News

33 states go after Ocwen/PHH Mortgage over servicing fees

A coalition of 33 state attorneys general filed a motion against PHH Mortgage and its predecessor Ocwen Loan Servicing for allegedly charging unlawful servicing fees to nearly 1 million borrowers. The attorneys general, co-led by New York’s Letitia James and

Divvy Homes snags $110 million Series C funding

Housing startup Divvy Homes announced a $110 million Series C funding round – headlined by Tiger Global Management – bringing its total debt and equity raised since 2017 to more than $500 million. The Divvy Homes business model is aimed

13 Ways to Convert a Bonus Room into Usable Space

So, you have extra space but you don’t know what to do with it. While bonus rooms are a great commodity to have, many homeowners struggle to make good use of the space. If this sounds like you, there are

10 Unique Valentine’s Day Ideas to Celebrate at Home This Year

The home is where the heart is – so there’s no better place to celebrate Valentine’s Day than at home with your loved ones. Whether you’re looking to avoid the hustle and bustle of the city or a cozy and

Building an Online Community: The Secret Sauce

Let’s face it. If you’re an entrepreneur or a real estate professional, there’s almost no way to avoid marketing your business without using social media. Social has become one of the top ways business professionals connect with potential clients and

Digital servicer Valon snaps up $50M in Series A round

Digital mortgage servicer Valon (formerly known as Peach Street) announced on Tuesday it picked up $50 million in a Series A funding round spearheaded by venture capital heavyweight Andreessen Horowitz. Valon now boasts $53 million in total funding to date,

Walk a Mile in Their Shoes

When you think of superpowers, what comes to mind? How about empathy? Jenna Roberts, of Century 21 Platinum in Clarksville, TN has developed a meaningful way to connect with her clients through empathy. When you ask Jenna about her ‘why’

In it For the Long Haul

Relentless Agent Award winner, Banny “Life-Changer” Lim, didn’t get his nickname from just helping his clients with their homes. It comes from his unique perspective for what it truly means to service his clients throughout the home buying and selling

20 Reversible Home Design Ideas to Instantly Revamp Your Space

Transforming your home’s look and feel doesn’t require a complete remodel or a shopping spree for all new furnishings. There are many inexpensive and reversible ways to spruce up your space to make it feel more like home. Simple things

Will the WFH trend affect the housing market after COVID?

Now that several vaccines are being distributed and hospitalizations appear to be on the decline in many areas, we can start thinking about life after COVID-19. I am interested to see what habits and cultural shifts stay with us and

Attention to Every Detail

If you ask Relentless Agent Award Winner, Laura Ennis of CENTURY 21 AllPoints Realty in Enfield, CT, what makes her stand out from the crowd, she’ll tell you without hesitation, it’s all about the details. Known as, Laura “Overly-Involved” Ennis,

6 Coronavirus-Friendly Home Upgrades That Cost Less Than $10K—and Will Bring In Offers

6 Coronavirus-Friendly Home Upgrades That Cost Less Than $10K—and Will Bring In OffersCourtesy of Realtor.comBy Kathleen Willcox | Jan 22, 2021Getting a home improvement project to pay off is notoriously tricky. There’s no guarantee you’ll recoup the money you pour into a bathroom remodel or an outdoor kitchen. Plus, the COVID-19 pandemic has made completing even minor projects […]

The post 6 Coronavirus-Friendly Home Upgrades That Cost Less Than $10K—and Will Bring In Offers appeared first on Signature Real Estate Services.

Industry mourns death of PennyMac’s Stanford Kurland

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust announced that company founder and Non-Executive Chairman Stanford Kurland died at age 68 due to complications from COVID-19. Kurland had also been battling brain cancer. The company and industry leaders alike mourned his passing, calling him

The home inspection process: Should you skip it?

People often confuse the home appraisal with the home inspection. Appraisals are estimates of a home’s value — and they’re typically required before you can close on your mortgage loan. Inspections, on the other hand, are designed to assess the

Biden calls on HUD to address racial equity

President Joe Biden signed several new executive orders on Tuesday that address racial equity, including a memorandum that directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to both mitigate racial bias in housing and advance fair housing laws. “The nation

Home prices surge to six-year high in November

Record low inventory and strong buyer demand once again pushed up the cost of homes in the U.S., as prices in November rose 9.5% nationally over the same time last year, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller index. November’s numbers mark the greatest

What 2020’s top forbearance exit trends mean for servicers

Early COVID housing policy helped servicers care for homeowners in these first nine months of the pandemic with fast forbearances and smart deferrals. Now let’s preview how this will play out for servicers, homeowners and the housing economy in 2021.

Florida community bank launches mortgage arm

Amerant Bank, one of the largest community banks in Florida, announced that it is venturing into the mortgage industry with the formation of Amerant Mortgage. The company said this expansion was a direct response to the state’s growing demand for

Should You Invest In The Dallas Real Estate Market?

Investing in Dallas real estate is always considered a good decision by seasoned rental property investors. Cities like Dallas have seen residential exodus characteristics with both domestic and international immigration. The Big D’s home prices have been skyrocketing with homeowners

Housing industry reacts to Yellen’s confirmation

Industry officials were quick to signal their support for yesterday’s historic U.S. Treasury Secretary confirmation of Janet Yellen, the 74-year-old who now holds the distinction of being the first female to hold the position in its 230-year history. After a

Michael Gersitz