All Posts in "Real Estate News" Category

Category archive page

Big mortgage lenders stay profitable, but cracks emerge as rates climb

A consistent theme emerged from the first-quarter 2026 earnings season: higher mortgage rates and macroeconomic volatility are dampening second-quarter expectations. Several large lenders remained profitable during the quarter, benefiting from mortgage rates that were roughly 50 basis points lower than current levels while they continued to invest heavily in artificial intelligence and other technology. But…

Inflation is rising, but mortgage spreads have kept rates under 7% 

With headline Inflation at 3.8% today, jobs data beating estimates and the ongoing Iranian conflict — rates would be above 7% today if not for improved mortgage spreads. Unlike 2023, 2024 and 2025, when mortgage spreads were elevated versus historical norms, mortgage rates are still under 6.64%. I often use the term “hug a mortgage…