article thumbnail

Looking backward to look forward: Kevin Sears discusses NAR’s vision for 2025

Housing Wire

Sears cited the trade group’s efforts in advocating for changes in VA loan procedures. Department of Veterans Affairs can still use their loan benefit when working with a buyer’s agent regardless of how their agent is being compensated. “So, as I look to 2025 and where we want to go, it is to stick to the basics.

VA loan 369
article thumbnail

Mortgage demand drops as interest rates rise, economy remains resilient

Housing Wire

4, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans decreased by 40 bps and represented 16.2% Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans rose by 150 bps to account for 16.9% The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate loans with conforming balances ($766,550 or less) jumped from 6.14% to 6.36% during the week.

VA loan 430
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

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

article thumbnail

Mortgage applications rise to highest level since July 2022

Housing Wire

The MBA reported that the average loan size across all purchase and refi applications grew to $413,100, the highest figure in the history of the MBA’s dataset. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans grew significantly, rising by 250 bps to a share of 18.3%. Demand for U.S.

FHA loan 421
article thumbnail

Real estate newsletters: The ultimate playbook (+ 49 topic ideas & subject lines)

Housing Wire

Evergreen topics might include: how to prepare to list your house, everything your client needs to know about VA loans; or which home improvements yield the best financial return in a home sale. Youll want some evergreen content you can pull from for your real estate newsletters.

article thumbnail

The activities RESPA allows real estate agents to perform

Housing Wire

Commercial or business loans. RESPA does not typically include loans backed by real estate used for business or agricultural purposes. While RESPA does not apply to a loan to an individual entity, it applies in the case of one to four residential unit rental properties.

Agents 369
article thumbnail

Better narrows loss in 2023, aims to reach profitability soon

Housing Wire

The digital lender made changes in its commercial operating model to achieve this goal and will continue to invest in Tinman, its proprietary technology platform. Better has been launching digital products with its proprietary technology, including digital VA loans and a one-day mortgage product.

article thumbnail

The AOL debate rages on

Housing Wire

After the creation of title insurance, this practice remained prevalent in the conventional residential mortgages, until the rise of the GSEs and commercial banks setting up mortgage operations. Due to the large national footprint of both the GSEs and large commercial banks, title insurance quickly became de rigueur.

Title 369