The 30-year mortgage without a prepayment penalty has long been standard in the U.S., but the latest round of GSE reform has some former officials questioning it. The debate has new relevance given that two influential GSE loan buyers that have been in government conservatorship are now exploring potential restructuring with industry input. Many housing […]
GSE talks revive push for 30-year loan changes Read More »
Left to right: Mac Cregger, Jay Lapre, Scott Alexander National home lender Assurance Financial elevated Scott Alexander to chief operations officer. After joining Assurance’s over a decade ago, Alexander helped establish the company’s operations division and expand its offerings as he rose through the ranks, most recently serving as chief risk officer. With the promotion,
Remax, Cenlar, Lower, First American grow leadership teams Read More »
U.S. real estate investors bought about 52,000 homes in the second quarter, the lowest level for that period since 2020, according to a report from Redfin. Purchases were down 6% from a year earlier — the largest drop since late 2023. Redfin, which analyzed purchase records across 39 major metropolitan areas, defines an investor as
Investor home purchases hit lowest second-quarter level since 2020 Read More »
Griffin Funding has launched an internal artificial intelligence-driven platform designed to help loan officers navigate the complex world of non-QM lending. The tool, known internally as “LIA,” pulls hundreds of pages of program guidelines into a single system and uses AI to deliver tailored answers to loan qualification questions, according to Chloe Shubin, vice president
Non-QM lender Griffin Funding unveils AI-driven underwriting platform Read More »
Recent efforts to cut down on vacant residential properties in Baltimore have proven to be effective, according to new Urban Institute data. By 2020, the city had more than 16,000 vacant buildings and a residential vacancy rate of 7.7%. In parts of east and west Baltimore, the rate was nearly one in three houses. “Vacancy
Baltimore’s push against vacant housing shows positive results Read More »
Christie’s International Real Estate has appointed G. Scott Hurlock as senior vice president of strategic growth, a new role at the company. Hurlock will oversee network expansion for the luxury real estate brand by pursuing new partnerships and working with affiliates on organic growth, mergers and acquisitions. “Scott comes to us with an incredibly impressive
Christie’s International Real Estate names SVP of strategic growth Read More »
A bill on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk could give county clerks new tools to combat deed fraud, but one industry expert says the measure doesn’t go far enough to protect against scams carried out online. Senate Bill 15 — approved by the Texas Legislature in August — would require clerks to ask for identification
Texas bill targets deed fraud, but expert points to online loopholes Read More »
On Thursday, mortgage rates data from Mortgage News Daily (MND) showed that the 30-year fixed rates for government loans fell below 6%. As of Thursday afternoon, the average Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan rate was 5.97% and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rate was 5.99%. Mortgage News Daily also reported 15-year fixed rates
Mortgage rates drop below 6% for FHA, VA loans Read More »
One of the most important parts of a real estate agent’s job is helping buyers understand why working with you matters, especially now that the new rules around representation and compensation have changed the conversation. Now, more than ever, it is important for buyers to understand the value your representation brings to the table. Since being an agent is ultimately about building relationships, your goal is to connect with your buyers
Real estate pros: Explain the value of buyer rep without sounding like a script Read More »
Mortgage rates have reached a new low for 2025, despite the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation being well above the target and showing a stronger increase in the core goods component. Why are mortgage rates at 6.27%? Jobless claims experienced a significant spike today, which suggests that the labor market may not be as strong
Mortgage rates hit new 2025 low as jobless claims spike Read More »