Wed.May 15, 2024

article thumbnail

Inflation eases for the first time in three months

Housing Wire

The most anticipated economic report of the month showed that inflation cooled down a little in April, bringing relief to investors and housing industry professionals. Consumer prices in April were up 3.4% from a year earlier, down from 3.5% in March , according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday. The reading, which came on the heels of the past three stronger-than-expected CPI releases, aligned with economists’ forecasts.

article thumbnail

Housing Market Decoded: The mortgage rate 'lock-in' effect

Real Estate News

Rates have gone up considerably in the past few years, but is the fear of losing a low-rate mortgage really keeping homeowners from selling?

Mortgages 280
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Freddie Mac’s controversial gambit into home equity: Is more liquidity a bad thing?

Housing Wire

Government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) Freddie Mac has put its finger on the scale of an emerging loan market that has been the domain of the private-label securities market, which has nurtured its reemergence in recent years. Last month, Freddie Mac announced a plan to begin purchasing single-family closed-end second (CES) mortgages from lenders, a proposal now subject to a public comment review period before adoption.

Equity 429
article thumbnail

Builder confidence takes a hit as rates, costs remain high

Real Estate News

Sentiment drops for the first time since November, with persistent inflation and concerns about new federal rules dampening builders’ outlook.

270
270
article thumbnail

The 4 Most Impactful Actions to Take in Real Estate in 2024

Strategic real estate professionals know that the name of the game right now is to stay informed, adaptable, and ready to make confident decisions. In this free download, Inside Real Estate CEO, Joe Skousen, shares what he believes are the top 4 most impactful actions in real estate right now. We've been actively engaging with industry experts, analyzing data, and listening intently to the experiences of our agents on the ground.

article thumbnail

VantageScore releases new credit-scoring model

Housing Wire

VantageScore has released a pilot of its latest credit-scoring model , VantageScore 4 Plus, for banks, fintechs and government lenders. The new model combines alternate open banking data with traditional credit data , which it claims gives lenders a “substantial predictive lift of up to 10% compared to the industry leading VantageScore 4.0 credit score, which itself has up to an 8% lift over conventional scoring models.” VantageScore said its new pilot is compatible with all major ag

Lending 423
article thumbnail

Why a Condo May Be a Great Option for Your First Home

Keeping Current Matters

Having a hard time finding a first home that's right for you and your wallet?

250
250

More Trending

article thumbnail

Mortgage rates headed under 7% on encouraging inflation data

Inman

Homebuyers have yet to respond in force to drop in rates, which have been in retreat from 2024 highs for three consecutive weeks following Fed easing and soft jobs and CPI reports.

Mortgages 183
article thumbnail

The mortgage rate lock-in didn’t start in 2022

Housing Wire

This is an excerpt of a HousingWire Research report titled: What Everyone Needs to Know about Mortgage Rate Lock-in, by Altos President Mike Simonsen. In the 24 months beginning March 2022, the U.S. housing market saw dramatic changes in affordability as mortgage rates skyrocketed 500 basis points. After an initial rush to get to market in Q2 2022, new listings volume fell precipitously.

Mortgages 406
article thumbnail

Back in growth mode, Better is hiring again but still in the red in Q1

Inman

The lender boosted mortgage volume 25 percent from Q4 but suffered a $51 million loss, according to Q1 earnings data on Tuesday. CEO Vishal Garg said Better's future "lies in Uberizing the loan officer.

article thumbnail

HUD announces $1.1B to fund tribal housing and community development

Housing Wire

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Wednesday announced that the Biden administration has approved a record $1.1 billion in funding for the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) program, and an additional $75 million funding opportunity for the Indian Community Development Block (ICDBG) program to “support housing and community development projects.

article thumbnail

Need Curated Pre-foreclosure Lists to Generate New Real Estate Leads? Trellis Has the Data!

Trellis is a state trial court research and analytics platform that provides Real Estate Professionals (Buyers, Foreclosure, Loan Modification, etc.) with LEADS on Pre-Foreclosures, Lis Pendes, Distressed Assets and more — to help uncover **new** opportunities and grow their business. The process is quick and easy — and all in real time. Trellis will supply you with a link to the relevant dockets, a Leads sheet and access to its UI where applicable.

article thumbnail

Flagstar exiting warehouse business to bolster parent NYCB

Inman

JPMorgan Chase Bank has agreed to buy about $5 billion in mortgage warehouse loans from NYCB. Flagstar will continue retail and wholesale mortgage lending and servicing operations.

Lending 162
article thumbnail

NYCB to sell $5B in mortgage warehouse loans to JPMorgan

Housing Wire

New York Community Bancorp , the parent of Flagstar Bank , said it’s still committed to the home loan business despite selling approximately $5 billion in warehouse mortgages to JPMorgan Chase Bank to improve its capital and liquidity position. On Tuesday, NYCB said it entered into a commitment letter with JPMorgan. The transaction is subject to due diligence, negotiation of definitive terms and other closing conditions.

Loans 401
article thumbnail

A missed opportunity at NAR midyear

Inman

On the heels of the National Association of Realtors’ midyear meeting, broker-owner Teresa Boardman wonders why NAR doesn’t livestream (and engage) more members.

Brokerage 172
article thumbnail

Consumers fear the long-term consequences of renting on their financial future

Housing Wire

Many prospective U.S. homebuyers fear missing out on the perks of owning a home. According to the newest Bank of America Homebuyer Insights Report , 72% of respondents worry about potential rent hikes impacting their finances. The report also reveals growing uncertainty about whether to rent or buy, with 57% of survey respondents unsure if now is a good time to purchase a home, compared to 48% last year.

Banks 401
article thumbnail

3 Real Estate Office Hacks to Help Kickstart the Busy Season

Ready to better your Back Office? Dive into the secrets to a powerhouse back office with Brokermint expert, Jessica Souza. In this free download, she shares her 3 transformative hacks designed to clean house, get everyone on the same page, and set yourself up for success. From optimizing agent profiles to ensuring flawless transactions and boosting agent retention, these strategies are your ticket to a seamless operation.

article thumbnail

Last call: Nominations for the Innovator Awards close Friday

Inman

Don't miss your opportunity to celebrate success and innovation. Submit nominations in 13 categories by Friday before winners are announced this August.

Closing 164
article thumbnail

The long road to remote reverse mortgage counseling in Massachusetts

Housing Wire

From 2010 to 2024, the reverse mortgage industry sought to allow remote reverse mortgage counseling in the state of Massachusetts, citing an insufficient number of actual counselors and logistical challenges for senior clients. But as time dragged on and state lawmakers seemed unwilling to seriously entertain the proposal, the ravages of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic helped to change the dynamics of the situation.

Mortgages 396
article thumbnail

Ullman Group launches into luxury with aid from Christie’s Real Estate

Inman

A collaboration with Christie's International Real Estate Sereno has helped Ullman Group founder Cody Ullman get his new niche luxury brokerage off the ground and gain a foothold in California

Brokerage 146
article thumbnail

2024 battleground state likely to be influenced by senior voters: AARP

Housing Wire

Older voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania are poised to make their presence — and preferences — felt in the upcoming fall elections that will determine control of the White House , the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Chief on their minds are issues that include Social Security and aging in place. This is according to a poll of voters within the state conducted by AARP Research , which tabulated survey data from voters ages 50 and older.

As-is 394
article thumbnail

Accelerating Real Estate Sales Pipelines to Streamline Buyer Journeys

Navigated 360° tours, like YourVRTours, advance pipelines by engaging clients further along the sales funnel. These immersive experiences provide comprehensive property insights, increasing buyer intent and readiness. By embracing navigated tours, agents can optimize property exposure, better qualify leads, and streamline the sales process. Stay ahead in the ever-evolving real estate landscape with innovative technology that elevates buyer journeys and progresses pipelines more effectively.

article thumbnail

Texas, Florida are affordability havens for homebuyers: Zillow

Inman

Rising inventory and slowing home price growth have made Austin, San Antonio, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville some of the best markets for buyers, according to Zillow's latest Market Heat Index.

Marketing 145
article thumbnail

How builders can support baby boomers in their second phase of life

Housing Wire

A lot has been said about the ‘silver tsunami,’ with predictions that baby boomers will move in droves , suddenly unlocking tons of inventory for younger homebuyers. After all, boomers own almost 10 million homes and are likely considering a lifestyle change. Our data supports this prediction: 85% of baby boomers who are planning to sell their homes in the next 5 years will actually do so in the next three.

article thumbnail

Last call: Nominations for Inman’s Golden I Club Awards close Friday

Inman

Honor your top performers with a Golden I Club nomination. Simply being nominated for a Golden I award affirms your team's commitment to excellence in a fiercely competitive market.

Closing 142
article thumbnail

Builder sentiment posts its first decline since November

Housing Wire

With mortgage rates hovering north of 7% for the past few months, builder confidence declined for the first time since November 2023. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) sat at 45 in May, down 6 points from April ’s reading of 51, according to data released on Wednesday. The HMI is a monthly survey that gauges NAHB members’ perceptions of newly built single-family home sales, expected sales for the next six months and potential homebuyer traffi

article thumbnail

Maximizing Your Online Presence: Tips for Real Estate Agents on Social Media

Speaker: Sarah Santa Ana, Real Estate Coach, Move4Free Realty

Networking is one of the crucial elements in every real estate organization's success. Both agents and real estate companies need to maintain robust networking links. This is why social media is essential for any real estate professional! Social media enables you to stay in touch with your present clients, maintain connections with your past clients, and engage potential customers and investors.

article thumbnail

5 real estate marketing campaigns that don’t cost a thing

Inman

Gaining traction in your market isn’t solely based on budget, The Agency’s Rainy Hake Austin writes. Prioritize creativity, authenticity, strategic thinking and these free marketing ideas.

Marketing 141
article thumbnail

Freddie Mac’s plan to enter the home equity market draws mixed reviews

Housing Wire

Government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) Freddie Mac has put its finger on the scale of an emerging loan market that has been the domain of the private-label securities market, which has nurtured its reemergence in recent years. Last month, Freddie Mac announced a plan to begin purchasing single-family closed-end second (CES) mortgages from lenders, a proposal now subject to a public comment review period before adoption.

Equity 367
article thumbnail

While banks pull out, investment funds double down on real estate

Inman

Multiple funds told Reuters they planned to increase their credit exposure to property as banks back off from commercial real estate.

Banks 153
article thumbnail

CHLA: Here’s how to modernize ‘short-changed’ Ginnie Mae

Housing Wire

The Community Home Lenders of America (CHLA) on Wednesday released a plan that it says would “modernize” Ginnie Mae , the government-owned company that manages the securitization of government-sponsored loans. The CHLA argues that Ginnie Mae has not been given sufficient budget authority by the congressional appropriations process despite the value it generates.

Banks 365
article thumbnail

Rise of The Apps: Building Your Dream Tech Stack For Real Estate Success

Speaker: Trey Willard, Realtor/Team Leader at Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

In order to create continued success in today’s real estate market, realtors need to utilize an arsenal of technology that will increase their efficiency and presence on social media. Using technology to manage your prospects and tap into their needs through websites, social media, and other channels is critical for real estate success in 2022 and beyond.

article thumbnail

How are you preparing for upcoming industry changes? Pulse

Inman

With settlement approvals and impending rule changes, we're wondering, what steps are you taking (if any) to get ready?

article thumbnail

Proof launches AI-powered fraud detection tool

Housing Wire

Remote online notarization (RON) firm Proof has launched an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered fraud detection tool called Defend. According to the company’s announcement on Tuesday, the tool is built into the Proof platform. The firm said it was inspired to create the tool due to a desire to stop the $81 billion in annual losses in the U.S. caused by falsified records, forged signatures and identity theft.

Title 354
article thumbnail

RentSpree, UtahRealEstate.com ink software union

Inman

RentSpree has more than 300 associations and MLSs in its partner network, who primarily use its ApplyLink solution, a single browser experience that automates application collection, screening, approval and other property management operations critical to securing occupancy.

article thumbnail

A Surprise Visit on Clinton Avenue

Brownstoner

On a sunny Tuesday afternoon, early in April 2023, as my wife Dana was cooking some matzo ball soup and I was hovering nearby, we saw an all too familiar sight outside our apartment's kitchen window -- a gaggle of folks chatting by the building's front yard and wrought iron… Read More > The post A Surprise Visit on Clinton Avenue appeared first on Brownstoner.

115
115
article thumbnail

5 Data Proven Ways Agents Can Do 18% More Business

Curious as to how you could do 18% more business? How about 14 more transaction sides per year? Check out this infographic with data from a RealTrends study to learn more.