HW+ provides career-making insights and analysis for those in Mortgage, Real Estate and FinTech. This long-form digital content provides members with news nowhere else and digs deeper into the “why” behind the daily news cycle. To join the HW+ community, click here.
Lower rates prompt refis and dismissal of ARMs
Mortgage applications increased 7.1% last week, driven by lower mortgage rates and a surge in refinance activity.
Fannie Mae ups ante with $3.9B in net income
Fannie Mae reported a net income of $3.9 billion for Q3 2025, up 16% from Q2. The company provided $109 billion in liquidity to the mortgage market, aiding over 400,000 households.
The AI advantage: How real estate industry leaders can get ahead in a digital market
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a future promise in real estate. It’s here, measurable, and rapidly transforming how professionals work. From agents juggling client demands to lenders navigating compliance and efficiency pressures, AI is already proving itself both a pressure valve and a performance accelerator.
I closed a $4M crypto asset depletion mortgage loan
This month, we secured underwriting approval on one of the most unique loans I’ve ever worked on: a $4 million non-QM mortgage using crypto asset depletion to qualify. The borrower? A first-time homebuyer buying an $8 million home.
Veterans are missing out on billions in VA loan benefits
A new Veterans United Home Loans analysis found that more than 58,000 VA loans went unused in 2024 — representing nearly $28 billion in potential mortgage volume.
New York AG Letitia James indicted on mortgage fraud charge
An anonymous source says James was indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia on one count after a mortgage fraud investigation.
The longer the shutdown continues, the greater the impact on housing
NAR’s Shannon McGahn outlines the growing consequences of the federal shutdown on housing programs and the broader real estate market.
Which coastal housing market is stronger, California or Florida?
California and Florida show diverging fall dynamics as inventory and price cuts move in different directions according to HW Data.
Compass’s Anywhere deal could push exclusives higher, but not sky-high
Experts predict Compass’s exclusive inventory will grow post-merger but power limits will keep things below what many in the industry fear.
