Housing Wire

APRIL 12, 2024

While the slowdown has resulted in a return to pre-pandemic levels of market activity, real estate agents across the state believe that an issue far greater than 7% mortgage rates may cause the housing market to slow further. “We We have an insurance problem,” said Charlotte Johnson , a Keller Williams agent based in Mandeville.

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Insurance Housing Market Marketing Agents 416

Housing Wire

JULY 24, 2024

Inventory has gone from a three-month supply a year ago to at least six months, so really we are into a buyers’ market now.” While it may be easy to attribute the slower market conditions to the state’s well-publicized insurance issues , local agents say there is a perfect storm of factors. “It

Inspection 461

Inspection Insurance Marketing HOA 461

Housing Wire

MAY 14, 2024

The firm attributed its stronger results to better performance from both its F&G segment and its title insurance segment. In April, purchase open orders per day were up 4% over last year, but higher mortgage rates may temper purchase volumes going forward. The firm’s title segment reported $1.7

Insurance 420

Insurance Real Estate Sellers Housing Market 420

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023

Even with demand buoyed by a sparse housing inventory, growing financial challenges for buyers are forcing home sellers to cut prices to close deals, a new Redfin research report found. And because mortgage rates have been above 7% for about two months consecutively, the cost of financing is extreme. According to the brokerage, 6.5%

Sellers 508

Sellers Buyers Real Estate Agent Inventory 508

Appraisal Buzz

OCTOBER 3, 2024

First American Financial Corporation , a provider of title, settlement and risk solutions for real estate transactions, has published a data-driven analysis of the vital role that the title insurance industry plays in protecting the smooth functioning of the real estate economy in the United States.

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Insurance Real Estate Valuation Real Property 384

Housing Wire

JULY 23, 2024

Record-high home prices and elevated mortgage rates are prompting buyers to back out of home purchase agreements at elevated levels. Redfin ’s newest housing market report shows that buyers backed out of 56,000 purchase agreements in June, which constitutes 14.9% of buyers canceled in June. of purchase agreements.

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Buyers HOA Property Taxes Inspection 436

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024

home in June 2022, you probably locked in about $1,400 a month in mortgage payments. Due largely to higher mortgage rates , that same home today would cost about $2,175 a month. Mortgage payments are only part of the affordability challenge. Other holding costs for real estate include taxes and insurance.

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Mortgage Insurance Inventory Buyers 422

Housing Wire

AUGUST 30, 2024

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. To avoid this, you’d need additional rule changes.

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Finance Buyers Agents Insurance 390

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 16, 2020

When you get a mortgage, there are several options you can choose from, including FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional mortgages. But choosing the right mortgage product can be difficult — especially if you’ve never bought a home before. Are you confused about your mortgage options? Here are your choices: FHA mortgages.

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Mortgage Insurance Real Estate Agent Real Estate 501

Housing Wire

MARCH 22, 2023

HousingWire recently spoke to Tom Kriby, vice president of client development and partnerships at Westwood Insurance Agency, about how working with an insurance agency can simplify the closing process for their customers, even in times of interest rate uncertainty. While some elements of PITI are set, others offer buyers opportunity.

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Insurance Property Taxes Buyers Clients 384

Housing Wire

JANUARY 15, 2025

Rising personal home insurance rates, fueled by escalating claims costs, increasing property values and the growing frequency of natural disasters, will all have a profound impact on market dynamics and homeowners insurance costs. In the first half of 2024 alone, insured losses hit $62 billion , 70% above the 10-year average.

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Real Estate Insurance Marketing Housing Market 279

Housing Wire

MARCH 20, 2024

Those too young to remember the wild west of real estate believe that real estate commissions have always been evenly split between seller’s and buyer’s agents, with each receiving a portion of the sale price. This misconception obscures the reality that, historically, buyers lacked formal representation.

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Real Estate Buyers Agents Sellers 497

Housing Wire

JULY 29, 2022

vertical manager of strategic partnerships at Liberty Mutual, to discuss how partnering with a nationally recognized insurance company improve borrower engagement for lenders. HW: How can partnering with a nationally recognized insurance company improve borrower engagement for lenders?

Insurance 375

Insurance Business Mortgage Lending 375

Appraisal Buzz

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

adults nationwide show that nearly half of prospective homebuyers are having difficulty paying for basic housing expenses and that the affordability of home insurance is a key consideration in their decision to relocate. Further, the majority of Americans feel upbeat regarding the overall trajectory of the mortgage industry.

Buyers 370

Buyers Insurance Bracketing Mortgage 370

Appraisal Buzz

OCTOBER 2, 2024

The title insurance industry mitigates more than $600 billion in estimated risk exposure annually for home buyers, according to a report from First American. The curative work conducted by the U.S.

Insurance 370

Insurance Real Estate Real Property Buyers 370

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 2, 2023

New York-based digital lender Better Home & Finance Holding Company launched Better Insurance to allow customers to shop for homeowners insurance through a fully digital platform. Better Insurance is fully autonomous. The goal for Better Insurance is to offer the service to all 50 states by 2024.

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Insurance Finance Mortgage Real Estate 373

Appraisal Buzz

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

It’s a tough market for first-time home buyers, but they can still find ways to make their dream come true, according to NerdWallet’s Q2 First-Time Home Buyer Affordability Report. It’s not easy being a first-time home buyer. Buyers in the highest-priced markets will need higher-than-average incomes and larger down payments.

Buyers 360

Buyers Inventory Insurance Finance 360

Appraisal Buzz

SEPTEMBER 16, 2024

According to Zillow’s most recent market report , reduced mortgage rates and more inventory are providing house buyers with a window of opportunity at an uncommon time of year. Buyers have more options to choose from for two reasons. Beyond that, more inventory is becoming available enough to improve buyer negotiating power.

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Buyers Inventory New Listings Home Value 396

Housing Wire

JULY 25, 2023

In late June, Susan Gregory received an estimate for a new homeowner’s insurance policy on her 120-year-old St. Augustine, Florida property, after her previous insurer, United Property and Casualty, went insolvent earlier in the year. This is one of the easiest parts of Florida to insure and costs have gone up over 40%.”

Insurance 338

Insurance Housing Market Marketing Agents 338

Appraisal Buzz

JUNE 14, 2024

There have only been two months in the last decade with fewer home sales: October 2023, when mortgage rates reached a 23-year high, and May 2020, when the pandemic brought the housing market to a halt and home sales to an all-time low. Experts predict sales may increase later this year if mortgage rates gradually fall as projected.

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Sellers Buyers New Listings Mortgage 435

Housing Wire

APRIL 14, 2022

Fannie Mae generated some buzz last week when it announced it would be accepting written attorney opinion letters in lieu of a title insurance policy “in limited circumstances.”. Title insurance came to be because attorney title opinions were not adequate for the marketplace.

Insurance 391

Insurance Renovations Real Estate Law 391

Housing Wire

APRIL 14, 2023

First-time homebuyers are the driving force of the housing market and typically utilize low down payment mortgages to achieve homeownership. The benefits of homeownership only accrue if first-time buyers can both successfully purchase a home at a reasonable price and remain in it for the long-term, weathering various economic cycles.

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Finance Buyers Insurance Housing Market 325

Housing Wire

APRIL 5, 2021

And even with fast-rising home prices and an uptick in mortgage rates , 30% of those surveyed said they wouldn’t move to an area with natural disasters or rising sea levels even if home prices were affordable. Helena [California] whose home burned down in the last fire and only half of it was covered by the insurance company.

Buyers 459

Buyers Real Estate Agent Real Estate Brokerage 459

Housing Wire

MAY 24, 2023

methodology in October 2021, thousands of homeowners in low-elevation coastal areas of the United States braced for federal flood insurance hikes. Recently released data from the agency shows that annual flood insurance premiums will eventually double or even triple for homeowners in some U.S. When FEMA released its Risk Rating 2.0

Insurance 350

Insurance Housing Market Marketing Real Estate 350

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 27, 2023

One of the most important roles we play at ALTA is strongly encouraging buyers to shop around for their title insurance company. Often the buyer asks the real estate agent or lender for a recommendation, but we always encourage buyers to explore their options. On the East Coast, the buyer typically pays.

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Insurance Real Estate Buyers Real Estate Agent 507

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 24, 2024

Fast-growing mortgage servicing platform Valon has secured $100 million in a Series C funding round, the company announced this week. It is utilizing a cross-selling strategy that offers additional products to its existing customers in an evolving mortgage landscape.

Mortgage 393

Mortgage Real Estate Agent Technology Real Estate 393

Housing Wire

JUNE 4, 2024

But while a fraud attempt targeting such a famous structure and family would easily make national news, the vast majority of title theft and mortgage fraud schemes do not. He or she then tries to sell it to an unsuspecting buyer by executing a forged deed in your name.

Mortgage 443

Mortgage Insurance Real Estate Sellers 443

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

Amrock , a national provider of title insurance, property valuations and settlement services and a division of Rocket Companies , rolled out technology to electronically close mortgage transactions from a mobile device. By the end of 2022, the firm plans to roll out mobile RON capabilities for all mortgage transactions.

Buyers 364

Buyers Insurance Valuation Technology 364

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 10, 2023

Redfin classified purchases as all-cash when transactions had no mortgage loan information on the deed. High mortgage rates are exacerbating inequality between people who own homes and people who don’t,” Redfin Senior Economist Sheharyar Bokhari said. In those cities, the typical buyer put down 25% of the purchase price.

Mortgage 448

Mortgage Buyers Insurance Government 448

Appraisal Buzz

DECEMBER 16, 2024

For the study, Redfin analyzed climate risk scores from First Street, and Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data covering mortgage originations for primary homes. But that benefit is beginning to be offset by a surge in insurance costs and HOA fees caused by intensifying natural disasters ,along with rising property taxes.

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HOA Insurance Buyers Property Taxes 392

Housing Wire

JANUARY 8, 2021

On average, closing costs equal about 1 to 4% of your home’s value, which isn’t something most home buyers are usually aware of. In fact, according to a study conducted by Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research, 50% of buyers were “surprised” by how much they were charged at closing. Mortgage Broker Fee .

Property Taxes 531

Property Taxes Insurance Real Estate Mortgage 531

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 4, 2023

In an environment where 30-year fixed mortgage rates are racing towards 8%, loan officer pipelines are thinning dramatically. Originators who primarily served move-up buyers with high credit scores and strong down payments are struggling to find clients. They are staying busy relative to the market,” Ullmann said.

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Loan Officers Mortgage Finance Buyers 468

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 11, 2024

in the past year, driven by more cases of identity and transaction fraud New data shows that cases of fraud among mortgage applicants is on the rise — an eye-raising trend as demand from borrowers remains relatively quiet. The CoreLogic Mortgage Application Fraud Risk Index jumped by 8.3% CoreLogic’s risk index rose 8.3%

Mortgage 477

Mortgage Lending Insurance Real Estate 477

Housing Wire

JANUARY 25, 2023

Chicago-based mortgage lender Guaranteed Rate launched a new program this week that will provide up to $8,000 in assistance to potential first-time homebuyers from underserved communities. Buyers who qualify in these metro areas can use the assistance to purchase a house anywhere in the U.S.,

Buyers 382

Buyers Contracts Insurance Mortgage 382

Appraisal Buzz

JULY 23, 2024

In June, the average interest rate on a 30-year mortgage was 6.92%, while the median house sale price increased by 4% year-over-year to a record $442,525. Buyers are getting more and more selective,” said Julie Zubiate, a Redfin Premier real estate agent in the San Francisco Bay Area. of homes that went under contract. a year earlier.

Buyers 396

Buyers Contracts HOA Property Taxes 396

Housing Wire

JANUARY 4, 2023

The last week of the calendar year is usually a slow time for the mortgage industry, but 2022 was something else. Mortgage applications decreased 13.2% That’s because costs for borrowers were higher, reflecting the mortgage market’s response to the Federal Reserve ‘s tightening monetary policy.

Mortgage 527

Mortgage Loan Officers Insurance Investors 527

Housing Wire

JANUARY 5, 2021

But the truth is, your down payment depends on your lender, credit score and the type of mortgage you qualify for. A down payment is the money you pay upfront when applying for a mortgage to buy a home. For most mortgages, lenders require a down payment. Here’s what to expect in the mortgage application process.

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Insurance Government Buyers Real Estate 546