There’s more demand—and less supply—for rural and suburban neighborhoods than cities as the pandemic influences homebuyer preferences. Still, prices are up 6.7% in urban areas. The housing market is hottest in less densely populated areas, with July data showing more
Just 6% of Homes Held Open Houses During First Week on Market in July, Down From 16% a Year Earlier
Surging homebuyer demand has prompted some sellers to host open houses during the pandemic, but group showings remain much less common than normal due to coronavirus risk, Redfin agents say. Nationwide, 6% of homes that were put up for sale
Unseasonably Hot Late-Summer Housing Market: Prices Up 10%, Pending Sales Up 13%
Key takeaways for the 4-week period ending August 9: Home sale prices were up 10% year over year—the largest increase in over six years—to another new all-time high of over $314,000. Prices keep climbing month over month, bucking typical seasonality.
Home Buyer: How to buy the right home for your family, especially your kids
Your children are more precious to you than anything else, and that’s why they are an important part of your decisions related to purchasing a home. Here are a couple of simple tips to help you find the right home
Boston Real Estate Market & Investment Overview 2020
The government shutdown has chilled economic activity across the board. What is it doing to the Boston housing market? And what can we predict for the future of the Boston real estate market? We will discuss the latest trends & prices
Best Real Estate Websites For Buyers And Sellers In 2020
We’re not going to tell you where to go to find a real estate investment loan or good building contractor; you can find recommendations in those areas almost anywhere. Instead, we’re going to focus on the best real estate websites
San Francisco Bay Area Real Estate Market 2020 Overview
Let’s get an overview of the San Francisco real estate market. This article has been updated to reflect recent changes in the housing market of San Francisco due to the coronavirus pandemic. San Francisco consistently ranks among the most expensive real
Housing industry turns against Fannie, Freddie’s added refinance fee
After Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced an added 50 basis point fee to all refinances, the housing industry was quick to react. Today, the National Association of Mortgage Brokers announced growing support behind its campaign to reverse the newly
Fannie, Freddie fee hike may become an election issue
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two largest mortgage financiers in the world, on Wednesday night announced they would impose a 0.5% fee on every refinanced mortgage starting Sept. 1. Look for it to become an issue in the campaign.
Are you overpromising real estate closing times?
For the past two weeks, HousingWire took a deep dive into the effects an accelerated market can have on appraisal turn times and the delta between appraisal ratings and market forecasts. This week, industry experts discuss how to navigate client
People movers: Notarize, RE/MAX and Planet Home Lending
Notarize has brought on Wendy Ivanoski as its vice president of Enterprise Strategy and Nicole Booth as executive vice president of Public Affairs. Ivanoski has 17 years of experience in the financial services industry, including time at State Street Corporation
Short-term rentals are outperforming hotels, here’s how one company is helping property owners
After COVID-19 paused travel, short-term rentals actually fared much better than hotels year-over-year, a new study said. As of June 21, short-term rental revenue per available room was down just 4.5%, while hotel revenue per available room was down a
More people are fleeing San Francisco and NYC for the suburbs
The mix of working from home and renters seeking more space – albeit cheaper space – is pushing more people out of more expensive U.S. cities and moving into the suburbs. Particularly, Millennials are fleeing New York City for more
Home Prices Up 8% as Supply Fell 22% to a New All-Time Low in July
New listings surpassed 2019 levels for the first time since the pandemic began, up 3%, but failed to keep up with the rate of sales, up 5% year over year. The national median home price rose 8.2% year over year
NewRez looking to hire 750 positions in origination division
Mortgage lender NewRez is currently hiring for over 750 positions in its origination division. The company is seeking to fill positions in all four of its business channels – direct to consumer, JV/retail, wholesale and correspondent lending. Current openings include
[PULSE] Key issues affect smaller mortgage lenders in GSE reform
The Community Home Lenders Association (CHLA) recently used the opportunity to submit a comment letter on proposed GSE capital levels to instead focus mostly on pending unresolved issues that are critically important to small mortgage lenders. CHLA did this not
Here’s how Quicken Loans and the Rock FOC create impactful change
Team member volunteer event collaborating with muralist Philip Simpson Quicken Loans and the Rock Family of Companies are built on 19 carefully thought out philosophies, or as they call them, ISMs, that compile all of their values into active ways they
A faster way to pay in a pandemic? The Federal Reserve details research on digital currencies
In a release on Thursday, the Federal Reserve detailed some of the research it’s doing on the benefits and risks associated with central bank digital currencies. Current research is being conducted within the Federal Reserve Board’s “TechLab” on innovations in
Are cities really seeing an exodus? Zillow says urban areas have more in common with suburbs than you think
While we know people are migrating out of urban areas to seek more room in the suburbs, these two different kinds of housing markets are showing similar trends since COVID-19 shut down much of the country. The exceptions are the
Who stands to lose with 50bp GSE refinance fee?
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced they will add a 50 basis points fee to all refinances starting Sept. 1. “As a result of risk management and loss forecasting precipitated by COVID-19 related economic and market uncertainty, we are introducing
As homebuyers flee to luxury mountain towns, local housing markets are heating up
During this time when people are hunkering down with their families in cramped homes, an expansive vacation property seems more ideal than ever, especially in mountain towns like Aspen, Colorado and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. After seeing significant drops in April
Average U.S. mortgage rates rise from record low
Average U.S. mortgage rates for a 30-year fixed rose to 2.96% this week from an all-time low of 2.88%, Freddie Mac said in a report on Thursday. The average 15-year rate rose to 2.46% from 2.44% last week, according to
[PULSE] The FHFA does it again…when will we fight back?
As Maya Angelou so aptly said, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” Since the onset of the coronavirus that has plagued this nation we have watched policy makers and their varied responses at both
Wolters Kluwer begins submissions of PPP loan forgiveness applications
Following the launch of the Small Business Administration’s Loan Forgiveness Portal on Monday, Wolters Kluwer announced it is now submitting completed borrower loan forgiveness application data directly to the SBA via its TSoftPlus Paycheck Protection Program Forgiveness Module. Wolters Kluwer