Jun 08
Fannie to Loosen Mortgage Requirements Government-sponsored financing giant Fannie Mae will ease its requirements next month, raising its debt-to-income ceiling from 45 percent to 50 percent on July 29. The move could pave the way for a larger number of new buyers to qualify for a mortgage, particularly millennials who may be saddled with …
Jun 06
Most Expensive Bills Your Clients Will Pay Your buyers are probably focused on saving up for a down payment in order to purchase a home. But once they’re new homeowners, they could find themselves in over their heads financially if they haven’t prepared for other costs associated with home ownership. You could help your …
Jun 05
President Trump Vows to Strengthen Middle-Class Housing National Home ownership Month kicks off this month, and President Donald Trump is pledging to strengthen the middle class by reducing rules and regulations and cutting taxes that he believes will help them become homeowners. This year’s theme for National Home ownership Month is “Find Your Place in …
Jun 02
Stellar Yelp Reviews Buoy Home Prices? A good Yelp review of a restaurant can certainly be a boon to that eatery’s business, but a new study shows that it can also be a boon to nearby home values too. Researchers used Washington, D.C., to test their theory into restaurant quality and impact on property …
Jun 01
Credit Scores Hit Record High Credit scores among U.S. consumers surged to a record high this spring. Further, the share of borrowers considered among the riskiest borrowers hit a record low. The higher credit scores could be a boon for the mortgage market: A good credit score can help borrowers snag a better mortgage …
May 31
Risky Behaviors in Email Communication If you’re not careful about how you respond to clients over email, you could risk losing contracts, damaging your reputation, and even being sued for breach of confidentiality. Forbes.com offers some of the following tips to avoid PR nightmares and liability offenses with your email behavior. Beware of hitting …
May 30
Mortgage Rates Hit Lowest Averages of the Year Mortgage rates dipped to their lowest averages of the year this week, Freddie Mac repots. “As we predicted, the 30-year mortgage rate fell 7 basis points this week in a delayed reaction to last week’s sharp drop in Treasury yields,” says Sean Becketti, Freddie Mac’s chief …
May 26
Couples Spats Common in Home buying Buying a home can be stressful on couples. Sixty-percent of millennial and Gen X couples say they disagreed occasionally, frequently, or “a lot” when buying a house with their partner or spouse, according to a new survey released by LendingHome. They surveyed 514 adults ages 25 to 45 who …
May 25
New-Home Sales Face a Setback Sales of newly built single-family homes plunged 11.4 percent in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 569,000 units, the first time such sales have decreased this year, the Commerce Department reported this week. Still, builders are writing off the dip as a minor setback, instead focusing …
May 24
Home Insurance Myths to Bust for Your Clients Most mortgage lenders require borrowers to purchase home insurance, but many buyers may be confused about what their policy covers. Realtor.com® recently highlighted several common myths consumers believe when it comes to home insurance. Myth number one: All of a home’s belongings are covered. “A homeowners …
May 23
What Owners Want in Kitchen Remodels Kitchen revamps tend to be one of the most popular home remodeling projects. About 10.2 million American households tackled a kitchen remodel or replacement work in 2015, according to a recent report from the National Kitchen & Bath Association. Homeowners tend to want new flooring, counter tops, cabinets, sinks, …
May 22
Rampant Refis Ignited Housing Crisis Mortgage refinance activity may have been the true hidden culprit behind the housing crisis, according to a new report by the Urban Institute written by Laurie Goodman, codirector of UI’s Housing Finance Policy Center. Mortgage refinances were more likely to default than mortgages taken out to purchase a home …
