Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

The Bipartisan Congressional Real Estate Caucus is calling on the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to cease its pilot program for title insurance waivers until the program is vetted and the agency seeks public input on it. The caucus expressed this view in a letter written by Reps. Lou Correa (D-Calif.), Mark Alford (R-Mo.),

Title 418

Title Title search Closing costs Loans 418

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 13, 2021

The average closing costs for a single-family home increased 12.3% According to ClosingCorp, the average closing costs nationally came in at $6,837 including taxes and $3,836 excluding taxes. The report also found that refi closing costs increased by 4.87% to $2,398 from the reported 2020 average of $2,287.

Closing costs 334

Closing costs Closing Mortgages Industrial 334

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

Freddie Mac will offer a $2,500 credit for very low-income purchase borrowers to help with down payment and closing costs amid elevated interest rates and low housing supply. The credit can be used for down payments, closing costs, escrow and mortgage insurance premiums.

Mortgages 526

Mortgages Closing costs Finance Loans 526

Housing Wire

MAY 10, 2021

Lending and services platform Finance of America Inc. announced today the launch of Finance of America Home Improvement , a new business division offering non-mortgage financing options, including renovation loans. Homeowners can also use it to access financing solutions through their contractor. billion in 2019.

Renovation 397

Renovation Finance Loans Lending 397

Housing Wire

MARCH 15, 2024

Mortgage pros have closely monitored the commission lawsuit developments since a Kansas City, Missouri jury determined that NAR, HomeServices of America , and Keller Williams conspired to inflate or maintain high commission rates through NAR’s so-called Participation Rule.

Industrial 514

Industrial Seller concession Purchase and sale agreement Agents 514

Housing Wire

MAY 1, 2024

First-generation homebuyers as a cohort are “less likely to receive financial assistance from parents to help with the down payment and other upfront costs when purchasing a home,” according to Freddie Mac. Identification of a loan under these conditions is currently optional, the bulletin explained.

Mortgages 459

Mortgages Finance Loans Closing costs 459

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

The mortgage industry has complained loudly and often that government regulation and investor requirements are contributing to spiraling costs that get passed on to consumers. “They can add up to several percentage points of the total mortgage amount. At least when it comes to redundancies with refinancings, that is.

Mortgages 476

Mortgages Closing costs Title Technology 476

HomeLight

OCTOBER 31, 2024

In this post, we explore the question: Are closing costs tax deductible? What are examples of seller closing costs? When selling a home, you’ll encounter various closing costs as part of the process. On average, sellers pay between 2% and 5% of a home’s sale price in closing costs.

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Closing costs Closing Title search Title 111

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 21, 2023

Unfortunately, too many misconceptions persist among real estate and even mortgage industry professionals about the VA home loan, and those misconceptions have big (and negative) impacts. VA mortgage loans generally provide veterans and active-duty service members with more favorable terms than other loans on the market.

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VA loan Loans Mortgages Lending 468

Housing Wire

MARCH 1, 2021

The 30-year mortgage is easily the most popular and talked-about mortgage product out there. After all, in January 2021, 30-year loans accounted for a whopping three-quarters of all mortgage originations in the country. In fact, they could actually cost you more (often significantly more) if used incorrectly. USDA loans.

Mortgages 459

Mortgages VA loan Loans Loan Officer 459

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 2, 2022

Rocket Mortgage is now offering a conventional loan option for buyers who want to purchase or refinance a manufactured home, which expands the home financing options in a rapidly shrinking industry. The lender has been pivoting to purchase mortgages and has been introducing products to court more borrowers.

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Loans Mortgages Land Finance 418

Housing Wire

JUNE 21, 2024

The Montana Board of Housing is aiming to remind the state’s seniors about a government-administered program that is specifically designed to help older adults access their home’s equity — and it should be very familiar to members of the reverse mortgage industry. This is where the RAM program can come into play.

Mortgages 397

Mortgages Equity Finance Closing costs 397

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 7, 2023

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. VA loans offer a 100% financing option for qualifying military service members and veterans, and don’t require mortgage insurance. points from the 7.5%

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VA loan Agents Seller concession FHA loan 482

Housing Wire

MARCH 21, 2024

Equifax’s Work Number product is too expensive for consumers and the Federal Housing Administration ( FHA ) and Federal Housing Finance Agency ( FHFA ) should potentially do something about it, an influential mortgage trade group argued this week. The trade group urged the regulators to examine Equifax’s pricing practices.

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Closing costs Loans Title Finance 482

Housing Wire

JANUARY 20, 2021

And not just research on the best down payment or neighborhood to live in – you should also search the right mortgage lender. . The type of mortgage loan you qualify for is just as important as the mortgage lender you work with. The good news, it’s easy to find a mortgage lender. Buying a home?

Debt-to-income ratio 459

Debt-to-income ratio Pre-approval Mortgages Loans 459

Housing Wire

JULY 2, 2024

After the reverse mortgage industry’s key performance metrics rallied in May, June fared slightly worse than previously telegraphed by case number assignments. Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) endorsements fell by 14.4% Finance of America (FOA) added 4.1% Guild Mortgage also posted a gain of 19.1%

Mortgages 434

Mortgages Equity Loans Loan Officer 434

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 22, 2020

The mortgage application process can be a confusing one — especially if you’ve never gone through it before. Here are the top five mortgage-related terms you’ll want in your arsenal: 1. Here are the top five mortgage-related terms you’ll want in your arsenal: 1. Fixed-rate mortgage. Are you planning to buy a home in 2021?

Fixed-rate mortgage 448

Fixed-rate mortgage Pre-approval Mortgages Loan Officer 448

Housing Wire

JANUARY 11, 2024

Mortgage rates ticked up this week as the 10-year Treasury yield made its way back above 4%. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.66% as of Jan. 11, a slight increase from last week’s 6.62%, according to Freddie Mac ‘s Primary Mortgage Market Survey released on Thursday.

Fixed-rate mortgage 459

Fixed-rate mortgage Mortgages Closing costs MLS 459

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

Better Home & Finance Holding Co. , The product is available for qualified borrowers with an existing FHA loan who are looking to lower their monthly mortgage payment, reduce their interest rate, shorten their loan term or get out of an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), the company explained.

FHA loan 448

FHA loan Loans Closing costs Finance 448

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 16, 2022

Rocket Mortgage and its wholesale arm Rocket Pro TPO will reduce homebuyers’ monthly mortgage payments by one full percentage point for the first year of their loan. Rocket Mortgage will be covering the difference in mortgage payments in the first 12 months through a special escrow account.

Mortgages 418

Mortgages Seller concession Fixed-rate mortgage Loans 418

Housing Wire

MAY 20, 2024

This may lead an older homeowner to consider a product like a reverse mortgage, but potential borrowers should be aware of the product’s details and the informational resources they can access. She said that reverse mortgages can be expensive, which is why the product should be considered in concert with other options.

Mortgages 448

Mortgages Equity Loans Closing costs 448

Housing Wire

AUGUST 12, 2024

Piggyback mortgages — those involving a first and second lien at origination — are on the rise among first-time and low- to moderate-income borrowers who face affordability challenges. Piggybacks are a type of home equity loan taken out as a separate , additional loan from the borrower’s first mortgage.

Loans 476

Loans FHA loan Equity Closing costs 476

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

For this reason, many programs now allow funds to be used for buydowns and other popular financing strategies that take the edge off of monthly mortgage payments,” Rob Chrane, founder and CEO of DPR, said in a statement. Buydowns have become a preferred financing strategy for borrowers as mortgage rates have surged.

FHA loan 482

FHA loan VA loan Finance Loans 482

Housing Wire

MARCH 28, 2023

Rocket Companies has rolled out its first credit card in order to attract potential homebuyers and existing homeowners into its ecosystem amid one of the most challenging mortgage markets in decades. The firm will also waive the $95 annual fee for cardholders who are clients serviced by Rocket Mortgage.

Closing costs 435

Closing costs Finance Principal Mortgages 435

Housing Wire

AUGUST 13, 2024

The letter was in response to the CFPB’s request for information on residential mortgage fees, which the Bureau issued in late May. This request was in addition to the CFPB’s consideration of a ban on mortgage banks charging homebuyers for the lender’s title insurance policy. of the borrower’s total life-of-loan costs combined.”

Title 468

Title Mortgages Land Closing costs 468

Redfin

FEBRUARY 18, 2025

Can you roll closing costs into your mortgage? Basically, folding your closing costs into your loan means you’ll need less cash upfront at closing. Your lender can explain their specific policies, the rules around this practice, and which costs are eligible to be rolled into the mortgage.

Closing costs 52

Closing costs Closing VA loan Seller concession 52

Housing Wire

MARCH 21, 2024

(FICO), the company that retains the rights to the mortgage market’s adopted methodology to measure consumer credit risk. Julie May, vice president and general manager of B2B Scores at FICO, said that in the mortgage space, the company charges “$3.50 Changes in credit report costs may result in lawsuits against the company.

Mortgages 476

Mortgages Purchase and sale agreement Closing costs Finance 476

Housing Wire

APRIL 15, 2024

Based on the selling guides in use by the GSEs, property sellers are allowed to make financing concessions toward the borrower’s closing costs at a maximum amount of 2% to 9% of the property value. The Community Home Lenders Association (CHLA) expressed support for the GSEs’ announcement.

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Agents Seller concession VA loan Finance 532

Housing Wire

APRIL 30, 2024

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) this week released its fair lending final rule, following up on a proposal made last year in alignment with plans first laid out in 2022 by the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. FHFA explained some of the actions it has taken to address housing inequality.

Lending 458

Lending Finance Closing costs Closing 458

Housing Wire

AUGUST 19, 2024

The state of Montana has been more heavily promoting its state-based Reverse Annuity Mortgage (RAM) program for seniors. She sat down with HousingWire ’s Reverse Mortgage Daily (RMD) to offer more details about the push and the unique elements of the RAM program. So, right now, the reverse annuity mortgage program has about $5.5

Mortgages 434

Mortgages Loans Equity Principal 434

Housing Wire

MAY 8, 2023

Mortgage lender and servicer NewRez on Monday launched a special purpose credit program through Freddie Mac that will provide $3,000 or more in closing cost assistance to qualifying first-time homebuyers. Rocket Mortgage began offering the recently revamped BorrowSmart Access program in March.

Debt-to-income ratio 435

Debt-to-income ratio Closing costs Finance Lending 435

Housing Wire

MARCH 7, 2024

Biden will also call for “lower homebuying and refinancing closing costs and crack down on corporate actions that rip off renters,” according to the White House announcement. This would act as an equivalent to reducing the mortgage rate by more than 1.5% The NHC lauded the development. It is also wary of some of the proposals.

Construction 535

Construction Closing costs Renovation Title 535

Housing Wire

APRIL 18, 2024

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) this week released its annual Housing Mission Report , offering insights into the actions the agency took in 2023 on a host of issues. Through the HomeReady First SPCP, Fannie Mae acquired 921 loans with a total of more than $5 million in down payment or closing cost assistance, the report stated.

Closing costs 447

Closing costs Loans Design Finance 447

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 1, 2023

Mortgage originators will pay more to access consumer credit reports in 2024, reigniting complaints from mortgage lenders and trade associations. Compared to 2022, mortgage lenders in 2023 saw a price increase between 10% and 400% , mortgage trade groups and other stakeholders said. In 2024, Fair Isaac Corp.

Mortgages 482

Mortgages Pre-approval Closing costs Lending 482

Housing Wire

APRIL 27, 2023

Mortgage rates are trending up ahead of the Federal Reserve’s meeting next week, with the FOMC expected to increase the federal funds rate. The prospect of lower mortgage rates for the remainder of the year should be welcome news to borrowers who are looking to purchase a home.” under the previous policy.

Mortgages 397

Mortgages Fixed-rate mortgage Loans Closing costs 397

Housing Wire

JULY 12, 2023

United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) on Wednesday announced two new home-affordability mortgage products designed to help underserved borrowers become homeowners. UWM, America’s top mortgage lender, is offering Special Purpose Credit Programs (SPCP) for Fannie Mae ‘s HomeReady and Freddie Mac ’s BorrowSmart Geo-Target programs.

Closing costs 370

Closing costs Finance Lending Development 370

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 28, 2024

Top 10 mortgage lender and servicer Newrez is partnering with Newzip , a tech-enabled real estate platform, to roll out a program aimed to save buyers and sellers on credit costs. They will also be offered closing cost credits of up to 0.5% billion in 2023, per data from Inside Mortgage Finance.

Closing costs 448

Closing costs Loan Officer Closing Loans 448