Keeping Current Matters

MAY 10, 2023

If you’re reading headlines about inflation or mortgage rates, you may see something about the recent decision from the Federal Reserve.

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Housing Wire

MAY 10, 2023

Did you hear that sound? That’s the entire mortgage industry shouting, “hip, hip hooray!” The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) on Wednesday announced that it would rescind a controversial loan-level pricing adjustment (LLPA) for conventional borrowers with debt-to-income (DTI) levels at or above 40%. The FHFA, which regulates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , had previously delayed implementation of the DTI LLPA from May 1, 2023 to August 1, 2023 following a chorus of upset fro

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FHA loan Loans Principal Mortgages 539

Real Estate News

MAY 10, 2023

The fees, which were scheduled to go into effect on Aug. 1, were opposed by industry groups including NAR and the Mortgage Bankers Association.

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Debt-to-income ratio Industrial Mortgages 264

Housing Wire

MAY 10, 2023

The massive inflation and double-digit mortgage rates of the 1970s and early 1980s seem to haunt the Federal Reserve , which wants to cool the economy and even provoke a job-loss recession to avoid that scenario. But the latest Consumer Price Index inflation report shows how the fear of 1970s-style inflation is wildly overblown. Today’s numbers don’t look like the 1970s at all, when rent, wages, and oil shocks sent inflation running hotter than anything we have seen in recent modern-day hi

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Don’t just react to changes, plan for them, so you can approach the new year with confidence, direction, and a competitive edge for your business. Having a well-defined business plan helps you chart a clear course, navigate challenges, and set a foundation for growth. This workbook gives you the key steps to outline what matters and will ensure you’re moving ahead.

Development

Real Estate News

MAY 10, 2023

The brokerage reported a net loss of $15.1 million in the first quarter but says it has plenty of cash on-hand to carry it through the down cycle.

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Brokerage 263

Housing Wire

MAY 10, 2023

Payroll connectivity platform Argyle announced this week that it has grown the number of its consumer verifications 100% year over year and has welcomed over 35 new customers so far in 2023. The company offers direct-source data portability tools for mortgage, lending, banking, background and tenant screening, and other use cases. “We’ve packaged five years of learning and innovation into our next-gen platform to continue automating critical workflows, reducing business risk, and pro

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Housing Wire

MAY 10, 2023

Dallas, Texas-based Mr. Cooper Group has entered into an agreement to acquire struggling Home Point Capital for $324 million in cash, the companies announced on Wednesday. The transaction will ultimately result in the seller shutting down operations. Rumors that Mr. Cooper was interested in Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Home Point spread prior to the latter selling its wholesale origination business to The Loan Store on April 7 and were amplified after.

Principal 418

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Inman

MAY 10, 2023

Agents should be prepared to answer their buyer's mortgage questions, including types of mortgages, lender guidelines, preapproval vs. prequalification and the closing process in the area.

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Mortgages Closing Agents Banks 197

Housing Wire

MAY 10, 2023

UWM Holdings Corporation , the parent of United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), reported a financial loss in the first quarter amid a decline in the fair value of mortgage servicing rights ( MSRs ) and falling origination volumes. The wholesale lender posted financial losses in the first quarter, but the company increased margins as it pulled back on its aggressive pricing strategy.

Loans 397

Loans Principal Mortgages Technology 397

Inman

MAY 10, 2023

Overspending is a significant challenge that almost every real estate agent has to face. However, with the right strategies and practices in place, you can rein in your spending and significantly grow your profits.

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Agents Marketing 173

Speaker: Abdi Ali, Sr. Lease Accounting Consultant

Join this insightful webinar with industry expert Abdi Ali, who will discuss the challenges that can arise from managing lease accounting with spreadsheets! He will share real-world examples of errors, compliance issues, and risks that may be present within your spreadsheets. Learn how these tools, while useful, can sometimes lead to inefficiencies that affect your time, resources, and peace of mind.

Industrial

Housing Wire

MAY 10, 2023

The expectation that the Federal Reserve might be done with hiking rates spurred the mortgage market last week. “Mortgage applications responded positively to a drop in rates last week, as the Fed signaled a potential pause at the current level for the federal funds rate in anticipation of inflation slowing and tightening financial conditions that will slow economic and job growth,” Joel Kan, Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) vice president and deputy chief economist, said in a statement.

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Mortgages Loans Residential Sales 397

Inman

MAY 10, 2023

Preparing your first real estate agent business plan takes time, effort and research. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be long or complicated, just specific enough to outline what you want to accomplish. A well-prepared business plan will help you set a clear direction, stay focused and increase your chances of success.

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Agents 173

Housing Wire

MAY 10, 2023

The Minnesota State House of Representatives and Senate approved sweeping new housing legislation this week totaling $1 billion, which is designed to address affordable housing access and down payment issues for first-time home buyers. Housing advocates estimate that roughly 5,000 households will qualify for the bill’s rent assistance program in the form of rent vouchers, and the state is expected to spend $46 million for statewide rent assistance beyond the two-year budget cycle.

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Sales Design Finance 397

Inman

MAY 10, 2023

At NAR's midyear conference, Senior Counsel Chloe Hecht offered best practices to help navigate artificial intelligence without running afoul of copyright law or the Realtor Code of Ethics.

MLS 167

MLS Technology 167

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Brokerage

Housing Wire

MAY 10, 2023

April’s Consumer Price Index data is welcome news to the Federal Reserve , which is debating whether to continue hiking interest rates after its most recent 25 basis point hike last week. Especially encouraging is that housing inflation pressure in the CPI is starting to ease, with April representing the smallest one month change in over two years. Overall, consumer prices cooled further in April, with the CPI rising 4.9% year over year, before seasonal adjustment, according to data released Wed

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Inman

MAY 10, 2023

Applications for purchase mortgages rose 5 percent last week, but a strong jobs report and ongoing bank instability are pushing mortgage rates back up.

Mortgages 167

Mortgages Banks Marketing 167

Housing Wire

MAY 10, 2023

You may have heard the good news: In recent weeks, several mortgage and real estate brokerage execs have exclaimed that we may have already reached the bottom of the market. For prospective home buyers and sellers, that could mean a gradual decline in mortgage rates , which would unlock inventory and—dare I say—sales activity. But there are still ultra-competitive markets in America where those conditions will simply be offset by rising prices.

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Loan Officer Pre-approval Marketing New Construction 396

Inman

MAY 10, 2023

A "drought" of new listings is driving up prices, reversing the sluggishness of late 2022 and forcing buyers to compete fiercely for homes, according to a new analysis from Zillow.

As-is 167

As-is Marketing 167

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As the real estate market evolves, technology has become essential for success. According to NAR, only 26% of agents feel their brokerage provides the necessary tech tools and, as a result, agents seek teams and brokerages who prioritize technology investments! Whether you manage an established team or are forming a new one, this guide outlines key considerations and necessary applications to thrive.

Agents

Housing Wire

MAY 10, 2023

Real estate valuation technology company Clear Capital announced on Wednesday that it has expanded its partnership with ValueLink , a valuation management platform, to offer better support for appraisal modernization policy changes. Through this expansion, ValueLink customers can now access Clear Capital’s proprietary Universal Data Collection (UDC) solution, which offers fast and accurate data collection and submission that meets Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae data standards for property data repor

Technology 396

Technology Industrial Loans As-is 396

Inman

MAY 10, 2023

All items index increased 4.9 percent for the 12 months ending April, the smallest 12-month increase since the period ending April 2021, according to the Consumer Price Index Summary.

Marketing 167

Marketing 167

Housing Wire

MAY 10, 2023

Real estate giant Anywhere is launching a title insurance joint venture exclusively for Anywhere Brands franchisees, according to an announcement on Wednesday. Upward Title & Closing is a full-service title and settlement company. The joint venture capitalizes on Upward’s local housing expertise, as well as Anywhere’s technology, including virtual quote tools and options for a fully digital closing.

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Title Branding Closing Technology 395

Inman

MAY 10, 2023

Despite economic turmoil, investors large and small are still a force to be reckoned with in the housing market. Intel broke down the cities they've soured on — and the ones they just can't quit.

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Now more than ever, brokers need to provide agents with the right tools, strategies, and training to effectively demonstrate their expertise, negotiate successfully, and foster strong client relationships. So – what should brokers do to ensure this? Invest in the right technology, continuous education, and innovative marketing strategies that empower agents to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Agents

Housing Wire

MAY 10, 2023

Introducing Inside Voices with Kristin Messerli, a new interview video series hosting by Messerli, who’s research on NextGen homebuyers helps to inform tomorrow’s generation. She is also author of NextGen Homebuyer Research and a speaker and educator. Today, she interviews Lili Thompson, founder of Lili Invests. At just 27 years old, she has already established ownership of 13 properties.

Industrial 394

Industrial As-is 394

Inman

MAY 10, 2023

Are homebuyers asking for concessions? Are bidding wars ubiquitous in your market? Answer a few simple questions to determine if your area favors homebuyers or sellers this spring.

Marketing 163

Marketing Agents 163

Housing Wire

MAY 10, 2023

CreditXpert CreditXpert’s Enterprise Platform is the company’s next generation credit score insight and predictive analytics engine for mortgage lenders. Immediately identify an applicant’s credit potential, generate precise improvement plans with just a few clicks and track applicant progress all through a single dashboard.

Mortgages 391

Mortgages 391

Inman

MAY 10, 2023

Lending industry groups like the Mortgage Bankers Association called a fee based on borrower's debt-to-income ratio "unworkable.

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Debt-to-income ratio Lending Mortgages Industrial 158

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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.

Sales

Housing Wire

MAY 10, 2023

Blend Blend’s end-to-end mortgage suite delivers a world class experience for both borrowers and Loan Officers while delivering powerful operational efficiency with automation and data driven workflows. Product Fast Facts #1 Conditions Sync automatically translates underwriting conditions to actionable guided borrower facing followup #2 Lenders can define specific logic and rules around which conditions should be synced between Blend and Encompass #3 65% of conditions are identified upfront with

Loan Officer 391

Loan Officer Loans Mortgages 391

Inman

MAY 10, 2023

UWM CEO Mat Ishbia highlights "operational profitability" as a $337 million write-down in fair value of mortgage servicing rights drives a $138.6 million first-quarter loss.

Mortgages 158

Mortgages Industrial 158

Housing Wire

MAY 10, 2023

Total eClose With more borrowers using mobile devices to participate in the mortgage process, we’re offering an intuitive tablet-based experience. Why limit borrowers to eClosing only when they have access to a desktop or laptop computer? By offering the flexibility to eClose using any device, Total eClose makes the eClosing process, including Remote Online Notarization (RON), even simpler.

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Closing Mortgages Agents 316

Inman

MAY 10, 2023

The dominant iBuyer has taken extraordinary steps to survive this period of upheaval, writes real estate analyst Mike DelPrete, who dug deeper into last week's Q1 earnings exclusively for Intel.

Technology 158

Technology 158

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BoldTrail BackOffice provides a single, streamlined solution to manage agent onboarding and billing and commission tracking and disbursements, along with agent management, reporting, and accounting - so your brokerage can run smoothly & profitably. Our #1-rated back office solutions have exactly what your business needs to deliver a seamless experience for your clients and your team.

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