Mortgage Proposals and Rate Swings: A Housing Market in Search of Real Solutions
As mortgage rates fluctuate and ambitious policy ideas emerge, economists warn that financing tweaks cannot solve the core issue: a chronic shortage of homes.
Mortgage Industry
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Business
Hilltop Holdings Navigates Rate Shifts, Posts Strong 2025 Profit Amid Mortgage Headwinds
Hilltop Holdings capped off 2025 with a 46% surge in net income, fueled by a steeper yield curve and disciplined cost management across its banking and securities units. While the mortgage division remains under pressure, executives point to a robust loan pipeline and shareholder returns as signs of resilience heading into 2026.
Business
SB Financial Group Caps Off a Record 2025 with Strong Q4, Eyes Further Growth Amid Industry Headwinds
Despite a challenging mortgage landscape, SB Financial Group (SBFG) reports robust fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results, marking one of its strongest performances in history with significant loan growth and disciplined expense management.
Business
PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust Posts Strong Q4 on Securitization Surge, Navigates Production Headwinds
PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust (PMT) closed 2025 with robust earnings, driven by a dramatic expansion in its private-label securitization business. While this growth fueled returns, the company's correspondent lending segment faced pressure, and faster mortgage prepayments impacted servicing rights income.
Business
The High Cost of Low Scores: Homebuyers in These 5 States Face Steeper Mortgage Payments
A new analysis reveals a stark geographic divide in credit health, with residents in several Southern states facing higher long-term mortgage costs due to lower average credit scores, while Northern states benefit from more favorable rates.
Business
Orchid Island Capital Posts Stellar 2025 Earnings, Fueling Investor Optimism Amid Mortgage Market Shift
Orchid Island Capital, Inc. (NYSE:ORC) reported a dramatic surge in full-year 2025 net income, driven by a strategic expansion of its agency MBS portfolio and disciplined hedging. The results mark a potential inflection point for the mortgage REIT, reshaping its risk-reward profile after years of uneven performance.
Business
Napa's Changing Landscape: Hall of Fame Coach Dick Vermeil Closes Tasting Room Amid Industry Downturn
As the U.S. wine industry grapples with a multi-year slump, iconic tasting rooms are shuttering. The latest casualty is Hall of Fame NFL coach Dick Vermeil's Napa venue, a move reflecting broader shifts in consumer habits and market pressures.
Business
Freight Brokerage Collapse Deepens: Vantage Carrier Files $1.3M Lawsuit as Industry Grapples with Fallout
The unraveling of the R&R Family of Companies is sending shockwaves through the freight industry, with a new lawsuit from Vantage Carrier alleging over $1.3 million in unpaid invoices. The case adds to a growing pile of legal claims and exposes the precarious financial exposure of carriers and small operators caught in the wake.
Business
PennyMac Financial Navigates Mortgage Market Crosswinds: Servicing Headwinds Offset Origination Gains in Q4
PennyMac Financial Services reported Q4 2025 net income of $106.8 million, declaring a $0.30 per share dividend. While full-year profits grew on higher loan production, the quarter was pressured by a sharp decline in mortgage servicing income due to accelerated prepayments, highlighting the volatility inherent in its dual business model.
Business
Invesco Mortgage Capital Rides Agency Wave to Strong Q4 Finish, Eyes 2026 Momentum
Invesco Mortgage Capital (IVR) posted robust fourth-quarter results, buoyed by a calmer interest rate environment and outperformance in agency mortgage-backed securities. Executives detailed strategic portfolio positioning amid spread tightening and signaled cautious optimism for the year ahead.
Business
Trump's Fed Nominee Kevin Warsh Champions Unconventional Path to Cheaper Mortgages
President Trump's pick to lead the Federal Reserve, former governor Kevin Warsh, advocates for a dramatic shift in central bank strategy—shrinking its balance sheet—as the key to lowering mortgage rates, a move that challenges prevailing economic orthodoxy.
Business
Fed Holds Steady, Mortgage Rates Follow Suit: Housing Market Finds Footing Amid Economic Confidence
The Federal Reserve's decision to maintain its benchmark rate signals underlying economic strength, leaving mortgage rates largely unmoved. While affordability challenges persist, a gradual rebalancing of the market offers cautious optimism for buyers and sellers.
Business
Gen Z's Sobering Reality: Just 4% of U.S. Alcohol Sales in 2025 as Industry Grapples with Shifting Tastes
New market data reveals a stark generational divide in American drinking habits, with Gen Z contributing a mere 4% to total alcohol sales last year. The findings challenge long-held industry assumptions and highlight the enduring spending power of older consumers amid a broader shift toward premiumization and alternative beverages.
Business
Google's 'Project Genie' AI Shakes Gaming Industry, Sends Stocks Tumbling
Shares of major video game companies plunged Friday after Google unveiled a groundbreaking AI model capable of generating interactive worlds from simple prompts, sparking investor fears of industry disruption.
Business
Bitcoin's Exodus: Major Miner Bit Digital Joins Industry Shift Away from Crypto Mining
In a significant industry pivot, Nasdaq-listed Bit Digital announces plans to completely exit Bitcoin mining, citing capital inefficiency and redirecting focus to Ethereum infrastructure and AI. This move follows a broader trend of crypto firms abandoning mining operations post-halving and amidst the AI boom.
Business
Presidential Endorsement Sends French Eyewear Maker Soaring, But Can It Revive a Fading Industry?
A pair of aviator sunglasses worn by French President Emmanuel Macron during a high-profile moment at Davos has triggered a global sales frenzy for the historic brand Henry Jullien. While the Italian-owned company sees its stock and orders surge, industry veterans question whether the presidential spotlight can stem the long-term decline of French eyewear manufacturing.
Business
Analysts Revise Target for Invesco Mortgage Capital, Signaling Shift in Market Sentiment
A revised price target for Invesco Mortgage Capital (IVR) is prompting investors to reassess the mortgage REIT's trajectory amid evolving interest rate expectations and housing market dynamics.
Business
Mortgage Math: What a $400K Home Really Costs at Today's 6.1% Rate
While mortgage rates have inched up slightly this week, homebuyers are still facing significantly lower borrowing costs compared to last year's peak. We break down the monthly and long-term savings on a typical home purchase.
Business
Compass Point Raises Price Target on Invesco Mortgage Capital, Sees Opportunity in Wide Spreads
Analyst firm Compass Point reiterates its Buy rating on Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc. (IVR), increasing its price target to $9.50, citing attractive mortgage spreads as a key catalyst for the REIT's potential book value growth.
Business
Fashion's Climate Pledge in Peril: Cascale Report Warns Industry Lagging on Decarbonization
A new industry analysis reveals the apparel and textiles sector is falling dangerously behind on its climate commitments, with progress too slow to meet critical international targets.