There are many important steps to buying or selling a house. One aspect that homebuyers and sellers often have questions about is the home appraisal process and how it impacts them in regards to the home sale. It’s important for
What is a Reverse Mortgage and How Does it Work?
If you’ve lived in your current home for many years, you may reach the point where you’ve made your final mortgage payment or are very close to paying off the house. Congratulations – this is a major accomplishment in the
Tighter enforcement environment won’t just affect lenders
2021 is already shaping up to be a vastly different year than 2020 for the mortgage and real estate industry, and it’s not only because we’re entering a purchase market. All indications are that compliance and enforcement will again move
For the first time since July, mortgage rates pass 3%
The average mortgage rate for a 30-year fixed loan rose 5 basis points last week to 3.02%, marking the first time since July that the industry has seen rates break above 3%, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. Since reaching a low
When Do I Need a Building Permit for Home Improvements?
When you choose to make improvements to your home, you probably think about design and decor options, paint colors, if the project will increase your property value, or if you’ll need to hire anyone to help you with the job.
Power of Social Media Leveraging Your Online Presence to Drive Growth
When it comes to truly standing out in today’s hyper competitive real estate market, one of the most important factors an agent should consider is their digital footprint. Social media platforms have become an integral part of the real estate
11 Stunning Million Dollar Dream Homes On the Market Today
Have you ever wondered what type of home a million dollars could get you these days? The answer will likely vary state-to-state. In Evergreen, CO you might find a large log cabin nestled on acres of land and sprawling greenery.
David Stevens and Kris Kully to speak at Spring Summit
The regulatory landscape has shifted quickly under President Biden. To discuss just what that means for those in the housing economy, Kris Kully, a partner at Mayer Brown, and David Stevens, the former CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association, will
Ghosting on Walls and Ceilings: What is it and What to Do About it?
Oftentimes, inspectors and contractors will receive phone calls from homeowners who describe a mold problem that has recently developed on the walls and ceilings of their homes. Usually, they describe the mold patterns as black stains or spots on the
Residential vs Commercial Real Estate Investment: Which is Better?
In the debate between residential vs commercial real estate investment, many ask, “Which is better?” The answer depends on a variety of factors such as your budget, your existing area of expertise and your risk tolerance. We’ll explain how each
RE/MAX makes big Florida investment
RE/MAX has greatly expanded its foothold in northeast Florida, buying Jacksonville brokerage mainstay Magnolia Properties. Magnolia Properties’ 125 agents are now part of RE/MAX Leading Edge, a franchisee based in St. Augustine, Florida, according to a RE/MAX company announcement Monday.
U.S. Bank’s Fred Bolstad to speak at Spring Summit
Fred Bolstad, executive vice president of retail lending at U.S. Bank Home Mortgage, will speak on a panel titled What Mortgage Tech is Solving Now at HousingWire’s Spring Summit on March 4. Bolstad will be joined on the panel by Dave Vermillion, founder
Compass losing money, gaining market share
The numbers are in: Compass lost $270 million in 2020, and the residential real estate brokerage generated $3.7 billion in revenue. Those figures are from a statement Compass filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday afternoon, in which
A slowdown in exits pushes forbearance volume up
After one month of steady declines, servicers’ forbearance portfolio volume rose one basis point last week to 5.23%, according to data released Monday by the Mortgage Bankers Association. The trade group pointed to a slowdown in exits coupled with an uptick
Don’t sleep on non-QM products
With low interest rates and a booming refinance market, it is natural that loan officers and brokers are focused on agency loans and also a thriving purchase market. However, with a futures rate curve that has recently been increasing, only
18 Best Real Estate Investing Books to Read in 2021
Real estate investments can yield some great returns if the proper steps are taken, but many new investors simply do not have the skills or education to make it happen. I wanted to write about the importance of real estate
Expect purchase application data to be negative in 2H 2021
Logan Mohtashami HousingWire Lead Analyst When economic data that is typically sticky has a waterfall dive followed by a quick parabolic recovery, forecasting a trend can be tricky. The MBA purchase application data changed during our year of COVID-19. In
Why You Still Need Staging in a Seller’s Market
Selling your home is a big deal, and can sometimes be stressful. Between deciding when to list your home for sale, for how much, and what home renovations you should do beforehand, there is a lot of planning involved. One
US Housing Market Sales & Price Forecast 2021: Will It Crash?
Here are the latest housing market predictions for 2021 & 2022. The global pandemic shattered the world order and the US economy suffered its biggest blow since the Great Depression in the second quarter. It has been roughly one year
3 underrated mortgage products to consider
The 30-year mortgage is easily the most popular and talked-about mortgage product out there. After all, in January 2021, 30-year loans accounted for a whopping three-quarters of all mortgage originations in the country. But make no mistake: They’re not your
10 Awesome Real Estate Tips for Home Sellers
When you bought your first house, you likely felt excitement with a hint of nervousness and maybe you even had a “What have I gotten myself into?” kind of moment. However, those emotions passed and you settled in and made
The great fintech acceleration
We all have our own prominent COVID-19 memory from 2020. Mine was on Sunday, March 15. I sat at home that morning typing out an employee memo that effective immediately all team members would be expected to work from home
14 Upgrades and Routines to Be Happier in Your Home
The pandemic has impacted our lives in countless ways, and many of our routines were flipped upside down as we struggled to wrap our heads around a new normal. From working and exercising, to online shopping and countless home-cooked meals
What the forbearance extension means for homeowners
In this HousingWire Daily episode, HW+ Managing Editor Brena Nath covers the recent COVID-19 forbearance extensions. In February, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that it had extended COVID-19 foreclosure and forbearance moratoriums for FHA and USDA loans to June 30,