After an unpredictable spring, Zillow Group said it has beat its outlook in the second quarter. The group’s total consolidated revenue grew 28% year over year in Q2, to $768 million, with a total net loss of $84 million. “Zillow’s
eXp announces expansion into five new countries
After announcing in its second-quarter earnings that it plans to expand, eXp World Holdings is officially launching in five new countries. By the end of 2020, the company said it plans to expand its real estate operations in France, India,
Jobless claims fell to 1.2 million last week
Initial jobless claims fell to 1.2 million last week, down from 1.4 million in the prior period, declining to a pandemic low that was almost twice as high as the worst measure during the financial crisis a decade ago. Continuing
The OCC slaps Capital One with $80M fine over cybersecurity, risk management practices
This article was written for FinLedger, HW Media’s new fintech-focused news brand designed specifically for financial services professionals in banking, insurance and real estate. Stay tuned for updates. Migrating to the cloud is an increasingly common practice for financial institutions. But with that migration comes
The rise of IMBs
When the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released the 2019 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data there was one key shift that was evident from the start – independent mortgage banks clearly stepped up their game. Wells Fargo, which had long held
Mortgage rates tumble to new record lows this week
Average U.S. mortgage rates for a 30-year fixed mortgage fell to an all-time low of 2.88% this week, the eighth time in 2020 the weekly rate has set a record in a Freddie Mac series that goes back almost five
Whatever jobless aid Congress comes up with, it’s likely to be retroactive
If you’re unemployed in the midst of a pandemic, this isn’t going to solve your short-term need for money to pay for groceries or clothes for your kids, but it’s something: Whatever plan Congress comes up with to extend or
[PULSE] Competence leads to confidence – Confidence leads to consistency
Note: This is part four of a five-part series. Over the following weeks, Todd Duncan, sales entrepreneur and New York Times best-selling author, will showcase principles for mortgage and real estate professionals to embrace for success. Find more advice in
In a virtual learning world, do you still need to buy a house in a good school district?
Living in a good school district is one of the biggest factors for homebuyers, even if they’re empty nesters. The National Association of Realtors found in its Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers in 2019 that 26% of all homebuyers
Fed inflation plan could end rock-bottom mortgage rates
The Federal Reserve is considering abandoning its longtime strategy of using its benchmark rate to pre-emptively prevent inflation from rising above its 2% target. That could be the death knell for rock-bottom mortgage rates. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said at
Quicken Loans parent Rocket Companies reportedly slashing IPO from as high as $3.3 billion to $2 billion or less
Rocket Companies announced post-publication that it had priced its IPO at $18 a share, and that it is selling 100 million shares. This means it is seeking to raise $1.8 billion in its offering. Rocket Companies, parent company of Quicken
FundingShield reports a sharp increase in title fraud risk in second quarter
According to an analysis by FundingShield, increases in CPL and agent validation errors with title insurers rose by 530% in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the first. Fraud and risk exposures in CPL errors and issues rose 50%,
Here’s a look at NAMB’s latest legislative efforts
The National Association of Mortgage Brokers has been advocating for mortgage brokers for almost 50 years. HousingWire spoke with NAMB President Rocke Andrews and Roy DeLoach, NAMB’s lobbyist in Washington, D.C., about the organization’s past and current legislative efforts. HousingWire:
Without another stimulus package, rent delinquencies could rise
As Republicans and Democrats negotiate a new stimulus package in Washington D.C., it’s likely that rent delinquencies will rise and over 20 million renters could be evicted. About 12.4% of U.S. renters missed payments in the first two weeks of
eXp Realty reports 33% revenue growth for Q2
eXp World Holdings, the parent company of eXp Realty, said its profit soared to a record in the second quarter as the dollar-volume of transactions rose 26% from a year earlier to $13 billion. The company reported net income of
Making sense of ultra-low mortgage rates
Last week, we published a story about United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) offering 15-year fixed mortgage rates as low as 1.875% for purchases and refinances. The article drew mixed reactions, with some calling the announcement a “nice PR move” that doesn’t
Survey: 25% of Homebuyers Are Moving—Or Moving Sooner Than Planned—Because of the Pandemic
Low mortgage rates, spending more time at home and working from home are driving forces for people moving due to the coronavirus pandemic. Three-quarters of homebuyers say the coronavirus pandemic has impacted their homebuying plans, according to a survey of
The Ultimate Guide to Relocating During COVID-19
So, you’ve decided to take an exciting new step in your life and relocate to a new town or even a different state. You may be feeling stressed and overwhelmed with all the scheduling, packing, and expenses that go into
Housing Market 2020 Forecast: Will It Crash or Recover?
Here are the updated national housing market trends—home prices, inventory, sales, and forecast. If you’re wondering what the state of the housing market 2020 will be like over the next twelve months, especially if you’re an investor, then here is
Missed Rent Payments May Balloon as Boosted Aid Expires, Holding Potential for Deep Scars in the Rental Market
More than half of rent payments on a typical unit go toward landlords’ fixed costs Go to Source Author:
Surging mortgage volume puts pressure on appraisal turn times
Just as it has for every other industry in the country, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the U.S. housing market in unexpected ways since March. In this case, record low interest rates and spikes in mortgage applications have created a
Susan Rice, on Biden’s VP shortlist, was Obama’s national security advisor
Susan Rice, the former national security adviser to President Barack Obama, has extensive White House experience yet has never been elected to office. That may be a key reason she’s on the shortlist to be former Vice President Joe Biden’s
Mortgage applications drop 5.1% despite record low rates
Despite historically low rates, mortgage applications fell 5.1% last week, according to a survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The refinance index fell 7% from one week earlier, however, remained 84% higher than the same week a year ago when
Meteor Shower in Your Backyard
Meteor Shower in Your Own BackyardNo matter where you live, the 2020 Perseid meteor shower will probably produce the greatest number of meteors on the mornings of August 11, 12 and 13.If you find yourself needing a backyard to star gaze, we have the tools available to help you in your search. Maybe you’re wishing […]
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