Sales of new houses in August rose to 1.001 million at a seasonally adjusted and annualized pace, the Commerce Department said on Thursday – the first time the number has broken 1 million in 14 years. The number shows that
Real estate agents can host virtual home tours with this new solution
On Wednesday, real estate tech company Zigzy launched beta testing of Townify, a solution that enables real estate agents to host virtual open houses, which has become a necessity in a time when we are told to remain socially distant,
So you want to eClose a mortgage in Virginia?
In 2012, Virginia became the first U.S. state to pass legislation allowing for remote online notarization. However, the use of RON didn’t become widespread in the U.S. until 2020, when COVID-19 forced lenders and title companies to look at new
How servicers can prepare for potential default wave
HousingWire recently spoke with Sutherland Mortgage Services President Krish Swaminathan about the next wave of servicing, how servicers can best communicate with their customers and the technology available to help with compliance even in a work-from-home environment. HousingWire: What are
Sacramento, Austin and Phoenix Are the Most Popular Destinations For People Searching For Homes Outside Their Metro Area
Remote work is accelerating the trend of migration away from expensive places like New York and San Francisco toward relatively affordable inland areas, where out-of-towners are winning bidding wars and driving up home prices. Nationwide, 28.7% of Redfin.com users looked
TransUnion: Accounts in financial hardship continued to decline in August
For the second consecutive month, the total percentage of accounts in “financial hardship” for auto, credit card, mortgage and personal loans fell across the board in August, according to a consumer credit snapshot by TransUnion. In particular, the percentage of accounts
California Real Estate Market 2020 Overview
Updated: Sep 24, 2020. We will discuss the latest California housing market prices and trends and find out how they can affect the buyers & sellers in the coming months. After home sales bounced back in June, the California housing market
Average mortgage rates tick up this week
The average U.S. mortgage rate for a 30-year fixed loan is 2.9% this week, up from 2.87% last week, Freddie Mac said in a report on Thursday. It’s the ninth consecutive week the rate has been below 3%. The average
The Power of the Network is the Network
Being a part of the CENTURY 21® Network gives each broker and agent access to a host of tools, tech resources, training, marketing materials, and some beautiful branding. But time and time again brokers and agents alike emphasize the valuable
Better.com in talks to raise $100M at $4B valuation: report
Digital mortgage lender Better.com is in talks to raise more than $100 million in new funding that would value the company at about $4 billion before an upcoming public offering, according to a new report. The New York-based mortgage lender,
Zillow iBuying program brings real estate transactions in-house by licensing Zillow Homes employees
The iBuyers are quickly becoming all-in-one-buyers. On Wednesday, Zillow announced that its Zillow Offers customers will be offered “a more simple, integrated transaction experience through added services, managed in house,” starting in January 2021 with Zillow Homes. Customers in Atlanta,
Rock Venture’s Trina Scott to speak at HousingWire Annual
Call it what you want – a disruption, a revolution, a transformation or perhaps a thorn in your side, there is no denying the pandemic has stirred the housing industry in all its sectors. How companies adapt and pivot while
Home prices post record two-month gain, FHFA says
Home prices jumped more than 2% between May and July, the largest two-month gain on record, as Americans emerging from COVID-19 lockdowns bought real estate, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said in a Wednesday report. Gains in prices were driven
[PULSE] 5 reasons mortgage rates will fall in 2021, according to Dave Stevens
Let me be contrarian: Get ready, because mortgage rates are going to rise in 2021. Now before you respond, just read the rest as to why. The Mortgage Bankers Association in its most recent forecast sees two things that stand
What’s a loan servicer to do about compliance?
Loan servicers operate between a rock and a hard place today. Customers demand high-quality service. Regulators demand that products and services are provided fairly and equitably. OK, but then the current economic climate adds levels of complexity, with loan modifications,
This Doesn’t Have to be Awkward
This time last year, the term “new normal” was unheard of. Fast forward to today, and it’s become a term that just about all of us (like it or not) has adapted as every day language to sum up, the
United Wholesale Mortgage plans $16B public debut via acquisition
United Wholesale Mortgage, the largest wholesale lending firm in the country, is joining the blank-check company craze and will make its public debut via an acquisition. The Detroit-headquartered UWM will merge with businessman Alec Gores’ special purpose acquisition company (SPAC)
[PULSE] Even during origination surge, don’t forget to brush up on compliance
It’s really easy to get caught up in the moment in the mortgage industry. During this particular moment, the prevailing thought is “throughput!” It’s no secret that much of our space is busy trying to push mortgage loans through the
FHFA requests input on goals for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac
The Federal Housing Finance Agency is requesting industry input on its strategic plan for fiscal 2021 to 2024, six weeks before an election that could change the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The watchdog for the companies that
Fannie Mae’s Tracy Stephan: Customer-facing technology is a top priority for lenders
In recent months, the mortgage industry has been hit with a surge in borrower demand as record-low rates coincide with the unknowns around a global pandemic. “Homeowners and renters have a lot of questions about navigating the financial fallout of
Low mortgage rates fuel demand for valuation and settlement services
HousingWire recently spoke with Keith Murray, president and CEO of VRM Mortgage Services, about the importance of diversity in an organization and how VRM has continued to serve its clients in an unusual year. HousingWire: The term we keep hearing
Ginnie Mae will ban LIBOR-based mortgages
Ginnie Mae, the government-owned corporation that securitizes loans backed by the Veterans Administration and the Federal Housing Administration, said it won’t accept adjustable-rate mortgages benchmarked to the London Interbank Offer Rate, or LIBOR, starting in January. For home equity conversion
Housing market stays hot into fall with mortgage applications up 6.8%
Despite mortgage rates rising slightly from a previously all-time low, mortgage applications gained 6.8% last week, according to a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The refinance index continued its upward climb, gaining 9% last week and jumping 86% higher than
Sales of existing homes surge to a 14-year high
Sales of existing homes rose to a 14-year high of 6 million in August, the National Association of Realtors said in a report on Tuesday. Combined sales of single-family houses, townhomes, condominiums and cooperatively owned apartments rose 2.4% from July,