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Volume 25 Issue 10

Thursday, January 15, 2026

MBA: December New Home Purchase Mortgage Applications Increase 2.5%

MBA's Builder Application Survey for December 2025 shows mortgage applications for new home purchases increased 2.5% from a year ago.

Optimal Blue Reports Lock Volume Closes 2025 on Firm Footing

Mortgage rate-lock activity ended the year on a firm footing, bucking typical holiday-driven seasonality, according to Optimal Blue, Plano, Texas.

FundingShield: Issues Per Transaction at All-Time High in Q4

FundingShield, Newport Beach, Calif., released its Q4 2025 fraud analytics report, finding that problematic loans exhibited an average of 3.2 issues per transaction--an all-time high.

MBA VIDEOS

mPower Moments: Developing a Successful Brand with Premier Mortgage Resources’ Mandi Feely Swain

MBA Eye on Washington

MBA Eye on Washington

MBANow: John McMullen Discusses MBA’s Condominium Lending Advocacy

MBANow: John McMullen Discusses MBA’s Condominium Lending Advocacy

MBANow: Deb DuBois on MBA Opens Doors' Partnership with Nicklaus Children's Hospital

MBANow: Deb DuBois on MBA Opens Doors' Partnership with Nicklaus Children's Hospital

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TOP NATIONAL NEWS

Residential MBS Issuance Up Nearly 15% in 2025
Something Big Just Happened in the U.S. Housing Market, Real Estate CEO Says
Annual Inflation Remains 2.7% in December, Final 2025 Report Reveals
Banks Say U.S. Consumers Remain Resilient Despite Economic Pressures
Potential Cuts to FHA Premiums Weigh on Mortgage Insurers

UPCOMING EVENTS AND NEWS

Essentials for Executives and Board Members: Basics of Board Duties and Ethics for Mortgage Lenders and Servicers, Feb. 13
MBA Servicing Solutions Conference and Expo, Feb. 16-19
MBA Secondary & Capital Markets Conference in New York City May 17-20
Learn About the MBA State Ambassador Program

MBA Introduces CRE Servicing Solutions Conference

The Mortgage Bankers Association is rolling out a reimagined MBA CRE Servicing Solutions Conference--formerly known as MBA's Commercial/Multifamily Servicing and Technology Conference--to be held May 17-20 in San Diego.

January 14, 2026

Existing-Home Sales Increase 5.1% in December

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Existing-home sales increased by 5.1% in December, the National Association of Realtors reported Wednesday.

January 14, 2026

MBA’s Jamie Woodwell Previews #MBACREF26

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Jamie Woodwell, MBA’s SVP of Commercial/Multifamily Policy, previews the industry’s premier event of the year--MBA’s 2026 Commercial/Multifamily Finance Convention and Expo.

January 14, 2026

Yardi Matrix: Multifamily Rent Flat Year-Over-Year in December

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Yardi Matrix, Santa Barbara, Calif., noted that a weak late-year performance wiped out all rental gains made in 2025. The average U.S. advertised rent fell $5 to $1,737 in December, rendering year-over-year growth at 0%.

January 14, 2026

Dealmaker: JLL Secures $34M Construction Financing for Georgia Build-to-Rent Community

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JLL Capital Markets, Chicago, secured a $33.5 million construction loan for Canopy Crest Phase I, a 152-unit build-to-rent development project in LaGrange, Ga.

January 14, 2026

More ‘For Sale’ Signs Sparks Cautious Optimism for Existing-Home Sales This Year

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First American’s Odeta Kushi writes that the housing market is slowly thawing, though activity remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels.

January 14, 2026

Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey

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Mortgage applications increased 28.5% from one week earlier, according to the MBA Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending Jan. 9, 2026.

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One Voice. One Vision. One Resource. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) is the national association representing the entire real estate finance industry. For more information visit us at our website.
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Editor: Michael Tucker | 202/557-2851
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