Red Tide on Florida Beaches As the warm, tropical sun beats down on the sandy shores of Florida, it’s easy to understand why the state’s beachfront real estate is so desirable. However, in recent years, an unwelcome visitor has cast
22 Unique Ways to Bring Texture into Your Apartment
Creating a cozy and inviting living space is crucial for any apartment, and adding texture is an excellent way to achieve this. Texture brings depth, warmth, and character to a room, creating a visual experience that engages the senses. From
Record keeping needs improvement: FHFA watchdog
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has determined that the FHFA has followed guidance related to conservatorship of the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs). However, staff turnover and pervasive record keeping issues have caused a loss
What is Atlanta, GA Known For? 15 Ways to Get to Know the Big Peach
Are you thinking about calling Atlanta, GA your new home? From its rich history and cultural landmarks to its thriving food and music scenes, living in Atlanta offers something for everyone. Home to professional sports teams, renowned universities, and a
Home-equity niche will benefit from a private-label lift
The demand for home-equity loans, particularly home-equity lines of credit (HELOCs) as well as shared-equity investment products, is now stronger than at any time since before the global financial crisis some 15 years ago. Securitization channels for those home-equity products,
13 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers in Chicago
Buying a home can be both exciting and daunting, especially for first-time home buyers in a city like Chicago, IL. With so many neighborhoods, housing styles, and factors to consider, navigating the real estate market can be overwhelming. However, with
Opinion: Don’t cut back on professional support services
The old saying that “the devil’s in the details” can be applied to many different circumstances. And it’s undeniable that the title and settlement services industry is, at its very core, about close attention to the little things. After all,
Hope Through Housing uses MLK Grant to fund after school programs
Hope through Housing is a non-profit organization whose mission is to end generational poverty through affordable housing, educational programs and advocacy. In 2022, they were the recipients of an MLK grant which will be used to fund their youth development
Get a Sparkling Home this Spring with All-Natural Cleaning Products and Recipes, Plus Eco-Friendly Methods
Spring cleaning season is upon us, and what better way to refresh your home than with clever, all-natural ways of cleaning? From carpets to windows, there are safe and effective options for every surface in your home. Skip the harsh
Fed delivers a 25 bps rate hike amid bank failures
The Federal Reserve (Fed) has decided to forge ahead in its fight against inflation, despite several bank closures that have caused turbulence in the financial markets. On Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced the decision to raise the
VA makes major change to America’s most underutilized mortgage program
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced on Wednesday that it will lower the VA Native American Direct Loan (NADL) program interest rate from 6% to 2.5% in an effort to make housing loans more affordable for Native American
Why industry watchers expect mortgage rates to fluctuate in coming weeks
The Federal Reserve‘s decision to raise the federal funds rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday signaled that officials are still focused on bringing down inflation to 2% while monitoring how much recent bank failures slow lending in the economy
HUD awards over $54 million in grants to curb housing discrimination
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Tuesday announced it has awarded $54 million to 182 fair housing organizations across 42 states under its Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). The goal is to provide support to organizations
Lenders: Looking to simplify closings? Work with an insurance agency
HousingWire recently spoke to Tom Kriby, vice president of client development and partnerships at Westwood Insurance Agency, about how working with an insurance agency can simplify the closing process for their customers, even in times of interest rate uncertainty. HousingWire:
Pacific Western Bank gets $1.4B from Atlas after 20% decline in deposits
The current bank crisis hit California-based Pacific Western Bank, a community bank owned by PacWest Bancorp that has a focus on real estate and commercial loans. Following the collapses of Silvergate Bank, Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank over the
The typical down payment is 10% smaller than a year ago
The typical homebuyer’s down payment was down 10% year over year in January 2023, according to a report released Wednesday by Redfin. The report is based on data collected by Redfin from county record across 40 of the most populous
Homebot home education portal acquires mobile app firm Quo Finance
Homebot, a home education portal that keeps people connected to their loan officers and real estate agents, acquired Quo Finance, a mobile app for first-time homebuyers. “Quo will massively accelerate Homebot’s mission to connect people to make informed homeownership decisions,”
Lower mortgage rates fueling existing home sales
Existing home sales had a huge beat of estimates on Tuesday. This wasn’t shocking for people who follow how I track housing data. To understand why we had such a beat in sales, you only need to go back to
Mortgage demand rises amid MBS volatility
Consumer demand for home loans rose for the third consecutive week due to declining mortgage rates, following the turbulence in the financial markets caused by regional bank failures. But the same bank crisis is bringing volatility to the mortgage-backed securities
When is the Best Time to Buy a House?
A lot of people ask, “When should I buy? What part of the real estate cycle should I buy in? Should I buy in a down market? Are the values going to keep going down? When should I buy and
18 Best Real Estate Investing Books For Beginners 2023
Best Real Estate Books on Investment Real estate investments can provide excellent returns if the proper steps are taken, but many new investors lack the necessary skills and education. I wanted to discuss the significance of real estate education through
Austin Housing Market: Prices, Trends, Forecast 2023
Austin Housing Market Trends for January 2023 The Austin housing market has been in a state of flux due to the pandemic and other economic factors, and this trend is expected to continue in 2023. Despite the price decrease and
Seattle Housing Market: Prices, Trends, Forecast 2023
Seattle Housing Market Trends This article will talk about how the housing market in the Seattle area is right now and its forecast. The Seattle housing market in February 2023 shows an increase in active listings for sale, with 894
33 Secret Websites to Make Money Online in 2023
Making money online has become increasingly popular in recent years. The internet has opened up numerous opportunities for individuals to make money online. Many people are searching for ways to make money online, but they are not sure where to