Housing Wire

JULY 11, 2025

Build a professional referral network Partnering up with agents and brokerages is a no-brainer for mortgage professionals, as you both need to work in tandem to get a deal closed. For example, a breakdown of loan options and how they work, or a closing costs worksheet for buyers.

Mortgages

BAM Media

DECEMBER 19, 2024

Sellers remain confident in their ability to move properties quickly, with 72% expecting to close within 4 months or less. In case the seller refuses, 68% of home buyers say theyll budget for the cost of working with a buyer agent. Will Buyers & Sellers Use Agents in 2025?

Marketing

Seattle Times Real Estate

MAY 30, 2025

Faced with a market with fewer potential buyers, some sellers have opted to lower prices or offer sales incentives, such as agreeing to pay for a buyer’s closing costs or other expenses. Nearly 1 in 5 home listings had their price reduced last month, according to Realtor.com.

Mortgages

Seattle Times Real Estate

JUNE 25, 2025

Washington lawmakers created the Covenant Homeownership Program in 2023, offering zero-interest loans to cover down payments and closing costs for certain first-time homebuyers of color who meet income and other requirements. A fee on recorded real estate documents funds the program, which began issuing loans last summer.

Technology

Rochester Real Estate

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

Unlike traditional real estate transactions, cash sales typically involve a quicker closing timeline, as there is no need to wait for mortgage approval. On the positive side, there is no need for expensive repairs or renovations, and cash buyers often cover the closing costs, saving you money in the long run.

As-is

Rochester Real Estate

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

Many of these first time home buyer programs and grants can help cover a large amount of the “closings costs” and/or allow them to finance a higher percentage of the loan (or all of the loan in some cases). There are national, state, and local programs/grants available for a first time home buyer. What are your next steps?

Closing costs

Redfin

JUNE 27, 2025

You’ll have the most leverage when the home is already built or the builder needs to close quickly. Pros of a new construction home Modern: Most new construction homes come with modern features like layout, design, and smart home technology. Working with an agent familiar with new construction is your biggest advantage.

New Construction

Marco Santarelli

JUNE 11, 2025

Cons: Closing Costs : Borrowers need to be aware that refinancing comes with closing costs that may negate some savings from lower rates. Technological Influences Technology in the real estate and mortgage sectors has improved accessibility and efficiency in securing loans.

Mortgages

HomeLight

JULY 17, 2025

It is also suitable for those who want to live close to extended family while maintaining separate spaces. Many modern prefab homes offer energy efficiency and smart home technology features. Resale value: High – Strong demand among both investors and multi-generational buyers.

Construction

The Close

APRIL 3, 2025

When you need to finance a house flip, you need a loan that offers a repayment term that fits your project timeline, can close quickly, and, of course, doesnt have unrealistic eligibility requirements. This also allows it to close in as little as seven days. 11.25% Covers up to 92.5%

Loans

Marco Santarelli

JUNE 15, 2025

The sale-to-list ratio being very close to 1.000 and over a third of sales going above list price underscore a seller's market. It's also geographically close enough to Cleveland to benefit from some of its economic activity. It's close enough to Cleveland for commuting but offers a distinct, highly desirable suburban lifestyle.

Investor

Redfin

JUNE 17, 2025

Layout While it depends on the home, several older houses’ layouts differ from newer ones with non-standard sizing, more closed floor plans, smaller closets, etc. Low maintenance and utility costs These updated features usually require less upkeep, which can save you money.

Renovation

The Close

JULY 1, 2025

As a real estate agent, understanding FHA loan requirements can allow you to guide your clients towards homeownership, close more deals, and earn the trust of first-time homebuyers. The Close has compiled a list of the best mortgage lenders that I recommend you check out, all of which offer FHA loans.

FHA loan

Seattle Times Real Estate

JULY 4, 2025

The changes include creating “urban centers” in such places as Columbia City — close to light rail — and Ballard, unfortunately not for years. Now, Seattle’s City Council is considering a zoning revamp to comply with the state law, debating the implementation of a wider 20-year growth plan and permanent changes to zoning.

Construction

Seattle Times Real Estate

JUNE 9, 2025

Advertising Down payment assistance for people affected by exclusionary policies is a way of “beginning the process of closing this wealth gap for our people and to be able to build generational wealth,” Scott said. By the numbers: The program offers buyers loans for up to 20% of the cost of the home, up to $150,000, plus closing costs.

Loans

HomeLight

JUNE 25, 2025

Sell Fast With a Cash Offer or Top agent Get an all-cash, no-obligation offer in 24 hours through HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform and close in as few as 7 days. One of the best ways to accomplish this is with home automation technology. Here are practical tips to help you sell your house fast this summer.

Closing

Inman

JULY 11, 2025

Title insurers wanted to put the brakes on a pilot program that uses automated title reviews to allow some homeowners to refinance their mortgage without having to pay for title insurance.

Title

Housing Wire

AUGUST 1, 2024

The Community Home Lenders of America (CHLA) on Thursday issued a comment letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), saying that a major reason for the increase in mortgage closing costs from third parties is due to a lack of competition among third-party providers.

Closing costs

Housing Wire

MAY 9, 2022

Closing costs for homeowners who jumped on the refi wave in 2021 increased at less than one-third the pace of closing costs for home purchases as homebuyers had to cope with a hot market that fueled higher home-sale prices and related settlement costs. How to avoid home closing delays in 2022.

Closing costs

Housing Wire

JUNE 11, 2021

Have you budgeted for closing costs? Before you get overwhelmed, take comfort that critical milestones of home inspection, appraisal and closing processes are all great ways to get more acquainted with your prospective new home. The buyer typically covers the cost of the appraisal.

Inspection

Housing Wire

AUGUST 1, 2021

More than ever, borrowers want and expect to close their loans digitally, from the initial loan application through the final review and approval of their loan package. But while eClosings are convenient, it can be challenging to offer the same level of customer service online as with in-person closings.

Closing

Housing Wire

JUNE 30, 2021

Data analytics giant CoreLogic announced on Wednesday the acquisition of closing cost data and tech provider ClosingCorp. Previously, ClosingCorp integrated CoreLogic’s Property Tax Estimator into its SmartFees service and closing platforms in 2018. Further details of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Closing

Housing Wire

MARCH 22, 2023

HousingWire recently spoke to Tom Kriby, vice president of client development and partnerships at Westwood Insurance Agency, about how working with an insurance agency can simplify the closing process for their customers, even in times of interest rate uncertainty. HW: How does working with an insurance agency simplify the closing process?

Debt-to-income ratio

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.

Mortgages

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.

Closing costs

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

That’s why they’ve introduced the homegenius Platform, an integrated solution consisting of advanced technology , data science, machine learning and AI designed to drive value and bring ease to consumers through the home buying and selling journey. Through this offering, consumers may also be eligible to receive a rebate* at closing.

Closing costs

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 22, 2024

Mortgage technology company Uplist has launched what it says is a killer new tool that will help loan officers automatically generate refinance options for their clients. The tool also does modeling of potential savings for homeowners by analyzing various interest rates , closing costs and repayment options.

Loan Officer

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 One of the goals they outlined in those plans is a push to reduce closing costs, especially for low-income borrowers. trillion in U.S.

Title

Housing Wire

MARCH 20, 2024

The upfront lump sum can be applied toward a down payment, closing costs or other expenses related to the homebuying process. Ally Home , the residential mortgage lending arm of Ally Bank , is offering a $5,000 grant for eligible homebuyers in the select markets of Charlotte, Detroit and Philadelphia, the company announced on Tuesday.

Banks

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 26, 2022

At “Big Four” title insurer First American , the number of closed title orders in the third quarter of 2022 fell to 160,500 compared to 252,700 a year ago, while the number of purchase orders closed per day at Fidelity dropped 23% year over year in the third quarter.

Title

Housing Wire

APRIL 18, 2023

However, it still appears that lenders are focusing their technology investments on the point of sale. A 2020 ICE Mortgage Technology survey confirmed this, reporting that 58% of borrowers were affected in their decision making by the presence (or lack thereof) of an online application. And, in particular, closing fees.

Mortgages

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 5, 2021

HW Media CEO Clayton Collins and Scott Happ, president of Secondary Marketing Technologies at Black Knight, discuss Black Knight’s acquisition of Optimal Blue and what the industry can expect from the company’s new Secondary Marketing Technologies division. How lenders will benefit from Black Knight’s acquisition of Optimal Blue.

Loan Officer

Housing Wire

MAY 23, 2022

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. These digital solutions, especially those offered by ServiceLink, work just as well in the home equity title/close process.

Equity

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac jointly announced this week that they have entered a new critical edit phase for their Uniform Closing Dataset (UCD) as of Nov. An implementation guide released in May 2022 shows that phase three deals with information related to loan costs; other costs; total closing costs; and lender credits.

Loans

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

Housing Wire

AUGUST 17, 2022

Seller concessions, which are closing costs the seller agrees to pay, are deposited as the lump sum into the buydown account. Staying nimble in a fast-paced market with the right mortgage technology. Advanced product, pricing and eligibility technology creates efficiencies and helps lenders compete in a fast-paced market.

Seller concession

Housing Wire

MARCH 28, 2022

commercial spaces/building and residential homes/townhomes) and inconsistent transactional processes, fragmentation in the market has prevented real-estate from adopting technology as quickly as other sectors – until now. So, what are the technologies and trends iBuyers are using to fix fragmentation in the market?

Marketing