FHA’s Tuesday release of its MMIF Report showing that FHA continues to build its capital reserve ratio to 11.1% will no doubt add fuel to the public debate about whether FHA should cut premiums for the borrowers it serves. This
11 Best Dog Breeds for Apartments, Plus 8 Training Tips
Even pet-friendly apartments can have their own limitations when it comes to your four-legged friend. You should be mindful of everyone around you while renting an apartment with a pet. If you plan to buy or adopt a new dog,
Waterstone Mortgage hires new digital marketing director
Wisconsin-based mortgage lender Waterstone Mortgage Corporation appointed Chik Quintans its new director of digital marketing, the company announced Thursday. In his new role, Quintans will oversee the digital marketing strategy to advance Waterstone Mortgage’s online presence through social media campaigns
People Moving Out of NYC Are Considering These 10 Cities
Known as the “City That Never Sleeps,” New York City is one of the most iconic destinations that people from all over dream of moving to. This bustling city offers never-ending entertainment options, from Broadway shows and live music performances
21 DIY Kitchen Renovation Tips for a Makeover On a Budget
Kitchen renovations are one of the most popular home improvement projects – and one of the most daunting. There are many things to consider during a renovation, from appliances and cabinets to flooring and countertops. They can also be expensive
How to Eliminate House Odors Once and For All
Do you have lingering smells wreaking havoc throughout your home? Are you struggling to figure out how to get rid of them? Foul odors are a pain to locate and can make your home unpleasant and unwelcoming. If this sounds
Pending Home Sales Dropped for the Fourth Straight Month in 2022
United States Pending Home Sales 2022 The Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator of housing activity. It measures housing contract activity and is based on signed real estate contracts for existing single-family homes, condos, and co-ops. When a
Non-QM lender Athas Capital Group ‘bows out like gentlemen’
It’s yet another casualty in the non-QM space – California-based Athas Capital Group is winding down its operations and laying off more than 200 employees due to the challenges in the secondary market. Executives at the mortgage lender announced their
Trillions in equity vanished from the housing market in the third quarter
High mortgage rates and looming economic uncertainty caused trillions in equity to evaporate from the housing market in the third quarter of 2022, according to Black Knight’s mortgage monitor report. And while additional declines are expected to be on the
Home Prices Falling: Housing Market Trends 2022
Current Housing Market Trends 2022 The housing market is predicted to slow down further in the last quarter of 2022. For sellers, this could be terrible news, but for buyers, it’s great. Yet, there is still the problem of sky-high
Homepoint dives into HELOCs as home equity levels remain high
Despite increased competition, wholesale lender Homepoint has rolled out a new home equity line of credit (HELOC) product. The goal is to court more brokers at a time when home equity levels remain high. Available on investment properties, single-unit owner-occupied
GSEs set aside billions to cover home value declines
Revenue and net income were both down for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the third quarter, and the two government sponsored entities (GSEs) expect the housing market to deteriorate further in the fourth quarter. Collectively, the GSEs have set
Apartment Pet Policy Breed Restrictions & What Dog Owners Need to Know to Get Around Them
Your dog is your best friend. And you’ll always consider them when making big life decisions, such as moving to a new apartment. Some of the biggest challenges for a pet owner is finding the right apartment that allows them
New American Funding, no longer in growth mode, lays off 240
California lender New American Funding issued pink slips to 240 employees last week, bringing the total cut this year to nearly 1,000. The force reductions come after two years of rapid expansion. “The mortgage market slowdown is unfortunately affecting our
What is Pet Liability Insurance for Renters
As of 2022, it’s estimated that about 67% of Americans own a pet. If you’re one of those 67%, you may have heard of pet liability insurance, pet insurance, pet renters insurance, and renters insurance with pet coverage. But what
The honey badger labor market will still bite housing
On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 261,000 jobs were created and we had 29,000 positive revisions to prior reports. This means the honey badger labor market will keep the Federal Reserve from pivoting anytime soon. This has
Share of Black first-time homebuyers falls to 3%
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released a report on Friday that found 88% of all first-time homebuyers in the U.S. are white, while 8% are Hispanic, 3% are Black and 2% are Asian. The share of Black and Asian
HW+ Member Spotlight: Aaron Smith
This week’s HW+ member spotlight features Aaron Smith, vice president at sales at Next Door Photos. HW Media: What is your current favorite HW+ article and why? Aaron Smith: I love everything RealTrends. It helps cut through the noise of the market and shows you what
Opinion: The risk in cutting FHA insurance premiums
There has been a flurry of recent articles prognosticating a decrease to Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insurance premiums. Several trade groups including the Mortgage Bankers Association have corresponded with the HUD Secretary in support of cuts. One news article suggested a possible
6 Essential Tips to Consider When Choosing a Roommate
Whether you’re renting an apartment in Baltimore or saving for your first house in Tacoma, WA, sharing a house or apartment with roommates is a great way to mitigate living costs. However, choosing the wrong roommates can make you question
Mr. Cooper makes its biggest job cut yet
Retail lender and servicer Mr. Cooper has dropped the ax on approximately 800 staffers, roughly a week after hinting that job cuts were coming due to lower origination production. “In the face of market volatility and economic uncertainty, Mr. Cooper
Rocket reports financial loss as production slumps in Q3
Rocket Companies, the parent of Rocket Mortgage, lost money in the third quarter and also appears to have lost its title as America’s largest mortgage originator. Rocket originated $25.6 billion in mortgage volume in the third quarter, which was 71%
Must-Try Coffee Shops in Los Angeles: A Local’s Guide to Coffee Shops and Cafes
If you’re looking for the best coffee shops in Los Angeles, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re looking for a great cup of coffee within walking distance from your Los Angeles apartment, a cozy place to work or
Job growth continues but decelerates in October
Job growth continued in October, but at a slower pace as the Federal Reserve continues to raise interest rates. Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 261,000 jobs from September, according to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
