Last month, a federal appeals court ruled that many of the tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were illegal. Gulp. The tariffs in question — sometimes called “reciprocal” tariffs — had raised import tax rates up to 50% on India and Brazil and as high as 145% on certain Chinese goods. […]
When tariffs hit home Read More »
The U.S. rental market is shifting in 2025, but for rental agents, opportunity remains abundant. National vacancy rates reached 7 percent in the second quarter, up from 6.6 percent a year earlier, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A wave of new construction and moderating rent growth has created a more balanced market, but in
Where rental agents are cashing in: The states to watch for the remainder of 2025 Read More »
The reliability of Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) has been thrust into the spotlight in recent weeks, following groundbreaking changes in the way these models are now being tested. The implications for home equity lenders, who rely heavily on AVMs to determine property values, could be far-reaching, especially as the industry grapples with new regulatory questions
If you’ve ever been told “you don’t fit the box” even though you can comfortably afford the payment, you’ve felt the limits of traditional mortgages. Non-QM loans exist for exactly that situation. “Non-QM” stands for Non-Qualified Mortgage. It sounds technical, but the idea is simple: fully documented loans for creditworthy people whose finances don’t slot
What are Non-QM loans and who are they for? Read More »
After talking with and interviewing hundreds of mortgage professionals, I can say with certainty: the loan officers who win in this market aren’t the ones with the best/lowest rates.They’re the ones who know their database. The reality is most loan officers treat their database like a phone book. Names and emails stored away, touched only
Winning starts with your database 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 »
When it comes to real estate, the best outcomes rarely happen by chance. The buyers who succeed are usually the ones who prepare early, long before they walk into their first showing. Preparation starts with understanding what a lender is willing to offer, and that can take one of two paths: a simple pre-qualification or
The quiet advantage in real estate: Pre-approval Read More »
Cost optimization is key to creating success in the world of mortgage servicing. Mortgage servicers have dedicated significant resources in pursuit of optimized processes and prices, as every fraction of the cent saved contributes to the bottom line. Servicers are laser-focused on enhancing throughput efficiency, applying advanced technology to automate and streamline every step from
Uncovering the hidden costs of investor reporting in mortgage servicing Read More »
The facts uncovered in fraud investigations are often shocking, revealing stories of both tragedy and comedy. And those stories inform how we help our clients to navigate the landscape of risk, regulation, and management. Stories about occupancy fraud, until very recently, never made the news. Then in the Spring of 2024, a top producing loan
Occupancy fraud: Not as simple as you think Read More »
For decades, the mortgage industry trained us to believe our job as loan officers was clear and defined. A family or individual decided to buy a home, they came to us, and we stepped in to help them finance it. The process was straightforward: get them pre-approved, explain the numbers, shepherd the loan through closing
The loan officer’s job is gone, but the Mortgage Advisor’s job is here to stay Read More »