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The risk of zero-down loans while the Fed talks recession

Housing Wire

Bank of America recently announced a loan for lower-income households that doesn’t require homebuyers to come up with a downpayment or closing costs, and doesn’t base the loan on a minimum FICO score. Are we really doing those types of loans and promoting homeownership again without understanding the risks?

Loans 543
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Opinion: The not-so-surprising resurgence of home equity lending

Housing Wire

Despite rising rates, demand for home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) continues to surge with 2022 origination levels up more than 40% from a year ago, according to data from Citizens. Record levels of home equity. This too is changing as innovation in the home equity lending space has finally arrived. Customer experience.

Equity 361
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HUD walks back some proposed changes to HECM for Purchase program

Housing Wire

FHA will move forward with its proposal that permits contributions by the property seller, real estate agent, builder, or developer to HECM for Purchase borrowers’ closing costs,” the update said. The original effective date as announced last fall remains in effect, which will be April 29, 2024.

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Prioritizing home equity solutions in a rising rate environment

Housing Wire

HousingWire recently spoke with Barry Coffin, managing director of home equity title/close at ServiceLink , about the ways lenders can capitalize on these trends by revving up their home equity solutions. Barry Coffin : It’s a good time to prioritize home equity transactions for a couple of reasons.

Equity 329
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Rocket Mortgage rolls out new loan option for manufactured homes

Housing Wire

Rocket Mortgage is now offering a conventional loan option for buyers who want to purchase or refinance a manufactured home, which expands the home financing options in a rapidly shrinking industry. With interest rates now at 14-year highs, the cost of homeownership is becoming an issue for most prospective home buyers.

Loans 377
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Opinion: Title and settlement fees aren’t a barrier to homeownership

Housing Wire

In 2023, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced plans to make it easier to buy a home and close the racial homeownership gap in the United States. Specifically, title and settlement fees have been characterized as a high-burden and regressive (costing proportionally more for low- and moderate-income borrowers) cost to borrowers.

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Down payment assistance programs are a boon amid mounting pressure on homebuyer affordability

Housing Wire

But the good news is, more buyers have become aware of down payment assistance (DPA) options and are tapping into available resources for help, said Susanne Saller, a senior consultant at Caliber Home Loans. Every call I get, if they are first-time homebuyers, they ask, ‘Where can I get money for a down payment or closing costs?’”

FHA loan 440