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More homebuyers seek government-backed loans as an affordability lifeline

Housing Wire

The combined cost of mortgages, taxes and insurance now takes up a larger share of household income than it has since the early 1980s, according to an affordability index from John Burns Research & Consulting. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, which made up 10%, according to purchase loan lock data from Optimal Blue.

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Southern states had the highest mortgage denial rates in 2023: NAR

Housing Wire

These include insufficient credit or income, changes in credit scores and high debt-to-income ratios. “A loan-to-value ratio that is too high, either because of a limited down payment or an appraisal of the home that resets the value used to calculate this ratio, can also be a factor,” she said.

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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. mortgage market in 2023, up from 14.3% of the U.S. in 2022, according to HUD.

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The impact of student loans on buying a home

Housing Wire

Student loan debt may affect your home-buying goals in a few key ways. Debt-to-income ratio (DTI) Lenders calculate your DTI ratio by dividing your total monthly debt payments (including student loans) by your gross monthly income to assess your ability to handle additional debt, like a mortgage.

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Attention all first-time homebuyers: Here are some steps to affording a home

Housing Wire

In this market where homes are selling like hot potatoes, it might seem like everyone can afford to buy a house, but that’s not true. And it doesn’t help that we’re living in a seller’s market where prices keep going up. A homebuyer’s guide to a competitive housing market. with an FHA loan. Absolutely not.

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FHA borrowers are getting hammered by rising rates

Housing Wire

Over 80% percent of FHA purchasers are first-time homebuyers, and borrowers of color obtained over 40% of FHA loans last year, according to HUD. The FHA also insured more than twice as many loans to Black and Hispanic borrowers last year as the rest of the mortgage market combined.

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Builders rediscover a tool from the 1980s that keeps new home prices from falling

Housing Wire

While sellers of existing homes have struggled with rising rates and softening demand, homebuilders have not only survived, but thrived in this market thanks to the use of mortgage rate buydowns , a tool more widely used by builders since their business is selling homes and clearing inventory. Alternatively, the builder can offer a 1 ppts.