Matt Sexton

2 days ago | mpamag.com | Matt Sexton

'It's not the same product they knew five or 10 years ago': mortgage exec By 22 Apr 2025 A surge in home equity, combined with an increase in consumer debt, is starting to fuel an increase in applications for home equity lines of credit (HELOCs). One loan professional believes that surge could help brokers forge relationships with customers for when they’re ready to buy in the future.

2 days ago | mpamag.com | Matt Sexton

Mortgage professionals divided on whether cryptocurrency will take the industry by storm By 22 Apr 2025 A growing number of Americans are holding cryptocurrency, and uptake is only expected to increase in the years ahead. Some are even using it to fund full mortgages and downpayments – and it’s no surprise that many brokers are seeing increased discussion from clients exploring using their digital currency to help purchase a home.

3 days ago | mpamag.com | Matt Sexton

Lower rates on ARM loans are turning many borrowers' heads By 21 Apr 2025 More borrowers are opting for adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) loans at a time when pandemic-era ARM loans are set to adjust for the first time, a combination of factors that could kickstart the mortgage market. When the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its weekly survey on Wednesday, it noted the ARM loan share of new applications was 9.6%, the highest rate since November 2023.

3 days ago | mpamag.com | Matt Sexton

As home prices increase, conventional down payment requirements continue to surge By 21 Apr 2025 Affordability issues have emerged as some of the most prominent concerns facing buyers in the US housing market – and surging home prices and potential cuts to federal downpayment assistance programs are only compounding those problems, particularly for new buyers.

1 week ago | mpamag.com | Matt Sexton

Single-family housing starts drop to lowest total since July 2024 By 17 Apr 2025 Privately owned housing starts declined by 11.4% from February to March, fueled by increasing materials costs and tariff uncertainty. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the US Census Bureau, privately owned housing starts in March were 1.324 million, well below the February total of 1.459 million.   The news was worse for single-family housing starts.