Mortgage brokers are facing a vastly different landscape than this time last year. In 2020, the refinance boom caused lenders and brokers to go on hiring sprees, and loan originators were putting in substantial hours. Now, as refinance volume slows
Unwrapping what to expect in your home inspection, appraisal and closing
What’s the difference between a home inspection and an appraisal? Have you budgeted for closing costs? The home-buying journey can seem daunting when questions like these are around each turn. Before you get overwhelmed, take comfort that critical milestones of
Profit margins are just going to get worse, lenders say
Lenders’ profit margin outlook declined in the second quarter of 2021, the third consecutive quarter of pessimism on the profit front, according to Fannie Mae‘s quarterly Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey. According to the second-quarter survey, 69% of lenders believe profit
Industry groups urge Biden to let CDC eviction ban sunset
A broad swath of the housing industry is calling for the Biden administration to let the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) eviction ban lapse at the end of this month. In a letter, 12 industry groups including the National Association
Margins Slipping? Use Data for More Accurate, Dynamic Pricing
The mortgage landscape continues to become increasingly more competitive each day. Thanks to the convenience of online rate-shopping tools, a boost in consumer knowledge of the homebuying process, and a growing number of independent mortgage banks, it is now more
Ben Caballero heads RealTrends’ 2020 top agent list
Most of the highest producing real estate agents in the country belong to an established, national brokerage. Unless, that is, you are at the very top of the profession. RealTrends, which is owned by HW Media, on Friday released its
RealTrends 1000: 50% increase in transaction sides in ’20
No surprise, big growth is the theme of 2020, with RealTrends + Tom Ferry The Thousand and America’s Best Real Estate Professionals showing huge boosts in transactions sides and volume, yet productivity has not increased year to year (2019-2020). Today,
How Long Does an Appraisal Take and What to Expect?
Congratulations! You’ve gotten preapproved for a home mortgage, found your dream home, negotiated an agreeable sales price, successfully maneuvered through the home inspection process, and finally, you have a fully executed sales contract in hand for your new house. If
What to Do After a Storm Damages Your Home: 5 Steps to Take
Over the years, many cities across the U.S., especially cities like Tampa, FL, and New Orleans, LA, have weathered brutal storms that have damaged homes, devastated communities, and had lasting impacts on their housing markets. Unfortunately, destructive storms are becoming
How non-QM lenders can make the origination process easier for brokers
There are a number of challenges affecting the non-QM market, but there are also opportunities. By partnering with a mortgage company that understands how to streamline non-Qm loans, brokers can close loans quickly and effectively. HousingWire recently sat down with John
When wouldn’t you go with the highest offer?
It can be hard to imagine — choosing an offer that is $1,000, $5,000 or $10,000 less than the highest bidder. However, it actually happens all the time, and for good cause. Here are four reasons why you might choose
Judith LaCosse 1990’s- Unconventional Partnerships
We’ve endeavored to share the stories, of some of our #relentless, through each decade as we reflect on our momentum and growth over the past 50 years. What better way to showcase how CENTURY 21 Real Estate has continued to
Selling your home? Make sure you’re aware of hidden costs
It’s no secret that buying a home takes time and money. Well, it turns out, so does selling a home. According to Zillow and Thumbtack’s Hidden Costs of Selling Analysis, the average homeowner spends over $15,000 in “hidden costs” to
How to Fireproof Your Home from Wildfires
A wildfire can pose a danger to your home, especially if you live in areas with dry, hot weather like Orange County, CA, or Clark County, NV. Weather conditions such as drought, extreme heat, high winds, and any surrounding vegetation
Here are the cities that ranked among the best and worst places to raise a family
Whether moving to be near family or relocating for a job, moving is common. Take the pandemic, for instance. The housing market saw a huge spike in the number of moves as people relocated from big cities to avoid COVID-19. According
CRT protects GSEs, taxpayers from unexpected disasters
After reading the recent report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency on the performance of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s credit risk transfer programs, anyone unfamiliar with the purposes of CRT might understandably conclude that the GSEs vastly overpaid capital
Fannie Mae taps Evans as next single-family chief
Fannie Mae now has a clear successor to take the reins of its single-family business following the departure of Andrew Bon Salle in December. The government sponsored entity has named Malloy Evans, the company’s current chief credit officer for single
Lenders pick up the pace in closing mortgages
The average time to close on a mortgage has decreased for a fourth consecutive month to 51 days, according to a new study from ICE Mortgage Technology. The study, ICE’s Origination Insight Report, also found April to be the second
Freddie Mac taps Michael DeVito as next CEO
Nearly six months after David Brickman stepped down, government-sponsored entity Freddie Mac has tapped ex-Wells Fargo mortgage executive Michael DeVito to assume the role of CEO. DeVito, who spent more than two decades at Wells Fargo before retiring last year,
NYC, LA and SF residents are moving to these cities
Phoenix, Las Vegas, Sacramento, Austin and Atlanta were the most popular destinations for Redfin.com users looking to move to a different area last month, with many of the potential homebuyers coming from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. The analysis, which
Understanding What Escrow is and How it Works
As a homebuyer, there are actually two different times you’ll be dealing with escrow. The first takes place during the home buying process. Escrow starts with your purchase offer on a home and ends when you close on the house.
Ocwen to buy $48B MSR package from AmeriHome
If you have any mortgage servicing rights you’re looking to offload, you may want to give Ocwen Financial a call. A few weeks after striking a deal to buy $14 billion of mortgage servicing rights from Texas Capital Bank, a subsidiary of
Heatproof Your Home and Protect it From Extreme Temperatures
Your home is supposed to be your own personal oasis. However, when summertime comes around, scorching temperatures and rising humidity can wreak havoc on a home, both inside and out. Extreme heat can make the interior of a house uncomfortable
What Is a Storm Door and How Do I Install One?
If you live in a city that typically sees a lot of storms, like Fort Myers, FL or Abbotsford, BC, installing a storm door can provide added security, protection, and insulation for your home. More so, it can extend the