Author: Michael Gersitz

Mortgage giant Fannie Mae extended its relaxed lending and appraisal standards put in place due to COVID-19 into the new year. The flexibilities surrounding verbal verification of employment and appraisals were originally set to expire on Dec. 31, 2020, however

Through every financial transaction in a person’s life — whether a mortgage, auto, student or personal loan — there is one constant: the borrower. Yet borrowers have had limited agency in the lending process to date. Lenders have always controlled

2020 was a truly unprecedented year. With it behind us, let’s look ahead at several housing market trends that are likely in 2021 and beyond. First, exceptionally low mortgage rates are likely to be around for an extended period. The

A few short months after Shant Banosian became Guaranteed Rate’s first loan officer to originate $1 billion in a year, another Guaranteed Rate loan officer has joined that exclusive club. Ben Cohen, managing director and senior vice president of mortgage

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Thursday issued its final rulings on qualifying mortgages, claiming the new rules will support a “smooth and orderly transition” away from the “QM Patch,“ and also expand access to credit. One of the two

With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing people to work remotely, downsize, or employ alternative money-saving techniques, the flexibility of a tiny home has never been more attractive to consumers. A survey of 2,000 consumers by finance company IPX 1031, released in

OJO Select Network The OJO Select Network, OJO Labs’ newly-launched exclusive referral network for top-producing agents, helps grow your business by providing introductions to homebuyers and sellers who are ready to speak with an agent. All referrals are screened to

This week, President-elect Joe Biden chose Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, to be the next secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Now, the housing industry is welcoming HUD’s next potential leader. “On behalf of MBA, I congratulate

Airbnb shares more than doubled in its public debut on Thursday, per the Wall Street Journal, after opening trading at $146 on the Nasdaq Stock Market – higher than its initial-public-offering price of $68 a share. The opening trade valued

Digital title company JetClosing is opening its fifth office in Austin. With the announced move to Austin, JetClosing now has offices in Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Seattle and is active in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. The

Since the pandemic caused many employers to shift employees to working from home – some indefinitely – homeowners have left cramped spaces in large cities and retreated to more urban and rural areas with bigger homes at a lower cost.

As interest rates continue to stay well below 3% with no end in sight, lenders are faced with consumer demand from all corners of the housing market. From refis to first-time-homebuyers in the beginning stages of their search, consumer interest

We all know the story. Amidst a widespread and imprudent weakening of credit standards and a complete failure by the credit rating agencies to properly assess risk, the housing finance market imploded in 2008. Probably the biggest wipeout was in

Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) has signed an agreement to acquire eOriginal for approximately €231 million ($280 million) in cash, officials said. eOriginal is a leading provider of cloud-based digital lending software. “Borrower preferences, competition among lenders, and

The Des Moines housing market has had a record-setting year for home sales, which local Realtors credit to low mortgage rates, the work from home phenomenon and Des Moines’ affordable lifestyle. In October, home sales in Des Moines soared 34%

The pandemic has caused a shifting renter trend that is greatly impacting the real estate market. With COVID-19 forcing many to work remotely, renters now have more flexibility with where they choose to settle down. And while population density plays

The secondary market, often an afterthought for most participants in the mortgage process, took center stage in 2020. Think of it as the underdog quickly becoming the hero of the story. It was always there working hard in the background,