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
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
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,
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
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,
Biden’s not-so-radical plan to boost affordable housing
President Joe Biden and Sandra Thompson The Biden administration, in announcements from a suite of federal agencies, signaled Wednesday that it is making a significant effort to address the lack of supply of affordable housing in America. The announcements spanned
7 Steps to Take When Your Basement Floods
Owning a home is a big investment. And being a homeowner means preparing for unforeseen events that may threaten your home – including a flooded basement. A flooded basement can be caused by a variety of events, like an unexpected
Unlicensed mortgage broker defrauded wholesale lenders
A 50-year-old former unlicensed mortgage broker from Long Island, New York, pleaded guilty Wednesday to defrauding clients and wholesale lenders out of $4.7 million in mortgage refinancing proceeds that were supposed to pay off existing client mortgages. Brent Kaufman, of
11 Warning Signs Your Home Has Foundation Problems
The foundation is one of the most important parts of any home, if not the most important. The foundation is what supports your home, keeps moisture out, resists movement, and insulates from the heat and cold. Foundation problems can create