner, secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, extended borrowers more leeway after he toured the region with a local official.

The jump, which represents an ICE Mortgage Technology survey high, reflects the past cost of natural disasters like hurricanes in the Southeast.

The rapid rise in the cost of both insurance coverage and taxes leaves close to half of homeowners worried about their ability to make payments.

The increase in refinance originations in the fourth quarter trickled down to the title insurers, which reported year-over-year gains in new orders.

The state's insurance commissioner made the change following analysis of title industry profits and expenses in Texas provided by its stakeholders.

As homeowners insurance becomes expensive and hard to find, mortgage loan officers should work closely with insurance agents, said Travis Hodges of Viu by Hub.

With proposed tariffs on homebuilding materials working looming and a cloudy forecast for mortgage rates, young homebuyers are facing increased volatility.