Housing Wire

JANUARY 5, 2021

Chicago-based lender Guaranteed Rate is acquiring multi-channel lender Stearns Holdings for an undisclosed sum, multiple sources told HousingWire Tuesday. Employees at Stearns, which is owned by financial giant Blackstone Group , were told in an all-hands call on Tuesday afternoon, sources told HousingWire. In a statement confirming the deal Tuesday afternoon, Guaranteed Rate said the acquisition of Stearns would enable a boost in retail loan originations and further scale its JV platform, while

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Lending Retail Real Estate Agent Brokerage 538

Miller Samuel

JANUARY 5, 2021

Back on December 4, 2020, I wrote about the sham bylaw change being floated by the Appraisal Institute to avoid the embarrassment of the recent sham election process: The Sham 45-Day Bylaw Modification Process To Keep Jim Amorin’s Sham Petition Process Explained. To rush this through, the Appraisal Institute Board of Directors meeting is being held Wednesday, January 6th with sketchy notice.

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Appraisal Law Decorating Legal 248

Housing Wire

JANUARY 5, 2021

Months after it delayed its $250 million initial public offering, AmeriHome has signaled that it may now be ready to enter the public markets. The lender and servicer filed updated paperwork with the Securities and Exchanges Commission on Monday detailing its performance through Sept. 30. According to the updated S-1 , AmeriHome, owned by asset management firm Apollo Global , generated $173.8 million in net income during the third quarter.

Valuation 410

Valuation Mortgage Finance Business 410

McKissock

JANUARY 5, 2021

Last month (December), we asked our CE Plus members , “What are your career goals for 2021?” Here’s what they had to say. Real Estate Career Goals For 2021. “To sell more houses.” A lot of real estate agents stated that they wanted to “earn more” in the new year than they did in the previous year. However, when setting goals or resolutions, it is helpful to be as detailed as possible.

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Real Estate Agent Real Estate Agents Clients 79

Housing Wire

JANUARY 5, 2021

SimpleNexus , a digital mortgage startup, announced on Tuesday that it picked up $108 million in a Series B funding around. The fund raise comes as the company attempts to increase its marketshare within the eClosing and mobile mortgage segments. The Utah-based software developer offers a private-label digital mortgage platform and mobile app designed to connect lenders with borrowers and real estate agents.

Architecture 397

Architecture Real Estate Agent Loan Officers Real Estate 397

McKissock

JANUARY 5, 2021

On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, McKissock Learning is hosting a FREE one-hour, non-credit Pro-Series webinar titled “The Appraisal Foundation 2021 Q1 Update.” Participate in this Q&A session with Lisa Desmarais, Vice President, Appraisal Issues with The Appraisal Foundation (TAF). Hear about proposed changes to USPAP as well as an update on current AQB and ASB activities.

Appraisal 64

Appraisal Real Estate Development Investing 64

McKissock

JANUARY 5, 2021

What New Year’s goals do you have for your appraisal business? Last month we asked our community of real estate appraisers, “What appraisal skill would you most like to improve in 2021?” The top answer was “adopting new technology,” and the three runners up were “obtaining new clients,” “staying up-to-date on industry and market trends,” and “time management and efficiency.” Below, we share insights into which areas appraisers plan to focus t

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Appraisal Technology Clients Business 71

Housing Wire

JANUARY 5, 2021

Knight Barry Title is joining the ranks of title companies upping their merger and acquisition games. The company announced its purchase of Title One , a six-office operation that will strengthen its presence in Minnesota, especially the Minniapolis-St. Paul area. Title One is headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota, and has offices in the state in Apple Valley, Maple Grove, Ramsey, Roseville and Woodbury.

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Clients Technology 370

Housing Wire

JANUARY 5, 2021

There’s a common misconception that you need a 20% down payment to purchase a home. But the truth is, your down payment depends on your lender, credit score and the type of mortgage you qualify for. For example, some loans require as little as 3% down. . If you’re thinking about buying a house, we have good news. Some lenders will let you buy your home with a much smaller down payment.

Insurance 546

Insurance Government Buyers Real Estate 546

Housing Wire

JANUARY 5, 2021

The Federal Housing Finance Agency published the 2021 plans for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to serve the most vulnerable communities through their Duty to Serve plans. While these plans normally encompass three years – and would need to lay out the plan for years 2021 to 2023 – due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the FHFA announced the government-sponsored enterprises would be releasing just one year – an extension of their 2018 to 2020 plans.

Finance 397

Finance Development Investing Mortgage 397

Housing Wire

JANUARY 5, 2021

Proptech company RealPage will acquire WhiteSky Communications , a company that offers internet, video and voice services to multifamily buildings. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed on Monday. Alabama-based WhiteSky offers its bulk services to apartments, student living, hotels, adult living, assisted living and hospitals at a low cost.

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Property Management Housing Market Real Estate Tools 407

Housing Wire

JANUARY 5, 2021

Over the past few decades, the inventory of affordable homes has been in sharp decline while home prices have risen dramatically. In fact, since 2012, the average price of a home has risen by almost 47%. As a result, affordable housing solutions like manufactured homes may be more suitable for homebuyers looking for a starter home or seeking to downsize.

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Design Inventory Finance Buyers 512