Wisconsin-based Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. announced Wednesday a multiyear partnership with Major League Baseball‘s Milwaukee Brewers. Fairway will have signage placed throughout the Brewers’ home stadium, American Family Field, and will participate in multiple off-the-field Brewers initiatives, such as the
Credit scores, and the end of mortgage forbearance
As part of the landmark CARES Act passed in 2020, Congress stipulated that mortgages in forbearance as a result of COVID-19 must be reported as “current” on credit reports. The legislation saved millions of homeowners from having their credit scores
Charter Title forms Hispanic division for Nebraska markets
Nebraska-based Charter Title and Escrow has formed a Hispanic division to further assist Spanish-speaking customers, Realtors and loan officers in the region, the company announced on Wednesday. Per Angela Miller, Charter Title agent, Hispanics make up the fastest-growing demographic in
Margin compression could serve as accelerant toward digital closings
As a leader in the adoption, implementation and use of digital mortgages Camelia Martin’s breadth of experience has never been more relevant to the industry. A 2020 Woman of Influence, Martin joined Snapdocs earlier this year as Head of Industry
The CFPB is coming for you: here’s how to prepare
If you’re caught in the sights of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau — or if you’re hoping to avoid the regulator’s scrutiny altogether — here’s what you need to know in 2021. The regulator is no longer “taking it easy”
Sales of luxury homes skyrocket in first quarter
Sales of luxury homes rose 41.6% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2021, crushing sales of affordable homes (7% increase) and mid-priced homes (5.9%), per a recent report from Redfin. Redfin defines “luxury” homes as selling for an average of
8 Landscaping Renovations to Consider Before Selling Your Home
First impressions are everything, and making sure you create a lasting one when selling your home is crucial. One of the first things prospective buyers will notice when they tour a home is the landscaping. Whether it’s featuring trimmed hedges
What is a Kick-Out Clause and How Do You Use It?
Every real estate transaction involves risk, whether you are the buyer or the seller. And during a real estate transaction, either party can include specific contingencies to help mitigate some of the risks. Common contingencies may allow either party to
Mortgage applications rebound following drop in rates
After six consecutive weeks of dips, mortgage applications rose 8.6% in the latest report from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The jump in applications can be traced to mortgage rates falling to the lowest level in two months, prompting a small
FHFA sets extensions and expirations on loan flexibilities
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced on Wednesday that due to “low usage” it is no longer extending expirations on certain temporary loan origination flexibilities for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The regulator is also advancing permanent changes to be made in
Fudge says HUD will focus on housing discrimination
As lawmakers take up housing-related bills in Congress, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge laid out her priorities during an address at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s spring virtual conference. Fudge hailed the passage of the American Rescue Plan
What do Home Inspectors Look for?
A home inspection is a standard step in the homebuying process. While you may certainly wave this contingency in your offer letter, it’s recommended to have any home you’re looking to buy inspected. And not just anyone can perform the
HUD releases $8.2 billion in relief funds for Puerto Rico
Plans initiated by the Biden administration in February to release billions of dollars in aid to Puerto Rico are now coming to fruition with a revised distribution of $8.2 billion, according to a Monday release from the Department of House
Forbearance volume dips down to 4.5%
Servicers’ total number of loans in forbearance dropped for the seventh week in a row, down another 16 basis points last week to 4.5% of portfolio volume, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Following the massive decline the week prior,
Knox Financial announces $10 million in Series A funding
Fintech company Knox Financial announced Monday a $10 million Series A funding round, led by G20 Ventures. That’s $14.7 million of total funding to-date for Knox. Other investors included Greycroft, Pillar VC, 2LVC, and Gaingels. Knox oversees a portfolio of
CFPB begins cracking down on mortgage servicers
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is making good on its threats to police mortgage servicers. In late January, the agency released a series of authority actions warning servicers that they need to do right by consumers who need access
Keller Williams’ holding company names 3 execs
Keller Williams Realty is revamping its leadership team yet again, announcing on Monday three senior hires to a recently created holding company. Carl Liebert, CEO of KWx – which formed in October as the holding company for Keller Williams, named
Rocket Community Fund founder on affordable housing
Last year, Laura Grannemann’s dedication to providing Americans with access to safe and affordable housing earned her a spot as one of HousingWire’s 2020 Women of Influence. Today, her passion is still apparent in the work that she’s doing to
Passport Title integrates Qualia products
Passport Title Services LLC will use Qualia as its new title production software, after officials announced the company invested in Qualia Core and Qualia Connect to aid clients. Headquarterd in Rockville, Maryland, Passport Title focuses on real estate settlement processing
The housing market won’t crash in 2021. Here’s why
A recent article published by CNBC showed that internet searches for the term “housing crash” had gone up 2,450% in the past month. A lot of folks are concerned about a housing market crash. They may be wishing for it,
The jumbo market for brokers is back in a huge way
With intense demand for homes on the higher end of the pricing spectrum, new updates to the QM rule that went into effect on March 1 and growing investor interest in jumbo mortgages – this is the perfect time for
Why isn’t mortgage industry alarmed by FHFA actions?
There is a well-known analogy about a frog and a pot of water. If you drop a frog into a boiling pot of water, the frog will leap out. But if you drop a frog into a pot of cold
M&A in the title industry? Don’t make these mistakes
As HousingWire reported earlier this year, 2021 will be a year of heightened M&A activity — and not just for mortgage lenders and originators. As the refinance wave gives way to a purchase market, consolidation is already upon us – even
Blend, valued at $3.3B, plans to go public
Blend Labs filed a confidential registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, signaling its intent to enter the public markets. The dropping of the S-1 closely follows the mortgage tech firm’s big venture capital raise in January,
