Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Younger service members struggle during the homebuying process, particularly around paying closing costs. Research shows that younger service members are unlikely to achieve ownership. Its important to take a moment to look back at the history behind VA benefits. In 1944, the U.S.

Industrial 259

Industrial Lending Closing costs Loans 259

Housing Wire

MARCH 15, 2024

Mortgage pros have closely monitored the commission lawsuit developments since a Kansas City, Missouri jury determined that NAR, HomeServices of America , and Keller Williams conspired to inflate or maintain high commission rates through NAR’s so-called Participation Rule. LOs on average get about 1%.)

Industrial 504

Industrial Seller concession Purchase and sale agreement Agents 504

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 29, 2024

So, when many in the real estate industry correctly anticipated changes to the agent commission structure — which were solidified by the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) settlement following the jury verdict in the Sitzer/Burnett lawsuit nearly a year ago — there was quite a bit of fear about how first-time buyers would be impacted.

Marketing 421

Marketing Agents Industrial Closing costs 421

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 23, 2023

When people think about the title insurance industry , what comes to mind is often its core products – title insurance policies that protect property rights of homeowners and lenders. As an industry, our commitment to protection goes beyond title insurance policies. As an industry, we united against these unfair fee agreements.

Title 450

Title Industrial Purchase and sale agreement Title search 450

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 9, 2024

Although no person can truly predict mortgage rates for there are several factors involved; Industry forecasts predict interest rates will hover between 5.5% Save strategically: Even with down payment assistance, youll need some savings for earnest money and closing costs. and 6%, with potential dips below 6% by mid-year.

Mortgages 370

Mortgages FHA loan Closing costs Staging 370

Inman

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Here's what that potentially means for the recent slate of rules and lawsuits targeting the mortgage industry. In his first act as interim Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent froze action on all rules and litigation.

Closing costs 135

Closing costs Closing Loans Mortgages 135

Housing Wire

MARCH 8, 2024

Despite the protests of the title insurance industry, Fitch Ratings does not believe the lender title insurance waiver pilot program for certain refinance transactions announced by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) on Thursday will have an impact on title insurer ratings. Soham Bhonsle, an analyst at BTIG, shares a similar outlook.

Title 429

Title Industrial Land Closing costs 429

Housing Wire

JUNE 10, 2025

The new product, called Capture for Originators, is available to users of Optimal Blue’s product pricing engine (PPE) and was developed in partnership with Uplist , a software-as-a-service (Saas) platform serving the real estate industry. The tool also generates a prefilled borrower email summarizing the refinance options.

Loan Officer 321

Loan Officer FHA loan Loans Closing costs 321

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 10, 2025

These younger servicemen and women often face difficulties navigating the homebuying process, particularly around paying closing costs. As mortgage industry leaders, we must all do our part to make the process as clear and straightforward as possible.

Industrial 199

Industrial VA loan Lending Loans 199

Housing Wire

MARCH 27, 2025

Self-branded “financial fitness” platform FinLocker announced Wednesday that it will cover 100% of the verification costs for mortgage borrowers who use lenders’ FinLocker-powered apps. The company calls the move an “industry-first initiative.” ”

Mortgages 316

Mortgages Loan Officer Technology Loans 316

Housing Wire

MARCH 4, 2025

Every time a Texan buys a home, they will spend less on closing costs. The (property and casualty) industry in Texas has been even more caught in this bind. A reduction in title insurance basic premium rates would likely help bring the actual profit ratio closer to the target.

Title 362

Title Closing costs Land Sales 362

Housing Wire

MARCH 11, 2025

Tomo touts its use of artificial intelligence in streamlining loan underwriting and closing processes. It claims to save the typical homebuyer up to $4,000 in closing costs and offers interest rates that are 50 to 100 basis points lower than the industry average, according to a press release.

Closing 329

Closing Mortgages Investor Loan Officer 329

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Each year, the TECH100 awards recognize the 200 most influential tech companies in mortgage and real estate that are working to improve the housing industry through tech innovation. The promises of technology have largely been lost in the mortgage industry and little has been done to reduce costs for homebuyers.”.

Industrial 369

Industrial Title Lending Technology 369

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 16, 2024

With the lawsuits, I saw a lot of leaders acting like there has never been any regulatory change to the industry or that there has never been upheaval or challenges that you cant control, Hanna said. of the loan amount) at settlement to use toward their closing costs.

Brokerage 366

Brokerage Agents Technology Industrial 366

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 22, 2024

When the Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed last week the changes it would like to see in how real estate agents and brokers are compensated through its statement of interest filed in the MLS Property Information Network commission lawsuit , few in the real estate industry were surprised by the agency’s desire to decouple commissions.

Industrial 421

Industrial MLS FHA loan Agents 421

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

The mortgage industry has complained loudly and often that government regulation and investor requirements are contributing to spiraling costs that get passed on to consumers. We’re also looking at identifying ways to jumpstart competition in certain closing cost categories, which can also help spur more activity.

Mortgages 450

Mortgages Closing costs Title Technology 450

Housing Wire

APRIL 26, 2024

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. Historically, mortgage lenders and originators have been prohibited from contributing to closing costs to protect borrowers.”

Closing costs 466

Closing costs Development Equity Mortgages 466

Housing Wire

MARCH 9, 2023

The title insurance industry is often bemoaned for being antiquated and making minimal changes, but that has not been the case for the past 12 months. We know that closing costs continue to be a barrier for homebuyers – especially among underserved populations and first-time homebuyers,” a Fannie Mae spokesperson wrote in an email. “We

Title 397

Title Closing costs Finance Land 397

Housing Wire

JUNE 28, 2024

Unfortunately, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently issued a Request for Information (RFI) on mortgage closing costs—including title insurance—that continues a concerning pattern of labeling legitimate, well-regulated, and transparently disclosed costs and services as “junk fees.”

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Title Closing costs Closing Industrial 384

HomeLight

JANUARY 31, 2025

When youre preparing to sell or buy a home, the phrase closing costs will be spoken (and written) on both sides of the transaction table. But what are closing costs? Understanding these costs upfront can help you budget properly and avoid surprises. Get Started What are closing costs?

Closing costs 104

Closing costs Closing Title Seller concession 104

Housing Wire

AUGUST 14, 2023

One of the goals they outlined in those plans is a push to reduce closing costs, especially for low-income borrowers. Based on those plans, both GSEs are pushing pilot programs promoting the use of attorney opinion letters, reportedly as an alternative to reduce closing costs.”

Title 370

Title Closing costs Finance Land 370

Housing Wire

APRIL 30, 2024

After the release of proposed new rules for the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) for Purchase (H4P) program late last year, the reverse mortgage industry expressed a lot of excitement. Certner cited fair lending concerns and the potential of undue borrower influence. They’re using it to help shape the process going forward.

Mortgages 408

Mortgages Closing costs Equity Construction 408

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 7, 2023

The guilty verdict of the landmark Sitzer/Burnett commission lawsuit case sent shockwaves across the real estate industry. Not helping FHA, VA borrowers get off the sidelines Under current FHA rules, sellers can contribute up to 6% in concessions to FHA borrowers to cover closing costs, prepaid expenses and discount points.

VA loan 458

VA loan Agents Seller concession FHA loan 458

Housing Wire

MARCH 28, 2023

Those looking to buy a home can earn 5% back by using the Rocket Visa Signature Card for up to $8,000 that can be used toward closing costs and down payments. In turn, homebuyers can use points to get discounts on their closing costs in the future.

Closing costs 410

Closing costs Finance Principal Mortgages 410

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 14, 2023

The research found that title and settlement fees are neither regressive nor represent a significant component of the overall closing costs. Given the typical borrower is paying more than $7,000 in closing costs, that might be an understatement. In fact, neither is true. increase in fees).

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Title Closing costs Loans Title search 431

Housing Wire

JUNE 30, 2021

Data analytics giant CoreLogic announced on Wednesday the acquisition of closing cost data and tech provider ClosingCorp. The closing data company also utilized CoreLogic’s home price data to release its first national refinance closing cost report in 2021, so there’s quite a bit of familiarity between the two firms.

Closing 384

Closing Closing costs Investor Title 384

Housing Wire

JULY 12, 2023

The lender said qualified buyers will receive up to $10,000 toward their downpayment/closing costs with BorrowSmart Geo-Target, or $5,000 toward their downpayment/closing costs and up to $1,000 toward home warranty and appraisal costs with the HomeReady SPCP.

Closing costs 370

Closing costs Lending Finance Development 370

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 17, 2024

of a typical $6,000 mortgage closing cost. Director Rohit Chopra said this year that lenders and consumers alike are being overcharged by the credit reporting industry. The report cited FICO’s dominant market position, which covers more than 95% of securitizations, and the fact that its scores make up less than 0.2%

Investor 528

Investor Mortgages Closing costs Loans 528

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 16, 2022

For most real estate industry professionals, title insurance needs no introduction. While other forms of insurance have seen rate increases in recent years, the average cost of title insurance coverage has decreased 7.8% nationally since 2004 and roughly 5% the past two years, based on the most recent industry data from 2021.

Title 473

Title Title search Closing costs Land 473

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

While the report is another disappointing one for the real estate industry, there’s good news. Higher inventory levels and lower mortgage rates should provide better conditions for the market in the fall, helping both buyers and sellers who’ve been waiting on lower borrowing costs and the end of the election cycle.

Sales 430

Sales Closing costs MLS Inspection 430

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 18, 2023

In her first national interview since a Missouri jury found the real estate industry liable for colluding to artificially inflate real estate agent commissions, National Association of Realtors (NAR) president Tracy Kaspe r said the trade group would continue to advocate for what it feels is best for consumers. “We

MLS 466

MLS Loans Closing costs Industrial 466

Housing Wire

AUGUST 19, 2024

Since the 1940s, the DOJ has repeatedly sued the industry to introduce more price competition. Today, price competition has a chance because of their efforts and class action litigation, culminating in a jury decision against the industry. New industry rules prohibit mandatory offers of compensation through multiple listing services.

Purchase and sale agreement 431

Purchase and sale agreement Finance Industrial Agents 431

Housing Wire

AUGUST 10, 2023

Mortgage , and/or Closing Cost Credit. For eligible borrowers at or below 80% AMI, the mortgage program allows a 3% down payment on a fixed-rate mortgage and the closing cost credit program provides up to $5,000 to use toward closing costs.

Fixed-rate mortgage 370

Fixed-rate mortgage Closing costs Lending Banks 370

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 14, 2023

Tomb also noted that ALTA was troubled by the fact that Fannie Mae’s announcement came without any discussion with the title insurance industry. In an emailed statement, a Fannie Mae spokesperson wrote that the GSE is continuing to explore ways to improve housing affordability by reducing closing costs.

Title 427

Title Land Finance Loans 427

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

Not available anywhere else in the industry today, consumers can gather inspiration on social media networks like Pinterest, upload photos of their dream home and homegeniusIQ, homegenius Real Estate’s proprietary technology, will instantly analyze the photos and present homes with similar features.

Closing costs 406

Closing costs Short sale Technology New Construction 406

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 8, 2022

Each year, HousingWire’s Rising Stars award spotlights 50 industry-changing young professionals in housing who have made their mark in the housing economy before their 40th birthdays. If you know a rising star who is under 40 and making an impact — and it could even be you! nominate them today !

Closing costs 356

Closing costs Finance Development Industrial 356

Housing Wire

MARCH 1, 2024

While mortgage rates will likely fall this year, conversations about how to increase accessibility to homeownership are still top of mind — and should be top of mind — across the real estate industry. Accounting for geography, differences in title and settlement costs across groups of borrowers were not “economically meaningful.”

Title 433

Title Title search Industrial Closing costs 433