For the first time in a year, the number of buyers who locked in mortgage rates to purchase a second home fell in June. Per a recent Redfin study, second home mortgages saw a year-over-year decrease of 11.1%. Home prices
Shareholder suit accuses Rocket of deceptive disclosures
A shareholder sued Rocket Mortgage, the Detroit-based mortgage behemoth, for allegedly making misleading disclosures to conceal adverse market conditions. The class action-seeking lawsuit, which was filed in the Eastern District Of Michigan’s Southern Division, alleges that Rocket was aware of
Mortgage rates dip slightly to 2.88%
The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell two basis points from the week prior to 2.88%, according to mortgage rates data released Thursday by Freddie Mac‘s PMMS. According to Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, the decline provides modest relief to
For the housing market, look at bonds over MBS
This is the first time I am writing about mortgage backed securities (MBS) because I hardly ever consider this aspect of the housing market in my work. But since now even Federal Reserve members are discussing the pros and cons
Is NAR ready to rumble with DOJ?
Lisa Dunn was on her way to the American Automobile Association headquarters in Mission Viejo, California when her phone started blowing up. It was July 1, and the U.S. Department of Justice had just fired off a press release saying
How fine-tuning MSR valuations can help lenders improve decision-making
Over the course of the last year, the mortgage industry has seen increases in origination volumes and decreases in released servicing bids. This has caused servicing portfolios to grow to represent the largest single asset on many lenders’ balance sheets,
Redfin: Bidding wars drop slightly in June
Competition between would-be homebuyers is still high, but an increase in homes hitting the market in June brought some relief from bidding wars. Per a recent Redfin study, 65% of home offers written by company agents in June faced competition,
Compass is Guaranteed Rate’s latest dance partner
Guaranteed Rate has found another dance partner. And Compass is borrowing from the playbook of its most visible direct competitor. Guaranteed Rate, the Chicago-based mortgage lender, and Compass, the New York City-headquartered residential real estate brokerage, “entered into a definitive
HUD finally confronts decades of staffing shortages
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it has filled another round of positions, as it confronts decades of staffing shortages. “These talented and diverse individuals join HUD ready to deliver results for the American people by tackling
Forbearance exits are speeding up
Servicers’ forbearance portfolio volume dropped yet again, this time falling 11 basis points to 3.76% in the period ending July 4, according to a survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association. It’s the 19th straight week of forbearance decreases. The MBA estimates that 1.9 million homeowners
Better.com to acquire UK-based digital mortgage brokerage
Venture capital-backed mortgage lender Better.com is going international. The company, which is expected to go public later this year, has agreed to acquire United Kingdom-based digital mortgage brokerage Trussle. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Financial Times
For many Hispanics, homeownership built on family support
Hispanic homeowners are more likely to have adult relatives currently living with them — and are more likely to have lived with relatives themselves, prior to buying their home. Per a recent Redfin study of 1,500 homeowners, 52% of current
Homes are selling well over listing prices as buyers compete against each other
In case you didn’t know, we’re living in a seller’s market. But even though home prices are at record highs, buyers are still in the market. Not only are they shopping, but they’re putting down offers well over the listing
Home prices accelerating in areas without mass transit
As more of the country moves to permanent work-from-home arrangements, home prices in car-dependent areas have risen twice as fast as those in transit-accessible areas, according to a recent study by Redfin. The median home-sale price in car-dependent areas, nationwide,
Demo Day: Propertybase
Propertybase Propertybase is the leading global provider of real estate and mortgage software. In an ever-more competitive market, it’s important for brokerages to utilize streamlined, collaborative technology. But we’re more than just software. With SEO and digital marketing services to
Real estate is a people business, but automation can help
The news is filled with talk of real estate. Bubbles have that effect. We know through the work of people like Robert Shiller and others that “narratives” are indeed economic forces and that compelling narratives can move markets. In the U.S. real estate market,
Biden renews push for housing in infrastructure plan
Housing has returned to center stage in the Biden administration’s push for an additional infrastructure plan. President Joe Biden said this week that he planned to make an “historic investment” in affordable housing, by building and rehabilitating more than two
Digital mortgage provider LoanLogics bought by Sun Capital
Jacksonville, Florida-based Sun Capital Partners Inc. announced the acquisition of LoanLogics, a digital mortgage solutions provider and fellow Jacksonville-based company. Terms of the private transaction were not disclosed. The LoanLogics platform provides technology automation for mortgage document processing and data-driven audit
Preparing for millions of minority homebuyers
Since day one of my mortgage career, my main role was to help Hispanic borrowers with responsible lending. For the past 21 years, I have been deeply entrenched in truly understanding the unique needs and cultural nuances of homebuyers with
Real Estate Tech Demo Day: BoomTown
BoomTown BoomTown has all the tools, technology, and teams you need for real estate success. It’s the only solution that generates and manages your leads, with 300+ experts at your back. Our lead generation, consumer websites, CRM, lead qualification services,
Real Estate Tech Demo Day: Home Lending Pal
Home Lending Pal HLP is a delivery engine for ready to underwrite applicants with validated financial and credit information #1 Only non-loan originating company to show FICO scores directly to consumer #2 Create a safe space for consumers to determine
Real Estate Tech Demo Day: Qualia
Qualia Deliver an end-to-end consumer homebuying experience with Qualia Scale. Scale is a simple way for real estate tech companies to build custom, on-brand, and modern closing experiences using Qualia’s flexible infrastructure. #1 75% of buyers and sellers expect real-time
Mortgage applications fall for third straight week
Mortgage applications decreased again, this time falling 1.8% in the week ending July 2, 2021, according to the latest report from the Mortgage Bankers Association. This marks the third straight week of application declines, and represents the lowest level since the January 2020.
Blend hopes to be valued at $4B following IPO
Mortgage software platform Blend Labs set terms for its initial public offering Tuesday including its goal to raise up to $360 million for a targeted valuation of nearly $4 billion. According to the California-based software company, Blend is offering 20