Spencer Lee

New York, Seattle

Reporter @NatMortgageNews | Marathoner. Former classical music host | Social media is poison | Alum: @newmarkjschool, @Skift, @WNYC | [email protected]

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Articles

Homebuilders see supply prices rising amid tariff volatility

1 week ago | nationalmortgagenews.com | Spencer Lee

The on-again, off-again volatility behind President Trump's tariffs is already leading to higher material costs for homebuilders even though some are on pause and others include carveouts, the industry's biggest trade group said.
Where the highest property tax bills are found

1 week ago | nationalmortgagenews.com | Spencer Lee

Stark regional differences emerged in 2024 property tax data, as rates and levied totals pulled back nationally, but at the same time the average amount owed headed upward, according to a new report. U.S. homeowners paid an average of $4,172 in property taxes in 2024, a 2.7% increase from the previous year, the report from real estate data provider Attom said. The pace moderated from 2023, though, when the mean amount had jumped up 4.1%.
Bill introduced to restore mortgage insurance tax benefit

1 week ago | nationalmortgagenews.com | Spencer Lee

A bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House of Representatives put forward legislation this week to reintroduce and expand a tax deduction benefit previously offered to mortgage borrowers. Reps. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., and Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., this week submitted the Middle Class Mortgage Insurance Premium Act, which would restore the allowable deduction for MIPs paid by homeowners on their annual tax returns.
Sellers see thaw in housing market as spring begins

1 week ago | nationalmortgagenews.com | Spencer Lee

Sellers say they have the upper hand this year in the housing market, with a clear majority expecting their homes to go for at least asking price, with little need for concessions. More than four out of five, or 81%, of potential sellers in the next year expect demand will lead them to receive their listing price, if not more, according to a March survey conducted in time for spring-buying season by Realtor.com.
UWM, Newrez, Cenlar, Pennymac name new mortgage executives

1 week ago | nationalmortgagenews.com | Spencer Lee

Newrez welcomes former CFPB compliance expert Mark McArdle National lender and servicer Newrez appointed former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau executive Mark McArdle to oversee regulatory affairs and public policy across its divisions. Until this year, McArdle served at the CFPB, most recently as assistant director, mortgage markets, where he advised the bureau and consumers on mortgage and servicing trends.
Foreclosures rise in Q1 as homeowners feel the squeeze

2 weeks ago | nationalmortgagenews.com | Spencer Lee

Foreclosure filings surged to start the year, with economic uncertainty and the expiration of previous moratoriums weighing on homeowners' minds. Foreclosure filings appeared on 93,953 U.S. properties in the first quarter of 2025, spiking 11.4% from 84,361 three months earlier, according to real estate data provider Attom.
Executive compensation of FHLBank execs comes under scrutiny

2 weeks ago | nationalmortgagenews.com | Spencer Lee

A letter from Senate Republicans noting a payout to a former Federal Home Loan Bank CEO has led consumer advocates to heighten scrutiny of executive salaries throughout the FHLB system.
Executive compensation of FHLBank execs comes under scrutiny

2 weeks ago | today.westlaw.com | Spencer Lee

A letter from Senate Republicans noting a payout to a former Federal Home Loan Bank CEO has led consumer advocates to heighten scrutiny of executive salaries throughout the FHLB system.
New non-QM lender Ardri rises out of old Athas Capital

2 weeks ago | nationalmortgagenews.com | Spencer Lee

New nonqualified wholesale mortgage lender Ardri is growing weeks after entering the segment with a merger that reunites the founders of Athas Capital. Calabasas, California-based Ardri announced Monday that it would acquire fellow non-QM firm The Lending Spot. The deal combines the originations experience of The Lending Tree's staff with the technology-focused Ardri, leaders of both companies said.
LA wildfire losses underscore urgency for insurance changes

2 weeks ago | nationalmortgagenews.com | Spencer Lee

Although regulatory changes were already underway in the California home insurance market, losses from January wildfires in the state underscore the need for further reform, a Morningstar DBRS report said. As of March 5, insurers had already paid out more than $12 billion worth of property claims in the aftermath of January's wildfires in Los Angeles, according to California state officials. Almost 38,000 claims had been received by that date, the state department of insurance also reported.