Wall Street Journal, Jan. 5, 2021–Esther Fung (subscription)The company that created the popular videogame “Fortnite” has agreed to purchase a North Carolina mall and plans to redevelop it as a …
Category: Top National News
Saga Over Regulating Debt Collectors Will Continue in 2021
American Banker, Jan. 5, 2021–Kate Berry (subscription)The CFPB issued two rulemakings in 2020 that the financial services industry and consumer advocates hoped would finally clarify key issues over how collectors …
U.S. Factory Activity Approaches 2-1/2 Year High; COVID-19 Hitting Supply Chains
Reuters, Jan. 5, 2021–Lucia MutikaniU.S. factory activity accelerated to its highest level in nearly 2-1/2 years in December as the coronavirus pandemic continues to pull demand away from services towards …
Manhattan Office Vacancies Soar to a Record With Leasing Frozen
Bloomberg, Jan. 5, 2021–John GittelsohnOffice vacancies in Manhattan jumped to a 21st century record as the Covid-19 pandemic froze new rental deals and sublease openings soared. Last year ended with …
Guaranteed Rate to Acquire Stearns Lending
HousingWire, Jan. 5, 2021–James KleimannChicago-based lender Guaranteed Rate is acquiring wholesale lender Stearns Lending for an undisclosed sum, multiple sources said. Employees at Stearns, primarily a wholesale lender that is …
RealPage Acquires Bulk Internet Provider WhiteSky
HousingWire, Jan. 5, 2021–Julia Falconroptech company RealPage will acquire WhiteSky Communications, a company that offers internet, video and voice services to multifamily buildings. Financial terms of the deal were not …
4 Key Sets of Metrics Mortgage Companies Must Watch in 2021
National Mortgage News, Jan. 5, 2021–Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)The Fed’s decision to lower rates amid a pandemic proved serendipitous for home lenders who benefited from a refinance boom last year, but …
AmeriHome Set to Revived $250 Million IPO in 2021
Mortgage Professional America, Jan. 5, 2021–Candyd MendozaThe filing comes two months after AmeriHome announced that it is pushing back the public offering. The lender planned to raise $250 million by …
Could 2% Define Mortgage Rates for the Next Decade?
HousingWire, Jan. 4, 2021–Tim GlazeMost industry observers believe rates will remain at the same low levels in 2021 as the Federal Reserve uses low rates as a weapon to combat …
Genworth Likely to Spin Off MI Business as Oceanwide Deal Stalls Again
National Mortgage News, Jan. 4, 2021–Brad Finkelstein (subscription)While the agreement with China Oceanwide still remains in place, there was no formal extension of the Dec. 31 deadline.https://www.nationalmortgagenews.com/news/china-oceanwide-deal-stalls-again-making-genworths-mi-spinoff-likely