Housing Wire

JANUARY 17, 2024

That’s where reverse purchase financing comes into play, the funding option specifically designed for older Americans. What is reverse purchase financing? 1 With over 12,000 Americans turning 65 every day in 2024, this burgeoning market will undoubtedly continue to bring more buyers and sellers to the table over the next decade.

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HomeLight

OCTOBER 31, 2024

In this post, we explore the question: Are closing costs tax deductible? What are examples of seller closing costs? When selling a home, you’ll encounter various closing costs as part of the process. On average, sellers pay between 2% and 5% of a home’s sale price in closing costs.

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Housing Wire

AUGUST 30, 2024

As a salve, a vocal minority of activists say that “simply” allowing the financing of buyer-agent commissions into mortgages will resolve all concerns. For reasons both practical and legal, buyer-agent commissions are not today explicitly financeable with a mortgage. To avoid this, you’d need additional rule changes.

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Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

The Bipartisan Congressional Real Estate Caucus is calling on the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to cease its pilot program for title insurance waivers until the program is vetted and the agency seeks public input on it. The caucus expressed this view in a letter written by Reps. Lou Correa (D-Calif.), Mark Alford (R-Mo.),

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Title Title search Closing costs Loans 418

Housing Wire

MAY 17, 2024

has raised its closing guarantee from $5,000 to $20,000 until July 27, 2024, the bank announced on Thursday. The guarantee means that the bank promises an on-time closing on or before the contract closing date, or it will pay the homebuyer $20,000. It also offers a homebuyer grant that distributes up to $7,500 in eligible areas.

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Housing Wire

MAY 10, 2021

Lending and services platform Finance of America Inc. announced today the launch of Finance of America Home Improvement , a new business division offering non-mortgage financing options, including renovation loans. Homeowners can also use it to access financing solutions through their contractor. in 2021 to $433 billion.

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Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

Freddie Mac will offer a $2,500 credit for very low-income purchase borrowers to help with down payment and closing costs amid elevated interest rates and low housing supply. The credit can be used for down payments, closing costs, escrow and mortgage insurance premiums.

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Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 22, 2023

Builders reported covering closing costs, offering discounted or free features, helping buyers sell their existing home and providing other incentives. The Western pessimism is also unsurprising given the year-over-year declines Western states have seen in home values. Price cuts are not the only way builders are fighting for sales.

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Housing Wire

APRIL 30, 2024

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) this week released its fair lending final rule, following up on a proposal made last year in alignment with plans first laid out in 2022 by the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. FHFA explained some of the actions it has taken to address housing inequality.

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Redfin

FEBRUARY 18, 2025

Can you roll closing costs into your mortgage? Basically, folding your closing costs into your loan means you’ll need less cash upfront at closing. Your lender can explain their specific policies, the rules around this practice, and which costs are eligible to be rolled into the mortgage.

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Housing Wire

MARCH 21, 2024

Equifax’s Work Number product is too expensive for consumers and the Federal Housing Administration ( FHA ) and Federal Housing Finance Agency ( FHFA ) should potentially do something about it, an influential mortgage trade group argued this week.

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Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 7, 2023

VA loans offer a 100% financing option for qualifying military service members and veterans, and don’t require mortgage insurance. These clients are typically low on funds, which is why they need this type of financing. Adding this cost to their side of the transactions would throw the vast majority of them out of the market entirely.”

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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. Assisting homebuyers and their agents adds more to an LO’s plate.

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Housing Wire

AUGUST 12, 2024

They are usually used to finance the down payment or closing costs and typically work in an 80-10-10 structure with the first mortgage covering 80% of the total cost, the piggyback covering 10% and the borrower paying the remaining 10%.

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Loans FHA loan Equity Closing costs 476

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 28, 2024

They will also be offered closing cost credits of up to 0.5% The program is only eligible for loans that close through Newrez. The Newrez Home Rewards program is currently available in 40 states for buy-side credits that allow consumer rebates on the closing disclosure, Newrez said in an emailed response to HousingWire.

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Housing Wire

APRIL 18, 2024

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) this week released its annual Housing Mission Report , offering insights into the actions the agency took in 2023 on a host of issues. Through the HomeReady First SPCP, Fannie Mae acquired 921 loans with a total of more than $5 million in down payment or closing cost assistance, the report stated.

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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.

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Housing Wire

AUGUST 22, 2024

The loan program launched in 2023 and provides first-time homebuyers with a loan of up to 20% of the home’s purchase price for down payment or closing cost assistance.

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Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

Better Home & Finance Holding Co. , With this launch, we are reducing the traditional barriers that exist for FHA borrowers and delivering flexible financing solutions at a timely moment for consumers across the country,” Vishal Garg , CEO and founder of Better.com, said in a statement.

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Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

“We really think closing costs can be a significant obstacle to refinancing,” Chopra said at an AI and technology conference jointly hosted by ICE Mortgage Technology and the National Housing Conference at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. At least when it comes to redundancies with refinancings, that is.

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Housing Wire

JULY 26, 2024

Whether you’re a year away from selling or hoping to close in a few months, a timeline is important for all parties, especially if your family member needs to sell an existing home, secure financing, and arrange moving details. Discuss financing. Closing costs are typically 3% to 6% of the purchase price.

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Housing Wire

APRIL 15, 2024

Based on the selling guides in use by the GSEs, property sellers are allowed to make financing concessions toward the borrower’s closing costs at a maximum amount of 2% to 9% of the property value.

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Housing Wire

MARCH 9, 2023

“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 The GSE’s Equitable Housing Finance Plans were approved this summer by the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

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Housing Wire

MARCH 7, 2024

In the address, the president will call for a $10,000 tax credit for both first-time homebuyers and people who sell their starter homes; the construction and renovation of more than 2 million additional homes; and cost reductions for renters. It is also wary of some of the proposals.

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Housing Wire

MAY 1, 2024

First-generation homebuyers as a cohort are “less likely to receive financial assistance from parents to help with the down payment and other upfront costs when purchasing a home,” according to Freddie Mac. Intergenerational wealth refers to the financial assets passed by one generation of a family to another.

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Mortgages Finance Loans Closing costs 459

Housing Wire

MAY 8, 2023

Mortgage lender and servicer NewRez on Monday launched a special purpose credit program through Freddie Mac that will provide $3,000 or more in closing cost assistance to qualifying first-time homebuyers. The special purpose credit program is an extension of the government sponsored enterprise’s equitable housing finance plan.

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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.

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Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

For this reason, many programs now allow funds to be used for buydowns and other popular financing strategies that take the edge off of monthly mortgage payments,” Rob Chrane, founder and CEO of DPR, said in a statement. Buydowns have become a preferred financing strategy for borrowers as mortgage rates have surged.

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Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 10, 2022

The SPCP, called “closing the gap,” permits a 1% down payment with a free appraisal, free home warranty program, free homebuying counseling and financial assistance with closing costs. The SPCP loan program will be piloted in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis and Philadelphia.

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Housing Wire

AUGUST 14, 2023

The pilot program was said to have been a component of the government sponsored entities’ (GSEs) Equitable Housing Finance Plans , which are required by their regulator Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). The initial version of the GSE’s Equitable Housing Finance Plans were approved in the summer of 2022 by the FHFA.

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Title Closing costs Finance Land 370

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 14, 2023

The government sponsored entities is part of its Equitable Housing Finance Plans , which are required by their regulator Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). The initial version of the GSE’s Equitable Housing Finance Plans were approved in the summer of 2022 by the FHFA.

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Housing Wire

JUNE 21, 2024

Board staff and participating counselors work closely with the borrowers helping to set up the reverse mortgage with closing costs often several hundreds to thousands of dollars less than similar programs.” Once they’ve completed the session, housing staff work with the participant to determine needs and financing availability.

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Housing Wire

MAY 5, 2023

announced on Thursday that the Optimal Blue product, pricing and eligibility engine (PPE) has added investor content from 54 state-based housing finance agencies (HFAs). HFAs provide affordable homeownership options to low- and moderate-income borrowers through down payment and closing cost assistance, as well as reduced mortgage payments.

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Housing Wire

OCTOBER 13, 2022

Now, thanks to United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) CEO Mat Ishbia’s recent announcement that his company is hiring attorneys to review title and closing documents, AOLs and the risks associated with them, have been a hot topic at this year’s ALTA One conference. This is a top priority for ALTA.”.

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Title Closing costs Title search Closing 416

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.

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Title Industrial Land Closing costs 459

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 21, 2023

Benefits can include: No down payment Competitive interest rates No private mortgage insurance (PMI) Limited or no closing costs Funding fee waived for service-connected disabled veterans More favorable credit criteria Loan types There are a number of VA loan options to meet the needs of today’s veteran buyers, including purchase and refinance.

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Loans VA loan Mortgages Lending 468

Housing Wire

JULY 7, 2022

Top brass at Fannie Mae, in a Thursday webinar discussing its new equitable housing finance plans, argued it can. Can Fannie Mae ’s housing equity plan make a meaningful dent in the 30 percentage point racial homeownership gap without a broad review of loan pricing?

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