Keller Williams announced on Wednesday its expansion into more international markets. As of May 30, the real estate brokerage said it has 107 market centers and 5,250 agents across Europe as well as 18 market centers and 1,135 agents across
[PULSE] How changing customer behavior will impact the fintech industry
The current COVID-19 situation seemingly has provided a sudden glimpse into a future world, one in which digital has become central to every interaction, forcing organizations to further up the adoption curve almost overnight. Hassan RashidGuest Author The ‘6D’ chain
U.S. construction spending drops 2.1% in May
U.S. construction spending fell 2.1% in May, though the level of homebuilding was above the year-ago level, according to a government report on Wednesday. Combined homebuilding and nonresidential construction outlays totaled $1.36 trillion at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, down
Mortgage applications continue to slow despite low-rate environment
Mortgage applications fell 1.8% last week despite mortgage rates staying low, according to a report by the Mortgage Bankers Association. A seasonally adjusted index measuring purchase applications also fell 1% – marking its second week of decline after a two-month
Luxury Home Prices Dropped 2.3% This Spring, Reversing Course From Pre-Pandemic Growth
Momentum in high-end home-price growth changed course with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, but the latest data shows luxury home prices are starting to rebound. The median sale price for luxury homes nationwide dropped 2.3% year over year to
Pending Home Sales Approach 2019 Levels, Powered by Record-Low Mortgage Rates
Key Takeaways Pending sales the week ending June 21 have nearly returned to 2019 levels (down just 3% year-over-year). Completed home sales are still down 12% compared to the same week last year, but we expect them to catch up
Ultimate Checklist for Buying a House
Most Americans consider buying a house as a significant life goal. Homeownership offers stability and a sense of security and safety and for some, it is an essential rite of passage into adulthood. As you pursue your dream of homeownership,
San Jose Real Estate Market 2020 Overview
We will discuss the latest San Jose real estate market trends & news and find out how they can affect the investors and homebuyers in the latter half of 2020. The shutdown due to coronavirus pandemic had an impact on California’s
Sundae raises $16.55 million for distressed real estate marketplace
Sundae, a residential real estate marketplace that pairs sellers of distressed property with potential buyers, has raised $16.55 million in Series A funding. QED Investors led the round, which also included participation from PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, Susa
Freddie Mac Multifamily offers new forbearance options and tenant protections
Freddie Mac Multifamily announced Monday that it has created three additional forbearance options to assist multifamily borrowers who have been impacted by COVID-19. Those options also extend tenant protections. The options include delaying the start of the repayment period following
Cloudvirga partners with Citizens Bank’s wholesale channel
On Monday, Cloudvirga announced its integration with Citizens Bank’s wholesale channel, Franklin American Mortgage Company, to combine its digital mortgage processes with point of sale software and cloud-based technology. Franklin American Mortgage Company is the nation’s largest bank-owned wholesale lender.
Rents are rebounding in cities like Nashville, Tampa, Columbus and Kansas City
In April, apartment retention broke records as renters had to stay put due to the pandemic. Come May, apartment operators across the country began to drop rent. Now, in the week ending June 20, executed rents – a real-time indicator
GSE forbearance rate drops for third week, MBA says
The forbearance share of mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac dropped for the third straight week, while Ginnie Mae loans were unchanged, the Mortgage Bankers Association said in a report on Monday. Mortgages backed by the so-called government-sponsored
Fannie Mae survey shows mortgage servicers want clarity on post-forbearance options for borrowers
Lenders cited the health and safety of staff as the biggest challenge they are facing in the midst of COVID-19, according to a recent survey conducted by Fannie Mae. Clarity regarding updates to loan eligibility and navigating supply chain disruptions
How can lenders ensure loan quality among higher volumes?
Modern lenders need reliable tools with robust analytics to assess and mitigate risk and enhance loan quality. In addition to traditional fraud risks, COVID-19 and its complications create new opportunities for “bad actors.” Employment and income verification and property valuation
Prices for “affordable” homes continue to rise
The demand for homes continues to rise and with low inventory, home prices are responding to the pressure. Between the date in March that the World Health Organization declared a pandemic and the week ending May 31, Redfin found that
Mastering Borrower Retention Sponsored by Sales Boomerang
As an innovator and entrepreneur, Alex Kutsishin consulted for one of the mortgage industry’s best marketing companies, which is where he got the idea for his new venture – Sales Boomerang, the first fully automated Borrower Intelligence software that tells
The Experience Experiment: Undercover Shoppers Spill All – Sponsored by Total Expert
Think you know how your customers feel when they work with you? Well, Total Expert gives the inside scoop on how customer interactions are actually happening, as their secret shoppers share their takeaways after they went undercover to complete mortgage
9 Tips for Selling Your Home During Coronavirus
The coronavirus has affected so many aspects of our lives – from how we work to how we exercise, communicate, and so much more. It has also affected the housing market and how we now buy and sell homes. If
Minneapolis, Milwaukee & Salt Lake City Have the Lowest Black Homeownership Rates in the U.S., With Just One-Quarter of Black Families Owning Their Home
Only half of Black families own their home in Washington, DC, which has the highest Black homeownership rate in the U.S., versus more than 70% of white families. Nationwide, the gap is 44% versus 73.7%. Just 44% of Black families
Making an Offer on a House? 11 Strategies to Win
So you’ve found your dream house and you’re ready to make an offer, but how do you make sure your offer stands out among all the others? How do you make your offer more appealing? Whether you’re dealing with a
A Record 27% of Homebuyers Are Looking to Relocate, as Pandemic Accelerates Trend Toward Affordable, Less Dense Areas
A growing share of Redfin users look to leave the Bay Area, Washington, D.C. and Seattle for places like Sacramento, Las Vegas and Nashville. A record 27.0% of home searchers looked to move to another metro area in April and
Prices of Affordable Homes Have Jumped 5.5% During the Pandemic
Low mortgage rates have attracted more buyers to the market—especially first-timers—amid a supply shortage that’s showing no signs of letting up. Meanwhile, prices of expensive homes have risen just 2%. Prices of the most affordable third of homes in the
What Are Real Estate Mortgage Notes And How To Invest?
One of the best real estate investment opportunities available is also one of those that’s rarely discussed: mortgage note investing. Mortgage notes are also known as real estate lien notes and borrower’s notes. They have become a popular asset class