Housing Wire

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. has agreed to settle with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the U.S Department of Justice (DOJ) over the regulators’ allegations of mortgage lending discrimination in majority-Black neighborhoods of the Birmingham, Alabama , metro area. The agreement, which was submitted for court approval, requires the Madison, Wisconsin-based mortgage lender to pay a $1.9 million civil penalty.

Advertising 468

Advertising Lending Loan Officers Retail 468

Appraisal Buzz

OCTOBER 15, 2024

While some believe the “American Dream” is still attainable in today’s market, new Point2 data showed that a growing number of prospective homebuyers do not see themselves as homeowners, citing a combination of factors such as mortgage rates, availability, and growing home prices. Because many Americans don’t believe homeownership is likely in their future, renters of single-family homes have grown to be a major force in the residential market, greatly influencing the post-pandemic environment.

Tenants 370

Tenants Renovations Modernization Contracts 370

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 15, 2024

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) — the regulatory body that oversees communications across a wide variety of media including radio, telephone and the internet — announced that new rules related to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) will go into effect in April 2025. The new guidelines are designed to make it easier for consumers to revoke consent for unwanted robocalls and texts.

Design 482

Design Real Estate Mortgage Business 482

Appraisal Buzz

OCTOBER 15, 2024

The Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI), a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) based on data analysis from ICE Mortgage Technology , indicates a drop in mortgage credit availability in September. Key Findings from the Mortgage Credit Availability Index: In September, the MCAI dropped by 0.5% to 98.5. While increases in the index point to looser credit, a decrease in the MCAI suggests tighter lending requirements.

Mortgage 387

Mortgage Government Lending Construction 387

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Fannie Mae on Tuesday announced enhancements to its Expanded Housing Choice (EHC) initiative, opening it up to all jurisdictions without source-of-income protections. The government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) said the Housing Choice Voucher program, which launched in 2022, assists very low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities in being able to afford stable and quality housing in the private market.

Landlords 475

Landlords Tenants Property Management Legal 475

Real Estate News

OCTOBER 15, 2024

“People are buying” — and living in — these futuristic homes, with dozens sold at a community in Texas, and more widespread adoption expected in five years

306

306

Real Estate News

OCTOBER 15, 2024

A new statement from the agency suggests that when information is shared only among competitors — like trade group members — it sets off antitrust alarm bells.

306

306

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Confusion and chaos are still a reality for some real estate professionals in the wake of the NAR settlement-mandated business practice changes, but preparation has been key to minimizing the negative impacts. (Image generated by AI in Midjourney) It has been nearly two months since the nationwide implementation of the business practice changes outlined in the National Association of Realtors’ commission lawsuit settlement agreement.

Real Estate 448

Real Estate Brokerage Sellers Agents 448

Real Estate News

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Nearly a quarter of first-time buyers may wait even longer, to see if down payment help or other candidate promises materialize in 2025, a Redfin survey found.

Buyers 299

Buyers 299

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 15, 2024

The nation’s most expensive neighborhoods are once again in coastal states. A recent report from real estate data provider PropertyShark ranked California , New York and Florida as the states with the most expensive ZIP codes in 2024. The report listed the 100 most expensive ZIP codes between Jan. 1 and Sept 30 of this year based on prices for closed residential sales.

Real Estate 448

Real Estate Marketing Housing Market Finance 448

Appraisal Buzz

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Fannie Mae has announced enhancements to its Expanded Housing Choice (EHC) initiative , making the program available in all jurisdictions without a source of income protections, for new loans to multifamily property owners who accept U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs). The HCV program helps very-low-income families, senior citizens, and people with disabilities afford stable and quality housing in the private market.

Property Management 243

Property Management Legal Housing Market Development 243

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 15, 2024

With high prices and still stiff competition, those looking to buy a home in today’s real estate market need to consider every opportunity, including the choice between new construction or a resale home. Both options have their advantages and drawbacks. Although the decision is ultimately highly personal and based on a buyer’s budget, needs, and preferences, there are a few things agents need to consider to help them make the best decisions.

Construction 488

Construction Buyers Agents Marketing 488

Appraisal Buzz

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Navigating Mortgage Law: Insights with Stephen Hladik from Hladik Onorato & Federman In this episode of the MP Access Show, we’re thrilled to welcome Stephen Hladik, a Partner at Hladik Onorato & Federman, LLP, and a highly respected expert in mortgage foreclosure, bankruptcy, and lending law compliance. With a career that spans decades, Stephen brings a wealth of experience from his time as a Deputy Attorney General in Pennsylvania to his current role where he works closely with mortgag

Law 195

Law Legal Mortgage Lending 195

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Title valuation , brokerage and consulting services firm Title Success, which is powered by Bowe Digital , announced Monday that it has launched a newly designed website. The new site offers a listing service for title companies looking to sell their operations. Title insurance agency owners interested in mergers and acquisitions can use the site to search for potential deals — filtering their searches based on location, asking price, gross revenue, company ID, number of employees, number of loc

Business 433

Business Design Insurance Valuation 433

Appraisal Buzz

OCTOBER 15, 2024

An increasing number of Americans are open to the idea of living in modular housing, a recent survey conducted for Amherst shows. The survey, conducted by Wakefield Research , concludes that modular housing can contribute to bridging the supply/demand gap for single-family homes. The ongoing lack of housing supply has Americans seeking alternative options.

Construction 195

Construction Appraisal 195

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Mortgage credit availability decreased in September, according to the latest Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) analysis of ICE Mortgage Technology data. The MBA’s Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI) fell by 0.5% to a reading of 98.5 in September. The MCAI for conventional loans fell by 1.7%, while the corresponding index for government loans increased by 0.8%.

Mortgage 441

Mortgage Government Marketing Technology 441

Appraisal Buzz

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Mortgage credit availability decreased in September, falling 0.5% to a score of 98.5 on the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI). A decrease in the index score indicates that lending standards are tightening, while increases are indicative of loosening credit. The index was benchmarked to 100 in March 2012. Credit availability for conventional loans decreased 1.7% while credit availability for government loans increased by 0.8%.

Mortgage 195

Mortgage Government Lending Investors 195

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 15, 2024

The Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO) is targeting January 2025 as the release window for reverse mortgage standards from its work group that is analyzing and developing the standards, according to a statement released Tuesday by Mortgage Cadence. “Interestingly, traditional forward mortgage lenders are beginning to take notice of the reverse mortgage opportunity, albeit cautiously,” the informational blog posted reads.

Mortgage 435

Mortgage Lending Development Design 435

Appraisal Buzz

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Agile , which offers technology that brings mortgage lenders and broker-dealers onto a single platform, has launched limit orders , a new quote request type for the To-Be-Announced mortgage-backed securities (TBA) market. Limit orders allow traders on Agile to request a specific price level, rather than conducting an open-ended bid process, giving them greater confidence and freeing precious time, especially during periods of market volatility.

Marketing 195

Marketing Clients Tools Technology 195

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Coldwell Banker Realty just made earnest money deposit payments much easier for real estate agents and homebuyers. Technology provider Payload is integrating with the brokerage firm, according to a recent announcement. With its new integration, Coldwell Banker Realty — a subsidiary of Anywhere Real Estate Inc. —can now process all earnest money deposit (EMD) payments through Payload’s Check21 feature.

Real Estate 435

Real Estate Realty Real Estate Agent Technology 435

Appraisal Buzz

OCTOBER 15, 2024

U.S. home prices increased 5.9% in the third quarter compared with the second quarter and were up 5.9% compared with the third quarter of 2023, according to the Fannie Mae’s quarterly home price index report. This represents a deceleration compared to the previous quarter’s downwardly revised annual growth rate of 6.4%, the firm says. “Despite decelerating slightly, home price growth remained robust in the third quarter, as the supply of homes for sale, particularly on the existing side, remaine

Design 195

Design Mortgage Appraisal Marketing 195

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Not only are Tal and Oren Alexander — the co-founders of Official Partners — under fire for an alleged string of sexual assaults , but the brothers are now facing a suit from Side , the white-label brokerage that powers their firm. In a suit filed Friday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, Side alleges that Tal and Oren Alexander, as well as Official Partners, have breached contracts held with Side.

Contracts 430

Contracts Brokerage Real Estate Legal 430

Inman

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Former Benchmark Mortgage CEO Brian McKinney has been charged with driving company growth following the launch of a more inclusive mortgage underwriting process and home equity product.

Mortgage 183

Mortgage 183

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Homie Technologies’ bombshell antitrust lawsuit has one fewer defendant. On Friday, the brokerage notified the court that it was voluntarily dismissing Wasatch Front Regional MLS , which does business as UtahRealEstate.com , from the suit. But the MLS defendant was dismissed without prejudice, which means Homie could refile its suit against UtahRealEstate.com.

Brokerage 432

Brokerage Sellers Realty Realtors 432

Inman

OCTOBER 15, 2024

The typical Hispanic-owned home is now valued 11.9 percent below that of a non-Hispanic white-owned home, the smallest property value gap on record, according to a Zillow analysis released Monday.

Home Value 181

Home Value Marketing 181

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Brian McKinney, formerly the CEO of Benchmark Mortgage (a dba of Ark-La-Tex Financial Services ), has joined PrimeLending in a newly created executive position. McKinney, who’s been CEO of Benchmark since 2016, will serve as executive vice president for growth and strategic development at PrimeLending. He’s tasked with exploring new revenue opportunities and driving company growth.

Loan Officers 448

Loan Officers Business Development Mortgage 448

Eyes on Housing

OCTOBER 15, 2024

In 2023, 64.8% of all new single-family homes started were built within a community or homeowner’s association. This share increased from the 62.6% recorded in 2022, according to data tabulated from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC). This marks the third highest share since the beginning of the series in 2009, after the high.

Construction 179

Construction Buyers 179

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 15, 2024

West Palm Beach, Florida-based Onity Group has struck a deal to acquire all assets of Mortgage Asset Management (MAM), which are estimated at a net value of $55 million, the company announced on Friday. The parties entered into an agreement on Oct. 9. The deal includes Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) and mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) with an estimated $3 billion in unpaid principal balance (UPB).

Mortgage 448

Mortgage Investors 448

Inman

OCTOBER 15, 2024

In real estate, a little magic goes a long way. Bring fun to your October open houses with these holiday-themed ideas from coach Darryl Davis.

Open Houses 179

Open Houses Real Estate Marketing Housing Market 179

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 15, 2024

In the newest episode of the PowerHouse podcast, HousingWire CEO Clayton Collins sits down with Greg Schwartz, CEO of Tomo , to discuss market recovery indicators and Tomo’s recent investments in artificial intelligence (AI). Schwartz also shares his approach to building a mortgage company alongside tips on work-life balance, market dynamics and more.

Marketing 259

Marketing Real Estate Agent Technology Real Estate 259

Inman

OCTOBER 15, 2024

The honorees in five categories highlight groundbreaking AI-powered products, services, platforms and those who are maximizing their businesses with these solutions.

Business 177

Business 177

Eyes on Housing

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Nationally, across the 86 million owner-occupied homes in the U.S., the average annual real estate taxes paid in 2023 was $4,112, according to NAHB analysis of the 2023 American Community Survey. Homeowners in New Jersey continued to pay the highest real estate taxes, paying an average of $9,572, 30.6% higher than the second highest, New.

Property Taxes 179

Property Taxes Real Estate 179

Inman

OCTOBER 15, 2024

In an analysis of more than 20 forms from various states, coach Darryl Davis identified a disturbing pattern: identical clauses between competing entities that suggest a dangerous level of collusion.

Real Estate 174

Real Estate Brokerage Agents 174

BiggerPockets

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Should you sell your house or keep it as a rental property in 2024?

Tools 90

Tools 90