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.
MortgageOne TPO integrates with ARIVE, launches Pathway CDFI
MortgageOne TPO integrated with ARIVE and launched Pathway CDFI with 620 minimum credit scores, up to $2.5 million and no income documentation.
Should America’s agents own their own MLS and home search portal?
Greg Hague argues for one agent-owned national MLS and portal, with opt-in consumer publishing, elected board control and MLS buyouts.
Navy veteran builds university-style network for military buyers and agents
The initiative centers on improving outcomes for military families during some of the most financially significant moments of their lives.
Figure’s origination platform tops $2.7B in Q4
Figure Technology Solutions reported that its loan origination system produced $2.705 billion in volume during the fourth quarter of 2025, up 131% from the same period a year earlier.
CFPB, DOJ withdraw 2023 warning on immigration status in credit decisions
New guidance from CFPB and DOJ aims to ease mortgage lender concerns over ECOA and immigration status in credit policies.
The 2–4% mortgage trap is freezing housing: Defeasance may be the way out
For the past several years, the U.S. housing market has faced an unusual constraint: not a lack of buyers, but a lack of sellers willing — or able — to move.
Millions of homeowners remain “rate-locked,” holding mortgages originated in 2020–2022 at interest rates between 2% and 4% (Federal Housing Finance Agency; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey). While home values have risen, the financial penalty of selling and repurchasing at today’s 6%–7% rates has discouraged mobility, suppressing inventory and transaction volume nationwide (National Association of Realtors; HousingWire).
New executives named at @properties Christie’s International Real Estate
@properties appoints Paul Blackburn, Rachel Scheid and Rick Sobin to new executive roles as part of a 2025 leadership shakeup.
Biggest stories of 2025: the MLS identity crisis
In 2025, MLSs redefined their value, opened access, and shifted rulemaking after the NAR settlement changed industry norms.
Zillow was right to kill Climate RiskScores
Zillow was right to remove climate risk scores. Parcel-level flood data is unreliable, poorly defined, and risks misleading homebuyers rather than informing them.
