HousingWire

• Flagstar Bank makes big cuts to retail mortgage operation January 27, 2023
  Flagstar Bank is reducing its footprint in the retail channel and laying off hundreds of staffers, according to laid off employees.
  Flávia Furlan Nunes
• Expansion-hungry APM acquires over two dozen Lend Smart branches January 26, 2023
  APM announced an asset purchase agreement with Lend Smart Mortgage to close more loans throughout the country.
  Connie Kim
• Black Knight offers new servicer solutions to curb foreclosure, late-stage default January 26, 2023
  Black Knight added to its suite of solutions for servicers that will help keep customers in their homes during periods of financial hardship.
  Connie Kim
• Zillow’s new AI feature can talk to home shoppers like it’s a friend January 26, 2023
  Zillow launched a new AI-powered feature, called "natural language search," that can now interpret home shoppers’ colloquial lingo.
  Tannistha Sinha
• Affordability improves, as do hopes for a good spring   January 26, 2023
  Affordability has improved in the mortgage market since December due to declines in mortgage rates and slower home price appreciation.
  Flávia Furlan Nunes
• Optimism spreads after new home sales climb in December January 26, 2023
  Mortgage rates are falling and builders are offering incentives to buyers, but that wasn’t enough to prop up new home sales in 2022. 
  Connie Kim
• Mortgage industry veteran Nicole Booth is QC Ally’s new CEO January 26, 2023
  Loan quality company QC Ally appointed Nicole Booth as its chief executive officer and Melissa Peregord as its new chief growth officer.
  Tannistha Sinha
• Guaranteed Rate offering up to $8K in assistance to underserved buyers January 25, 2023
  Guaranteed Rate offers a minimum of $5,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance and 1% of the sales price for a total of up to $8,000.
  Tannistha Sinha
• Clear Capital cuts 24% of its workforce in restructuring January 25, 2023
  Clear Capital said the goal of restructuring is to help weather the current industry headwinds and prepare for the longer term. 
  Angelica Leicht
• How the housing market will evolve in 2023 January 25, 2023
  The unrelenting Fed policies to combat inflation will eventually instigate an economic recession sometime in 2023.
  Steven Thomas