Fannie Mae announced that it will restart its credit risk transfer program by the fourth quarter of 2021, following proposed changes to its capital rule. The company said it expects to transfer mortgage credit risk via its Connecticut Avenue Securities
August housing starts better than expected
U.S. homebuilders started construction on 1.615 million homes in August, up 3.9% from July 2021 and 17.4% higher than a year ago, according to a new report by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Sacramento Housing Market: Prices | Trends | Forecast 2021-2022
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
Deconstructing Trump-era restrictions on Fannie & Freddie
President Joe Biden and FHFA Acting Director Sandra Thompson Less than a week before President Donald Trump was scheduled to leave office, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mark Calabria announced several controversial changes that infuriated
Rocket Mortgage’s Rachel Robinson to speak at HW Annual
As the housing economy becomes increasingly digital, appraisal modernization may hold the key to not only providing a better experience for borrowers and lenders but also reducing potential appraisal bias. That’s why HousingWire invited Rachel Robinson, director, collateral policy and
Reverse mortgage volume drops in August
The reverse mortgage volume boom appears to have diminished for now, at least if new data is any indication. Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) endorsements fell in August, 2021 by 14.3% to 3,679 loans, with July now having marked the
The purchase mortgage market continues to pick up steam
Mortgage loan application volume rebounded from the week prior, increasing by 0.3% for the week ending Sept. 10, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly report. The increase in application volume was predominantly driven by purchase mortgage activity, which grew
Cleveland Housing Market: Prices | Trends | Forecasts 2021-2022
If you are looking at buying a house in Cleveland you must read till the end. Cleveland is often looked at as a has-been market. However, its turnaround has created several opportunities for investors and residents alike. The Cleveland housing
Treasury removes restrictions on investment properties
The Treasury Department and FHFA announced Tuesday that they are suspending certain requirements that were added in January to the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements (PSPAs) between Treasury and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Under those requirements, Fannie Mae had restricted
Kansas City Housing Market: Prices | Trends | Forecasts 2021
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
Black Knight looks to court brokers with new LOS
Black Knight is looking to hook mortgage brokers with a new loan origination system designed specifically for them. The Florida-based mortgage tech and analytics behemoth on Wednesday unveiled “LoanCatcher” to mortgage brokers, which it described as an “end-to-end” solution that
10 Beautiful Small Towns in America Worth Moving To Today
Are you looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life? Does the idea of a laid-back lifestyle sound appealing to you? If you answered yes, then you should consider moving to a small town. Small towns across the
CoreLogic’s chief appraiser to speak at HW Annual
Big changes are ahead in the valuation space, most recently seen with the FHFA asking for input on appraisal modernization efforts. Will hybrid appraisals become the new norm? Are the GSEs going to expand the use of appraisal waivers? These
Is Mike Calhoun still in the running for FHFA director?
Mike Calhoun is president of the Center for Responsible Lending This week the Biden administration announced several high-level nominations, including Alanna McCargo to lead Ginnie Mae. But missing from those announcements was the White House’s widely expected pick for the
How to Prepare for a Home Appraisal: 9 Tips to Maximize Your Home’s Value
The home appraisal is your last chance to ensure your home’s value comes in as high as possible, which is especially important since most offers you’ll receive will be contingent on the buyer acquiring financing from a mortgage lender. Basically,
Pacaso’s plans to “democratize” second-home ownership
Real estate startup Pacaso announced Tuesday that it has raised $125 million in its recent Series C funding round, giving it a $1.5 billion valuation. This announcement comes less than six months after the company raised $75 million, bringing its
Seattle Real Estate Market: Prices | Trends | Forecasts 2021-2022
The low inventory and high competition in the Seattle housing market continue to make it difficult for homebuyers to find a place to call home. Increasing single-family home prices have resulted from a widespread housing boom fueled by historically low
Industry relieved that Ginnie Mae is no longer being ignored
Monday’s announcement that Alanna McCargo, senior advisor at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is up for the nomination of Ginnie Mae president put a smile on the face of the mortgage industry. Fair housing organizations, trade groups, and
How Does Climate Change Affect Property Values?
Dramatic weather events such as wildfires, flooding, extreme heat, drought, and storms are on the rise all over the world due to climate change. As a result, all of these climate-related events are posing an increasingly large risk to real
Philadelphia Housing Market: Prices | Trends | Forecast 2021-2022
If you are looking at buying real estate in Philadelphia in 2021, you must read until the end. Philadelphia is a hot seller’s real estate market by all housing indicators. There is a huge gap between supply and demand leading
Tampa Housing Market: Prices | Trends | Forecast 2021-2022
The Tampa housing market is growing steadily, prices are still low and properties have a good chance for a strong appreciation in the coming years. Home is selling incredibly fast in the Tampa Bay housing market with hot homes getting multiple
Robert Hirsch 2020’s- It’s a trusted name, and we’re cutting edge.
If you’ve been following our series, we’ve been revisiting each decade, since the start of C21. We’ve strolled through the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, the ‘00s, and we are wrapping up with 2020 and beyond. We’ve accomplished so much, as a
The 10 Best Drought Tolerant Plants for Homes in Dry Climates
The Ten Best Drought Tolerant Plants If you live in a dry region or one that suffers from high drought risk, such as the southwestern United States, choosing the right plants for your yard or garden can be difficult. Fortunately,
Fannie Mae’s Lyle Radke to speak at HW Annual
Appraisal modernization efforts could mean big changes for property valuations, which is why HousingWire invited Lyle Radke, director of collateral policy at Fannie Mae, to speak at HW Annual Sept. 27-28. Radke will speak on The Future of Valuations panel,