Today new home sales beat estimates, and new home median sales prices hit an all-time high. What is going on here? My job is always to be the detective, not the troll so let’s take a look at today’s data,
Buydowns become key for buyers to beat the market
It’s a terrible time for homebuyers. Mortgage rates for a 30-year fixed-rate loan are hovering around 7% levels and still-high home prices are slashing purchasing power. What helped Erica Davis, a loan originator at Guild Mortgage, in the current high-rate
New home sales continued to yo-yo in October
Homebuilders must be feeling some whiplash, as new single-family home sales continued to yo-yo in October. After rebounding in August from a drop in July only to fall again in September, new home sales were back up in October, according
Nonbank lender job cuts could shorten the market downturn
The current market downturn for mortgage lenders may be shorter than the previous cycles, mainly due to the recent rounds of workforce layoffs imposed by nonbanks. “While it is true that many nonbanks entered this downturn with a large war
Mortgage rates dropped again, so why are some borrowers on the sidelines?
Recent declines in mortgage rates, which are due to a slowdown in inflation growth, have been enough to convince some borrowers to apply for new home loans, according to recent data on mortgage applications. However, there are still forces pushing
How to communicate rate changes to borrowers
Mortgage rates are changing every day – and those changes can have big effects on borrowers. Over the last year, it seems that most of those changes have taken an upward trajectory, but there are times that monitoring mortgage rates
Demand for mortgages is on the rise as rates fall
With mortgage rates down nearly 50 basis points from the recent peak about a month ago, borrower demand picked up again this week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). The market composite index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, rose
Prepayment activity drops to another record low as mortgage rates top 7%
Prepayment activity fell to another record low in October amid mortgage rates topping 7% and refis drying up. Black Knight expects that the steep declines in rate lock volume and seasonality factors point to further declines in prepayment activity. Prepayment
15 Must-Read Tips for Organizing Small Spaces
If you live in a small space, you know the struggle of trying to keep it organized. It can seem like an impossible task, but some organizing hacks for small spaces can help. From the tiniest studio apartment in Los
Marcia Fudge will be the first sitting HUD secretary to visit Japan
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge will be the first sitting HUD secretary to visit Japan when she arrives in Tokyo next week. According to an announcement, Tokyo’s Governor Yuriko Koike will hold a joint
Los Angeles Housing Market: Prices, Trends, Forecast 2022-2023
Are Housing Prices Going Down in Los Angeles? We’ll discuss the recent trends in the Los Angeles housing market. The market dynamics are changing now. After a two-year housing boom spurred in large part by record-low borrowing costs, the Los
Gas vs. Electric Stove: Sustainability, Cost, and Maintenance Debunked
If you’re in the market for a new stove, choosing a replacement can be challenging. Along with size, brand, and aesthetic, an important decision is deciding which fuel source you want it to use. Both have their advantages and disadvantages,
Hidden Gems in Denver: Miles to Explore in the Mile High City
Denver is known for its craft beer scene, access to nature, and high altitude. It’s regarded as the “Mile High City” because it sits over 5,000 feet above sea level. There is no shortage of excitement that locals can find
Inside Movement Mortgage’s acquisition plans
Movement Mortgage CEO Casey Crawford and President Mike Brennan. Movement Mortgage’s deal to acquire top indie retail lender Mortgage Network marks a shift in the South Carolina-based company’s strategy. “Over the years, we’ve been more focused on organic growth, one
Days on market grow despite low inventory for existing homes
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported today on two trends in existing home sales that we have seen for many months now: sales are declining while total inventory data has fallen directly for the three straight months. On a
Black Knight to sell TitlePoint back to Fidelity for $225M
Black Knight agreed to sell its TitlePoint business unit to former parent company Fidelity National Financial for $225 million in cash. A sale of TitlePoint is expected ahead of Black Knight’s planned blockbuster acquisition by Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. TitlePoint enables
Proptech company Rhino acquires Desposify to transform deposit platform
Proptech firm Rhino will be buying the technology and assets of Deposify, a cash security deposit management technology platform, to launch an end-to-end deposit management and compliance platform. The platform, which is planned to launch after the transaction closes this
Housing industry continues to shed employees in economic downturn
Don’t be fooled by last week’s mortgage rate collapse. A combination of elevated mortgage rates, sluggish home sales and inflation continue to plague the housing market workforce, with numerous mortgage lenders and real estate startups shedding employees. “The U.S. housing
Opinion: Two legal issues relevant to FHFA’s review of FHLB system
On Aug. 31, 2022, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that it would conduct a comprehensive review of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) system. This article addresses two legal issues relevant to the review: FHFA’s statutory authority to
Farmhouse Style House: A Timeless Classic Full of Natural Charm
One of the most iconic and long-lasting home styles to grace the housing market is none other than the farmhouse style house. With their clean lines, sprawling porches, and usually set on acres of land, farmhouses are a timeless choice,
It’s the ‘perfect storm:’ Average IMB lost $624 per loan in Q3
The third quarter used to be historically the strongest of the year for independent mortgage banks (IMBs) and mortgage subsidiaries of chartered banks. At least until 2022. On the origination side, these companies’ costs exceeded $11,000 per loan for the
Hygge Design and Decor: The Secrets to Creating a Happy Home
This guide will show you everything you need to know to create a cozy, inviting, and stress-free home. Choosing the right furniture and decor and creating a snug ambiance can transform your interior into a tranquil and warm setting perfect
Even with falling rates, the housing market is shaping up to be bad in Q4
The housing recession was in full swing in October. Existing home sales last month declined 5.9% from September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.43 million in October, and were down 28.4% year over year. That’s the largest year
Block Out the Noise: 10 Tips For a Soundproof Apartment
One of the cons of living in Baltimore, renting an apartment in Los Angeles, or calling any other major city home, is the noise. From highways and construction sites to loud neighbors or boisterous roommates in another room, there’s no