Wells Fargo Well Positioned in Current Mortgage Market 
Financial Strength, Prudent Lending Practices

With the housing and real-estate lending industries in the news frequently, many REALTORS® and their clients may find themselves with questions and concerns about the availability of mortgage financing. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage would like to assure real estate professionals and prospective homebuyers that Wells Fargo remains committed to serving homebuyers and homeowners.

It’s important that REALTORS and their clients know that Wells Fargo continues to be in the business of making new residential mortgages and home equity loans through both our broker and correspondent channels and our retail locations. We continue to welcome a growing number of customers who seek a sound, responsible mortgage and home equity lender and servicer, and we continue to be one of the industry leaders in providing high-quality products and services.

A number of factors position Wells Fargo to succeed in the current environment: 

The Strength of Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo is a well-capitalized, diversified financial services company with 84 businesses. Our capital and diversity of businesses give us flexibility and stability many lenders don’t have.

Approach to Credit Risk 
Wells Fargo prudently manages credit risk on home mortgages and home equity loans with solid underwriting and sound business practices.

A Commitment to Responsible Lending
As a result of our prudent risk management and responsible lending and servicing practices, and our diversity of businesses across virtually all financial services, we are not facing some of the issues many others are in the mortgage industry. Our real estate lending businesses made tough decisions years ago to forego some market share and live by our fair and responsible lending and servicing principles. For example, the company does not make, purchase or service negative amortizing mortgages, including option adjustable-rate mortgages. That choice has proven to be the right thing to do. 

A Commitment to Keeping Customers in Their Homes
Historically, Wells Fargo’s foreclosure rates have been below the industry average. While some of that can be attributed to prudent underwriting standards at loan origination, our mortgage servicing team works hard to keep customers in their homes when they experience financial difficulties whenever possible. We proactively contact customers in default and work with them case-by-case on potential solutions based on their personal financial circumstances. At a time when adjustable-rate mortgages are resetting at a higher rate, we have expanded our efforts to assist customers.

Wells Fargo’s approach to real-estate lending provides significant benefits to real estate professionals who are trying to help their clients navigate the current market. We’re committed to serving the needs of REALTORS and builders with numerous programs, including closing guarantees. We continue to be a reliable lender that offers competitive pricing for consumers.

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is the nation's No. 1 retail mortgage lender¹ and servicer² of home mortgages.
As a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., it has a local presence in more than 2,400 mortgage stores and bank branches, plus the capabilities to serve the home financing needs of customers nationwide through its call centers, Internet presence and wholesale lending operations. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage services loans for more than 7.8 million servicing customers.