The low interest rates this year have led to increased revenue and high loan volumes. Unfortunately, the threat of wire and title fraud risk has also increased. As companies and their workforces continue to adjust to a work-from-home system in
Mortgage industry welcomes incoming Biden administration
After winning a majority of the electoral college, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are presumed to be the current president-elect and vice president-elect of the U.S. The housing industry took the opportunity to welcome the new administration and remind it
Chicago Real Estate Market: Trends & Investment Outlook
The Illinois housing market continued to bounce back in September with a surge in home sales and higher median prices. Both median prices and sales experienced a positive annual change in both Illinois and the Chicago Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area.
8 Covid-Friendly Ways to Honor Our Military this Veterans Day
Veterans Day is right around the corner, and our military deserves all the praise and recognition for serving our country. Regardless of the circumstances, COVID-19 has brought upon us, on November 11th, join us in honoring their service in creative,
Make Your Dream of Homeownership a Reality with Down Payment Assistance
For many potential homeowners, saving enough for a down payment is a major barrier to homeownership. But, it doesn’t have to be. There are thousands of down payment assistance programs available across the country that can help make your dream
Seller’s Market?
It’s November 2020. Is now a good time to put your house on the market – or wait until after the holiday season – or even Spring 2021?Typically, the housing market “cools” when the weather changes, however, with a pent-up buyer demand the real estate market continues to be brisk!Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the […]
The post Seller’s Market? appeared first on Signature Real Estate Services.
With Biden win, the future of forbearance and student loans
As of this writing, it looks like the Republicans will hold the Senate while the Democrats will have the White House and a majority of the House of Representatives. Assuming these results stick, I offer here some informed speculation regarding
Seattle Real Estate Market: Trends & Investment Outlook
Seattle housing market continues to see low inventory and high competition making things hard for homebuyers. Even before the virus hit the region, it was quite evident that if the inventory crunches further, affordability will become a bigger issue in
Cash is king: UWM raises $800M in debt offering ahead of IPO
Just weeks away from its anticipated $16.1 billion IPO, United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) closed on the sale of $800 million in senior notes. The bond sale, which closed this week, gave the Detroit-based mortgage giant $791 million in proceeds. The
Why it’s still important to offer non-QM products
Non-QM lending took a brief pause earlier this year due to the pandemic causing a flight to cash in the bond market, but the non-QM borrowers and investors haven’t disappeared. While 2020 has seen record volumes, low rates and profits,
Wells Fargo halts proactive COVID-19 forbearance plan following multiple lawsuits
Homeowners who were placed into proactive forbearance plans by Wells Fargo received positive news this week. Law360 reports that on Nov. 2, in response to a class action lawsuit filed in Virginia, Wells Fargo agreed not to place homeowners into
Redfin saw slight revenue decrease in Q3, but surpassed projections
Redfin saw a revenue decrease of 1% year over year, to $237 million in the third quarter, above the company’s projected revenue of between $214 million and $225 million. In addition, its gross profit was $93 million, an increase of
Economists cautiously optimistic as unemployment rate falls to 6.9%
The U.S. unemployment rate in October hit a new pandemic low of 6.9%, down a full percentage point from September’s 7.9%, the Labor Department said on Friday. With 1.5 million people making up that one percentage drop, the department estimates that now 11.1
RE/MAX revenue in Q3 shows YoY decline
RE/MAX reported total revenue in the third quarter of $71.1 million, a decrease of $0.5 million, or 0.7%, compared to $71.5 million in Q3 2019. In Q2, total revenue was $52.2 million. The company said that total revenue decreased “primarily
Denver Real Estate Market: Trends & Forecast (Updated)
The Metro Denver housing market remains consistently hot. October continued to defy the cooling trend of the winter season as new records were broken by both buyers and sellers. Denver and the entire metro area remains a seller’s real estate
The exodus continues: Northeastern housing markets fill up with former city dwellers
The pandemic-fueled exodus continues as apartment dwellers in big cities flee to the suburbs and beyond. The suburbs and rural areas of the Northeast are attracting more homebuyers, as Redfin reports that three out of the 10 metro areas with
Intense Buyer Demand Continues to Drive Hot Housing Market
This Zillow Weekly Market Report includes Zillow housing market data as of the week ending Oct. 31. Go to Source Author:
What would the CFPB look like under a Biden administration?
The outcome of the presidential election is still uncertain, but there’s at least an even chance that former Vice President Joe Biden will be named the winner at some point. If that happens, what should the mortgage industry expect as
Fannie Mae names Sheila Bair chair of their board of directors
Fannie Mae announced Wednesday that Sheila Bair, board member and former chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. during the financial crisis, will succeed Jonathan Plutzik as chair of Fannie Mae’s board of directors. Bair joined the Fannie Mae board
You’re a Squirrel — Start Marketing Like One
Squirrels are always a little skittish, but as winter approaches, they really ramp it up. Why? Squirrels’ food sources — seeds, nuts, fruits, fungi — become extremely scarce in the winter, and so they have to act fast to make
The vote is in: Borrowers want RON
This year, remote online notarizations have taken a major step forward as more borrowers than ever are using eClosing platforms. And the consensus is in: borrowers like RON. A new study conducted by ClosingCorp shows borrowers who completed purchase and
What role can mortgage brokers play in fair housing?
The National Association of Mortgage Brokers inaugurated Kimber White as its new president during the virtual NAMB National 2020 conference. White is a partner at RE Financial Service and has been an active member of the mortgage industry for more
With Biden win likely, FHFA doubles down on ending GSE conservatorship
The Federal Housing Finance Agency will continue its mission to release the GSEs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from conservatorship, even under a Biden presidency, a spokesperson from the FHFA told HousingWire Thursday. With four states still counting ballots, the
Keller Williams reports 25.4% increase in Q3 volume
Keller Williams released its numbers for home searches, agents and transactions for the third quarter on Thursday, revealing that as of Sept. 30, Keller Williams agents in the U.S. and Canada closed 374,824 transactions, up 16% over Q3 2019. Agents