For most homeowners, a great deal of effort goes into choosing the right contractor for their home renovations. By the time you’ve decided on a contractor, finalized an agreement, and paid the deposit, the last thing you need is for
Almost 45% of homeowners are now equity rich
Soaring home prices continue to serve existing homeowners, with nearly 45% of all property owners now considered equity rich, a year-over-year jump that boosted 13% more homeowners into the prime position. A homeowner is considered equity rich when they have
10 Pros and Cons of Living in Georgia
Are you considering moving to Georgia and possibly buying a house in Atlanta or somewhere like Alpharetta? Georgia, popularly known as the Peach State, is the 24th most extensive state in terms of the landmass in the U.S. The state
What is a Loft Apartment? Living Life at the Top
Living the city life can bring lots of the hustle and bustle, sprawling views of the skyline, and countless new activities and restaurants to check out every day of the week. If you’re renting an apartment in New York, NY,
Birmingham Alabama Housing Market: Prices & Trends 2022
How is The Housing Market in Birmingham Alabama? Birmingham, Alabama has come a long way from its Southern roots, though it retains its historic charm. Birmingham recently earned the title of being the South’s “Comeback Town.” The Birmingham AL real
10 Pros and Cons of Living in Texas
Texas, also known as the “Lone Star State,” is the second-largest U.S. state by area and population. With such a big state, you’ll find something to love about Texas – may that be the fantastic barbeque or the beautiful state
Purchase mortgage rates increase to 5.30%
Purchase mortgage rates this week averaged 5.30%, up three basis points from a week ago, causing homeowners’ monthly payments to increase by about one-third year-over-year, according to the latest Freddie Mac PMMS. Borrowers continue displaying resilience, but higher rates expected in coming months
Julia Gordon confirmed as new FHA commissioner
The U.S. Senate confirmed Julia Gordon on Wednesday evening to serve as commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The position is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Gordon, who most recently stepped down from her role
What Is a Quitclaim Deed? Everything You Need to Know
You’ve been searching for houses for months and finally found the one you like. After making your way through the homebuying process, one of the final steps is ordering a title search and then have the seller execute the deed
Before You Sell / Before You Move
Moving be chaotic and overwhelming … where do you start? Here’s a few things to get you started. BEFORE YOU SELL [ ] Toss & Donate! You know the old adage – if you haven’t worn it or used it in the past year, it’s time to go. Plan a yard sale, donate to area […]
The housing market is still savagely unhealthy
The National Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales for March came in as a miss of estimate at 5.77 million. However, the real story of 2022 is that the savagely unhealthy housing market continues as inventory is still
Fannie Mae cuts origination projection, forecasts recession in 2023
Fannie Mae has lowered its mortgage origination forecasts for 2022 and 2023 due to the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) aggressive inflation-fighting monetary policy and corresponding volatility in the mortgage market. Fannie’s Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group dropped its projected single-family
The VA’s little-known program for Native American veterans
A Department of Veterans Affairs lending program for Native American veterans has been severely underutilized, a government watchdog found. According to a report the Government Accountability Office published this week, the VA’s Native American Direct Loan program only resulted in
Three steps lenders should take when selecting an eVault provider
eVaults are an integral part of any end-to-end digital mortgage transformation. They enable lenders to originate and securely hold eNotes and accelerate capital market transactions. eVaults also support an enhanced customer experience for borrowers and streamline interactions with other participants
Opinion: How GSE reform could create a healthier housing market
In the first article of this series, I discussed the argument for turning Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into public utilities, which would result in more Americans having fair access to mortgage services. However, regulating government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) as public
Homepoint looks to match broker partners with builders
Wholesale lender Homepoint is becoming a broker of sorts…for mortgage brokers. The Ann Arbor, Michigan-based company has launched a referral program aimed at connecting mortgage brokers with regional homebuilders as well as homebuyers. Homepoint’s “New Build program” connects homebuilders with
What is a Bungalow House Style? Quaint, Classic, and Full of Craftsman Charm
The Bungalow house is a classic home style, taking a queue from the Craftsman style house popularized during the early 1900s. Often used to describe a smaller, single-story house with minimal detail, a bungalow house style is much more than
Create the Ultimate Cozy Apartment with These 7 Ideas
Imagine your apartment filled with the sun illuminating the art on the walls, the scent of your favorite candle wafting through the air, all while wrapped in your favorite blanket – you’ve just imagined a cozy apartment. A cozy apartment
The evolution of the more productive real estate agent
Bonnie Williamson never intended to be a real estate agent. As a French major and Russian and political science minor at the University of Michigan, Williamson had initially entertained the idea of going into politics. Instead, she was recruited out
Housing completions held hostage by rising mortgage rates
On Tuesday, the U.S. Census Bureau released their report for March, showing a solid number of housing permits and starts — but these were boosted by multifamily construction. In addition, this data lags behind the current reality of a housing
10 Most Affordable San Francisco Suburbs to Live In
Cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, and colorful Victorian homes are just a slice of what makes San Francisco, CA a truly unique experience. With roughly 873k residents, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that “the Golden City”
Mortgage applications nosedive as rates continue to soar
With rates at the highest level in a decade, mortgage applications for the week ending April 15 fell 5%, according to the latest survey by the Mortgage Bankers Association. The drop was largely driven by an 8% decline in refinancing
Top 8 Reasons to Move to Dallas and Why You’ll Love Living Here
If you’re craving warm weather, a city filled with art, and somewhere with deep roots in education and sports, living in Dallas is for you. In no particular order, here are the top reasons to move to Dallas and why
Top 8 Reasons to Move to Boston and Why You’ll Love Living Here
Living in Boston offers residents rich history, excellent food, world-class education, and grand entertainment. Commonly known as “Beantown” because of its famous baked beans, Boston is home to countless events and landmarks, like the Boston Marathon and Fenway Park. Boston