Sylvia Sanders

A lenders group said conventional-loan credit metric costs climbed from ~$50 four years earlier to a 2026 avg. of $540 per loan.
The group said costs moved from $150-$250 in Early-Q2 2024 to above $500, after roughly doubling between 2022 and 2023.
It blamed the score provider most, saying bureau and reseller increases happened too, but at slower percentage rates than the foundational score price jumps.
The group urged GSEs and their regulator to quickly add a competing score, instead of waiting for historical data needed for another model.
Officials planned to add two newer scores meeting a legal mandate for broader data, including rental payment history, while rollout work remained underway.
The score provider said enterprises now controlled rollout, highlighted a direct-license option with lower per-score royalties, and said a funded-loan fee replaced a prior reissue charge.
Resellers said costs were high and rising but questioned the group's estimate, while supporting stronge

Mortgage Credit Costs Surge Tenfold

The piece framed spring as a time for new beginnings, saying homeowners could use home equity financing to move goals forward with added confidence.
It said a home equity loan or line of credit could provide extra funds, typically at rates lower than most credit cards.
One suggested use was well-planned home improvements, which the piece said could bring investment returns and greater satisfaction from the property.
Another option was consolidating high-interest debt, combining multiple balances into one monthly payment to help reduce debt faster.
The piece also suggested using home equity as an emergency fund for unexpected costs, including appliances, furniture, or even a wedding.
Education was another use case, with funds available for tuition, student loans, supplies, housing, meals, and other related expenses.
For next steps, the piece directed readers to learn more about their options by calling or visiting a local member center.