The appraisal industry’s lack of diversity — in terms of age, gender and ethnicity — and the growing number of appraisers exiting the profession as they reach retirement age have been well-documented issues. But now that the industry is keenly
Charlie Oppler: DOJ needs to honor agreement with NAR
You should be able to count on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to honor an agreement. And yet, in a complete breach of commitment and legal precedent, the DOJ backed out of an agreement with the National Association of Realtors (NAR)
DOJ, OCC, CFPB pledge to combat “modern-day redlining”
Attorney General Merrick Garland The Department of Justice, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are teaming up in a new initiative to combat redlining. The Civil Division of the DOJ will partner
UpEquity raises $50M, hopes to originate $1B in next year
Austin-based mortgage tech platform UpEquity raised $50 million in a Series B funding round led by the venture capital firm S3 Ventures. The funding will support the company’s growth as UpEquity forecasts more than $1 billion in originations over the
Housing Market Moderation Gives Buyers Breathing Room
Inventory rises as the typically slower winter season approaches Go to Source Author:
Baby Boomers and Millennials Are Competing for Homes, and Boomers Are Winning
Young people make up a smaller share of recent home buyers than in previous years, indicating there is still much pent-up demand from millennial households Go to Source Author:
PNC Bank breached COVID-19 payment deferral agreement: suit
PNC Bank allegedly breached Fannie Mae’s COVID-19 payment deferral agreement by continuing to charge homeowners who opted for the home retention option for past-due monthly principal and interest payments. A national class action-seeking lawsuit filed in Maryland federal court claims
Redwood Trust plants flag in the massive home equity market
Redwood Trust CEO Christopher Abate laid out a bold vision of growth for the real estate investment trust at an investor conference in New York City last month. Part of that vision included finding ways to tap into the nation’s
New Residential scoops up fix-and-flip lender
New Residential Investment Corp. announced Monday that it has entered into a definitive agreement to buy Genesis Capital LLC, a fix-and-flip lender, from Goldman Sachs. New Residential said that it expects Genesis to originate close to $2 billion of loans
Lenders are courting self-employed borrowers again
Mortgage credit availability increased for the third consecutive month in September, but is still 30% below the pre-pandemic level, according to a report released Tuesday by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Much of the growth in credit availability has come
CRMLS relaunches “submit offer” feature
California Regional MLS announced the relaunch of their integrated “submit offer” feature on Tuesday. CRMLS, the country’s largest MLS, services more than 110,000 real estate professionals in southern California. The relaunch comes in response to demand for the feature from
How lenders can work more efficiently in a tight profit margin environment
As the refi boom declines – taking the intense production volume of 2020 and early 2021 with it – and we move to a more purchase-heavy market, lenders are seeing a decline in profit margins and an increase in origination
Austin Real Estate Market: Prices | Trends | Forecast 2021-2022
Austin’s housing market is booming. The market reflects what is happening in other major cities across the country. A lack of supply is lagging strong demand, causing home prices to rise. Austin’s housing market remained one of the strongest in
Forbearance declines at the fastest pace in a year
Servicers’ forbearance portfolio volume declined at the fastest rate in a year, as mortgage holders exit COVID-19 plans, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Exits are expected to pick up the pace in the weeks ahead due to economic improvement. The total
Boston Massachusetts Housing Market: Prices & Forecast 2021
The Greater Boston housing market is hot with rising prices as we enter into the fall of 2021. The sky-high prices, combined with a historic scarcity of housing supply in this region, reflect a sizzling seller’s market. But we are
Boise Idaho Housing Market: Prices | Trends | Forecast 2021-2022
The Boise housing market is sizzling hot and is being fueled by low mortgage rates and limited supply compared to demand. The result is that buyers have to pay over the asking price. Boise’s metro area’s median sales price hit
Risk Rating 2.0: What to Know About FEMA’s New Flood Insurance System
For the past 50 years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has used the same flood risk methodology for calculating insurance premiums. The previous methodology, introduced as part of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, calculated homeowner’s risk by
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist: How to Prep Your Home this Autumn
Fall is here, which means the days grow shorter, the air has a crisp breeze to it, and the leaves begin to change color. It’s that time of year where you can cheer on your favorite football team, decorate the
Old National Bank sued for alleged redlining practices
The largest depository bank in Indiana, Old National Bank, is being sued for alleged redlining practices that spanned more than a decade. A lawsuit filed by the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana in district court claims that Old National
Jacksonville Housing Market: Prices | Trends | Forecast 2021-2022
Jacksonville is currently a hot seller’s real estate market. Jacksonville’s housing market has an ideal environment for investors, especially for turnkey real estate investments. Experts predict a positive trend in the near future and buying a property in Jacksonville appears
Simple Shower Remodel Ideas That Will Breathe Life Into Your Bathroom
A shower should be a sanctuary, a stress-reducing environment, somewhere you can easily relax and free yourself of a hard day’s work. But if your shower is beginning to feel outdated or is showing signs of wear, a shower renovation
How to Stage a House: A Room by Room Guide
If you’re planning to put your house on the market, you’re probably wondering how to get the most money for your home. That’s where staging comes in. Home staging is a proven way to get more buyers interested and help
Housing affordability improves for second straight month
For the second month in a row, national housing affordability improved in August, according to the latest National Association of Realtors housing affordability index report. This improvement came as monthly mortgage payments fell by 1.1% while median family income fell
Nearly 14 million homes at risk of flooding in next 30 years
Changing environmental conditions will put 13.6 million residential properties at risk of flooding in 2051, an increase of 1.2 million over the next 30 years, according to a report published Monday by the nonprofit group First Street Foundation. The survey