FOA leads July HECM endorsements while HMBS issuance remains weak

Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) endorsements declined in July after an uptick in June, while HECM Mortgage-Backed Securities (HMBS) issuance remained near the lowest levels seen since 2009, according to data released Monday by New View Advisors. The top 15 originators endorsed 2,034 HECM loan

Why Builders FirstSource bought ICG; and why Pulte sold it

Builders FirstSource’s acquisition of Innovative Construction Group (ICG) from PulteGroup signals that, while homebuilders see value in off-site construction, many prefer to rely on third-party manufacturers rather than own those operations themselves, especially during down cycles.  Builders FirstS

Making Lifetime Connections to Keep His Brokerage Thriving

At the end of 2024, Mark Siwiec found himself confronting a problem most real estate agents would be happy to have: There was simply too much business. That year, Siwiec was considered (by at least a few reputable sources) the top agent in the six-county Rochester region, with approximately $92 mill

Homebuilders Accuse Data Centers of Snapping Up Prime Land at ‘Impossible Prices’

Data center developers could be vexing the housing market by outbidding homebuilders, at least in one fast-growing area. In a research piece published on its website, the National Association of Home Builders looked at a few examples of data center developers outbidding other prospective users of th