Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

The first-time homebuyer process is a lengthy one, and if you’re not careful, there’s a lot that can throw you off-track. From low appraisals to surprise credit checks, a number of hurdles could slow your purchase or even derail it altogether. Are you on the hunt for a new home? Want to make sure your purchase goes off without a hitch? Then take steps to avoid these all-too-common first-time homebuyer mistakes: More for Real Estate Enthusiasts.

Insurance 534

Insurance Loan Officers Housing Market Appraisal 534

McKissock

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

At its public meeting on February 19, 2021, the Appraisal Standards Board of The Appraisal Foundation voted to extend the expiration date of the 2020-2021 USPAP publication by one year. Instead of expiring on December 31, 2021, the current USPAP will remain in effect until December 31, 2022. The Foundation is exploring several options for future editions of USPAP, including going to a longer USPAP cycle, or issuing a new USPAP publication that has no expiration date and making revisions to the d

Law 92

Law Appraisal 92

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

It looks like RentPath will be sold after all. After a deal to be acquired by CoStar Group fell through due to antitrust objections from the federal government, real estate brokerage and listings portal Redfin has scooped up the Atlanta-based rental platform. Seattle-based Redfin has agreed to pay $608 million in cash to acquire RentPath , though the deal still requires sign-off by the Federal Trade Commission and a bankruptcy court.

Real Estate Agent 504

Real Estate Agent Real Estate Agents Brokerage 504

McKissock

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

The appraisal profession is aging. According to the 2020-2021 Appraisal Income Guide , more than 15% of certified general appraisers indicate they will retire in the next 6-10 years. This presents an opportunity for those who are considering upgrading their license level to certified general, as the demand for certified general appraisers is almost certain to increase in the coming years.

Appraisal 54

Appraisal Technology Design Tools 54

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Consumer credit activity rose in the fourth quarter of 2020, as low interest rates and high housing demand continued to fuel mortgage demand, according to TransUnion’s latest industry insights report. Serious delinquency rates in mortgages declined year-over-year to 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2020. Delinquency rates were at 1% in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Mortgage 441

Mortgage Business Marketing 441

BiggerPockets

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

How do you know if you can save money and fix your maintenance problems on your own? Ask yourself these five questions.

Landlords 69

Landlords 69

Buys Brokers Only LLC

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Mortgage interest rates in the U.S. rose to the highest level since November 2020, for the week ending February 18, 2021, according to Freddie Mac's weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey.

Mortgage 42

Mortgage Marketing Realtors Real Estate 42

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

It hasn’t been that long since the mortgage industry worked through the challenges of the early part of the century and now, once again, we find ourselves in a time when serving our customers is filled with financial hardships and uncertainty about the outcome. Just like we can look back and analyze how our industry rebounded from the Great Recession, we will one day be able to do the same regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Business 384

Business Mortgage 384

BiggerPockets

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

This week’s topic comes from our hosts, Ashley and Tony. They’ve heard many rookies ask the same question: what are the BEST real estate apps to have? Well, Ashley and […].

Real Estate 36

Real Estate Investors 36

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Courtney Thompson, senior vice president of default mortgage at Flagstar Bank , will speak on a panel titled Servicing Challenges in a Pandemic Period at HousingWire’s Spring Summit on March 4. Thompson leads Flagstar’s default mortgage operations team, delivering industry-leading transparency into the default mortgage servicing process. Prior to coming to Flagstar in 2014, Thompson had 15 years of consulting experience in the default arena.

Design 381

Design Realtors Real Estate Mortgage 381

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Title insurance upstart States Title announced this week $150 million in debt financing from HSCM Bermuda , which will go towards developing a more modern home closing experience. CEO Max Simkoff said the financing will held them “wipe the system clean” and build a homebuying system from scratch – one that is simple, efficient and digital, he added. “Home buying, which is already stressful and overwhelming, should set the standard for easing customers’ journeys rath

Finance 339

Finance Insurance Technology Modernization 339

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Following an impressive fourth quarter, Stewart Title announced a 10% increase in the company’s annual cash dividend to $1.32 per share. Fred Eppinger, Stewart CEO, said he asked the company’s Board of Directors for the increase in order to be consistent with shareholders. “The increased annual dividend is directly related to the strong fourth quarter and year-end revenue growth Stewart saw across all lines of business and by continuing to effectively manage our cost structure to increase

Valuation 310

Valuation Real Estate Investing Business 310

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

The National Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales for January were at 6,669,000, which beat estimates. The year-over-year growth was an impressive 23.7%. The median sales price also jumped 14.1% year over year, which I warned could happen during the years 2020-2024. On a recent HousingWire podcast , I discussed the need for higher mortgage rates to cool down this growth rate.

Housing Market 525

Housing Market Realtors Mortgage Sellers 525

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Existing home sales rose for the second consecutive month , as January saw a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 6.69 million purchases – up a robust 23.7% year-over-year. You can thank Millennials for that. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors , said last month that he expected momentum to carry over from the end of 2020.

Inventory 543

Inventory Sellers Real Estate Buyers 543