The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Tuesday resolved uncertainty around special purpose credit programs, 45 years after Congress allowed lenders to tailor products to groups that have historically been excluded from homeownership. In a legal memo, HUD
Cash-out refis are in high demand as equity levels skyrocket
Record home price appreciation in recent years has pushed tappable home equity to new heights. According to a report published by data vendor Black Knight this week, the third quarter of 2021 saw a nearly $250 billion dollar increase in
10 Day Trips From New York City You Need to Take
While there is no shortage of activities to do in New York City, you may be looking for something new to escape the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple. With a multitude of neighboring places to explore, there is
Sacramento Housing Market: Prices | Trends | Forecasts 2022
This article has been updated to provide a snapshot of the Sacramento housing market in 2021. Sacramento house prices are expected to rise further this year, according to realtors. In 2021, the Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, Calif., metro area is expected to have
Master Class: How to become an experience architect
In this fun and informative master class exclusively for HW+ members, Experience.com’s Chief Experience Officer, Brittany Hodak, shares a simple framework every marketing and sales leader can use to design intentional customer journeys, elevating every customer interaction into an experience. No matter
Seattle Real Estate Market: Prices | Trends | Forecasts 2022
The Seattle area housing market’s overall slowdown is seasonal and can be attributed to people being priced out of the market combined with a slight increase in interest rates. At the same time, the low inventory and high competition in
To advance mortgage lending, trust must take backseat to truth
Once upon a time, loans were made on a handshake. That’s not just a platitude; before the Civil War, most Americans were self-employed, there was no federal income tax and banking was decentralized, making it practically impossible to verify a
What is a Half Bath vs. Three Quarter vs. Full?
As with many homeowners searching for their dream home, you’ll want to find the perfect space to grow into and enjoy. Many people tend to focus on the overall square footage or the number of bedrooms in a home. However,
San Diego Housing Market: Prices | Trends | Forecasts 2022
Home prices & sales are rising across the Southern California housing market and San Diego is no exception. In Southern California, the median home price has risen by double digits for twelve consecutive months. Homes on the market are selling
The Impact of Brand Awareness
Every company has different goals and objectives when it comes to marketing. In my last post, I started to break down HW Media’s findings from a recent survey conducted with SOAR Performance Group to analyze companies’ marketing priorities, tactics and
Cost vs. Value: Best ROI Home Improvements in San Diego
If you’re looking to renovate your home, it’s important to know which house projects will add value to your home so you can receive the most return on your investment (ROI). Whether you’re selling your home in San Diego, CA
How did the pandemic change the state of the appraisal market?
The HousingWire award spotlight series highlights the companies that have been recognized through our Editors’ Choice Awards. Nominations for HousingWire’s Tech100 award are now open through next Friday, December 17, 2021. To submit your company, go here. If there’s anything that lenders and
All-cash transactions under scrutiny of Biden administration
The Biden administration announced on Monday that it is looking to expand reporting requirements on all-cash real estate transactions. The announcement came via a U.S. Treasury Department notice seeking public comment on this potential regulation. According to the Biden administration,
What is a Row House?
From classic cape cod and colonial-style houses, to Tudor and ranch style homes, there are many popular home styles that can appeal to every type of homebuyer. One such home style with a long history in metropolitan areas across the
More renters and homeowners are missing payments
More than five million households failed to make their rent or mortgage payments in October, an increase compared to the same period of 2020, and a concern for mortgage servicers. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association‘s Research Institute for Housing
Fed pulling back from the MBS market cautiously
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York later this week plans to sell up to $90 million in agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) now held in portfolio, a small sale, but still an interesting move in the current economic climate. The
Kansas City Housing Market: Prices | Trends | Forecasts 2022
The Kansas City real estate market is very hot and in many ways the envy of housing pundits on both coasts. Despite the COVID pandemic causing huge unemployment and impaired consumer confidence in real estate buying and selling, the Kansas
Outdoor Lighting Ideas for Your Home
Holiday time is here! Let your home shine bright!
Guaranteed Rate’s Shant Banosian clears $2B in originations in 2021
Guaranteed Rate’s Shant Banosian has topped his record-setting 2020 in a big way: year-to-date, the loan officer has funded a whopping $2 billion in total origination volume, the lender announced on Tuesday. The figure is believed to be a record
How to help homeowners make the most of home equity
As home equity reached another record high this year, mortgage companies have a big opportunity to help homeowners understand how to better manage or leverage their home’s equity to improve their housing and overall financial outlook. Even as rates are
Homepoint’s Phil Shoemaker: Lessons from a tech-based mortgage leader
If you added up the impact that HousingWire’s Vanguard winners have had on the industry, you’d likely have a comprehensive list of the initiatives that have moved markets forward. These are the leaders who have dreamt, shaped and molded a
Interfirst Mortgage to lay off nearly 50 LOs
Chicago-based Interfirst Mortgage Co. will lay off 77 employees in its Charlotte, North Carolina office come January 2022, a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice filed by the company reveals. Among those getting a pink slip are 49
Gay, disabled ex-employee sues loanDepot for discrimination
Anthony Hsieh, founder and CEO of loandepot A former loanDepot employee has filed a lawsuit against the company and its CEO, Anthony Hsieh, for allegedly discriminating against him due to his physical disabilities and his sexual orientation. This is the
The MSR market is exuberant — for all the right reasons
The MSR sales market is finishing out 2021 at a robust pace that market observers expect will continue into the new year, propelled by a rising-rate environment and anticipated tax-code changes. As evidence, Denver-based Incenter Mortgage Advisors this month unveiled