UWM rolled out new incentives aimed at helping brokers compete more aggressively for both purchase and refinance business.
The programs include lender-paid temporary buydowns on purchase loans, an 86-basis-point refinance pricing incentive, and expanded access to dual credit score models through UWM’s no-cost credit report offering.
Now through June 30, UWM said it will cover the cost of lender-paid 1-0 temporary rate buydowns on eligible conventional and government purchase loans.
Under the program, borrowers can receive a first-year payment equivalent to an interest rate 1% lower than the note rate, with UWM applying a credit intended to offset the buydown expense.
The offer applies to new locks from May 6 through June 30 on agency purchase loans, including fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages. The program excludes refinance transactions and is not eligible for UWM’s Control Your Price option.
UWM said it will apply:
- A .875 LLPA credit on 16- to 30-year loan terms
- A .750 LLPA credit on 8- to 15-year loan terms
For mortgage brokers and LOs, the move provides another affordability tool. Temporary buydowns have become increasingly common across the industry since rates moved higher, particularly in purchase-focused markets where sellers and lenders alike have used incentives to improve payment affordability.
At the same time, UWM launched what it calls “Refi ’86,” an 86-basis-point pricing incentive on eligible refinance loans through June 30.
The lender described the initiative as a thank-you to broker partners tied to UWM’s 40-year anniversary, while positioning the pricing special as a competitive tool for brokers trying to capture refinance business.
The incentive applies to:
- Conventional and government refinance loans
- Borrowers with 680+ FICO scores
- Loans using TRAC+, TRAC Lite or PA+
The offer is not eligible for Control Your Price.
The latest incentives also build on UWM’s broader push around credit flexibility and broker retention.
Under the platform, brokers can automatically run both FICO and VantageScore models on eligible conventional, VA, and FHA Streamline loans.
For brokers and LOs, the bigger takeaway is that lenders are increasingly looking for ways to widen the credit box without formally changing underwriting standards. Running multiple scoring models gives LOs another opportunity to qualify borrowers who may fall short under a traditional Classic FICO pull but perform better under newer scoring methodologies that weigh payment behavior differently.
With purchase volume still driving most origination activity, and refi opportunities limited to targeted pockets of the market, lenders are leaning heavily on pricing specials, temporary buydowns, and qualification flexibility to help brokers win deals and retain borrowers.
*This article was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed and edited by a human editor before publication.
