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How loan originators survived a cutthroat mortgage business in 2023

Housing Wire

In his 20 years in mortgage banking, no year has compared to 2023 in terms of difficulty, said Ben Cohen, Guaranteed Rate ’s managing director and a top-producing loan officer. It was another brutal year, pushing loan originators to work longer hours, close loans faster while diversifying their mortgage product offerings.

Loans 459
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Consumer advocate says policy changes are needed to help FHA buyers compete

Housing Wire

The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) is calling for policy changes that would help alleviate the difficulties for homebuyers using Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans when competing in tight markets. of the U.S. mortgage market in 2023, up from 14.3% in 2022, according to HUD. ”

FHA loan 476
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Agent commission lawsuits cast long shadow over VA, FHA borrowers

Housing Wire

In the aftermath, one of the most contentious issues in the minds of mortgage professionals is how the ruling might affect FHA and VA mortgage borrowers. FHA loans are a popular option for first-time homebuyers or those who don’t have a lot of cash saved for a down payment, because the loans require a minimum of 3.5%

VA loan 482
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Opinion: The myth of financing buyer agent commissions

Housing Wire

As a salve, a vocal minority of activists say that “simply” allowing the financing of buyer-agent commissions into mortgages will resolve all concerns. For reasons both practical and legal, buyer-agent commissions are not today explicitly financeable with a mortgage. This claim is misguided, oversimplifying a more complicated reality.

Finance 448
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Interest rates plague Illinois agents and housing market

Housing Wire

Interest rates are a major headache for real estate agents across Illinois. On the sell side, agents say that low mortgage rates from a purchase or refinance transaction in late 2020 or early 2021 are keeping many potential sellers in their home. “A Again, agents attribute the cooler market to interest rates.

Agents 448
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Three yards and a cloud of dust

Housing Wire

With the Fed gone AWOL on purchasing mortgage loans, mortgage rates have doubled and spreads over 10-year Treasuries are at historical highs. In late 2021, Congress renewed a 10 basis point tax on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans for another decade – not based on loan risk, but to pay for non-housing spending.

FHA loan 449
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Opinion: Agencies are key to fixing housing affordability

Housing Wire

With the Federal Reserve gone AWOL on purchasing mortgage loans, mortgage rates have doubled and spreads over 10-year Treasuries are at historical highs. In late 2021, Congress renewed a 10-basis point tax on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans for another decade — not based on loan risk, but to pay for non-housing spending.

FHA loan 476