industry news
Here’s what will happen in multifamily real estate in 2020
Housing Wire| December 13, 2019
After a strong year in multifamily housing, expect an even stronger one in 2020, according to RealPage Chief Economist Greg Willett. In an interview with HousingWire, Willett said the apartment market is in great shape, and even the luxury market will see competition in 2020. Occupancy rates were as high as 96.3% this year, a figure Willett said is well above the long-term norm.
Fed holds steady, signals no interest rate changes through 2020
Housing Wire| December 11, 2019
The Federal Reserve left its benchmark rate unchanged on Wednesday and signaled it plans to hold steady through 2020, barring unexpected economic news.All the members of the Federal Open Market Committee supported the decision to keep the rate in the 1.5% to 1.75% range, the first unanimous vote since its May meeting.
Realtors expect these to be the 10 hottest housing markets for the next 3-5 years
Housing Wire| December 11, 2019
On the whole, the nation’s housing prices continued to rise throughout this year and are expected to continue to do so into the foreseeable future. But, according to the National Association of Realtors, there are a handful of markets that are expected to rise above the rest over the next half-decade or so in terms of performance.
First-time homebuyers are making a comeback
Housing Wire| December 10, 2019
First-time homebuyers are making a comeback this year as they made up 39% of all buyers in the single-family housing market during the third quarter, according to the third quarter First-Time Homebuyer Market Report from Genworth Financial.
U.S. unemployment rate falls to 50 -year low
Housing Wire| December 6, 2019
The U.S. unemployment rate fell to another 50-year low, coming in at 3.5% in November as the economy added 266,000 jobs after October’s upwardly revised 156,000 jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
U.S. home prices heated up in October thanks to low rates
Housing Wire| December 4,2019
U.S. home prices grew at an annual pace of 4.25% in October, the biggest year-over-year gain in nine months, compared with an increase of 3.9% in September, as cheaper financing gave people the ability to bid up home prices, the company said.
The Biggest Changes Coming in 2020 Real Estate- and What Buyers and Sellers Need to Do
Realtor.com/ December 4,2019
Ten years ago, many homeowners were desperately hoping to hang on to their homes. Others were doing everything they could just to scare up potential buyers. Meanwhile, said buyers were struggling to get financing from newly skittish lenders. Ah, memories. What a difference a decade makes!
5 nuances worth noting in mortgage and housing forecasts
National Mortgage News/ November 27, 2019
The 2020 outlook for mortgage lending is generally strong, with many projecting a slight slowdown. Hence it's important to minimize underlying risks and maximize opportunities that might otherwise be missed.
Freddie Mac: Here’s what to expect from the housing market in 2020 and beyond
Housing Wire| November 27,2019
Just over a year ago, mortgage rates nearly hit 5%, levels that hadn’t been seen since the early part of this decade. But as we get ready to move into a new decade, mortgage rates are more than a full percentage point lower than that, comfortably back in the 3% range. And according to a new forecast from Freddie Mac, mortgage rates should stay that low for the rest of this year and well beyond that.
Amazon pushes further into real estate with Lennar smart home deal
Housing Wire| May 9, 2018
Over the past few months, Amazon has hinted at expansion into real estate in various ways.Last July, the online monolith quietly tested (and then removed) a feature that would connect a potential homebuyer or seller with a real estate agent. And earlier this year, Amazon began exploring a move into mortgage lending. In fact, HousingWire’s Editor-in-Chief, Jacob Gaffney, reported in March that Amazon is looking to hire the head of a soon-to-be-announced mortgage division.
Housing confidence hits record high as home prices skyrocket
CNBC| May 7, 2018
A critical shortage of listings is the No. 1 obstacle, not rising mortgage rates or new tax laws that reduce certain homeowner deductions, especially in higher price ranges.
Homebuyers are not bothered by higher rates or taxes, but sellers are
CNBC| March 21, 2018
A critical shortage of listings is the No. 1 obstacle, not rising mortgage rates or new tax laws that reduce certain homeowner deductions, especially in higher price ranges.
House approves changes to TRID rule, loan originator licensing rules
Housing Wire| February 15, 2018
The House of Representatives last night approved a bill that could bring big changes to the mortgage industry, including making it easier for loan originators to move from a traditional bank to a nonbank. The bill would also bring changes to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Know Before You Owe mortgage disclosure rule, also called the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosures rule, or TRID.
Mortgage volume stalls as rates rise to the highest level in four years
CNBC| February 07, 2018
The first week in February usually marks the start of the busy spring housing market, but you wouldn't know that from the mortgage market.
12 high-rent housing markets ready for more first time home buyers
National Mortgage News| February 05, 2018
Rising rents could suggest the homebuyer pool is about to get even bigger at a time when demand in the housing market is already far outpacing supply.
Mortgage applications shoot up 8.3% to start the year
CNBC| January 10, 2018
Total application volume rose 8.3 percent during the first week of the year from the previous week, as mortgage rates held below year-ago levels, according to the seasonally adjusted Mortgage Bankers Association report.
Mortgage rate forecast for 2018: Rates expected to increase
Bankrate| January 3, 2018
Mortgage rates are expected to climb in 2018, so it might be worth shopping for a mortgage before this long period of low rates takes a turn. The average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage peaked at 4.44 percent in mid-March before dropping to 4.15 percent at the end of 2017, according to Bankrate’s weekly survey of lenders.
8 questions mortgage pros must ponder in 2018
National Mortgage News| December 28, 2017
From consolidation to tech innovation, here's a look at some of the top challenges and trends that mortgage executives from lenders, servicers and vendors are focused on for 2018
Homeowners: Here's what's in the tax bill for you
CNN Money| December 17, 2017
Senate and House Republicans have reconciled their versions of tax legislation and the final plan shrinks some popular deductions. Lawmakers aim to vote on the bill next week and then send it to President Trump's desk.
Mortgage Applications for New homes on the Rise
MReport| December 13, 2017
Mortgage applications for new homes increased 12.2 percent in November 2017 compared to the year ago period according to data from the MBA Builder Application Survey for November 2017 that was released recently. However, mortgage applications for new homes decreased by 6 percent compared to October 2017. The survey said that this change did not include any adjustment for typical seasonal patterns.
Here are 6 housing predictions to know for 2018
Housing Wire| November 29, 2017
The latest report from realtor.com shows the market will begin to see more manageable increases in home prices and a modest acceleration of home sales. Analysts from the real estate listings website also predict Millennials will begin to increase their market share of homeownership in 2018.
Senate Banking Committee introduces repeal of Dodd-Frank Act
Housing Wire| December 5, 2017
The bill, S. 2155, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act, contains policies which would roll back or eliminate key parts from the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
The New Gold Standard: 10 U.S. Housing Markets That Will Rule 2018
Realtor.com| December 4, 2017
To determine our predictions for the best real estate markets of 2018, realtor.com's® economic data team took a look at the number of sales of existing homes and their prices, along with the amount of new home construction in the 100 largest markets. We also analyzed the local economies of each area, along with population trends, unemployment rates, median household incomes, and other factors.
What to expect from the 2018 housing market
INMAN| November 3, 2017
National Association of Realtors (NAR) Chief Economist Lawrence Yun today announced the 2018 economic and housing forecast at the Association’s Realtors Conference and Expo in Chicago.
Housing Wire| December 13, 2019
After a strong year in multifamily housing, expect an even stronger one in 2020, according to RealPage Chief Economist Greg Willett. In an interview with HousingWire, Willett said the apartment market is in great shape, and even the luxury market will see competition in 2020. Occupancy rates were as high as 96.3% this year, a figure Willett said is well above the long-term norm.
Fed holds steady, signals no interest rate changes through 2020
Housing Wire| December 11, 2019
The Federal Reserve left its benchmark rate unchanged on Wednesday and signaled it plans to hold steady through 2020, barring unexpected economic news.All the members of the Federal Open Market Committee supported the decision to keep the rate in the 1.5% to 1.75% range, the first unanimous vote since its May meeting.
Realtors expect these to be the 10 hottest housing markets for the next 3-5 years
Housing Wire| December 11, 2019
On the whole, the nation’s housing prices continued to rise throughout this year and are expected to continue to do so into the foreseeable future. But, according to the National Association of Realtors, there are a handful of markets that are expected to rise above the rest over the next half-decade or so in terms of performance.
First-time homebuyers are making a comeback
Housing Wire| December 10, 2019
First-time homebuyers are making a comeback this year as they made up 39% of all buyers in the single-family housing market during the third quarter, according to the third quarter First-Time Homebuyer Market Report from Genworth Financial.
U.S. unemployment rate falls to 50 -year low
Housing Wire| December 6, 2019
The U.S. unemployment rate fell to another 50-year low, coming in at 3.5% in November as the economy added 266,000 jobs after October’s upwardly revised 156,000 jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
U.S. home prices heated up in October thanks to low rates
Housing Wire| December 4,2019
U.S. home prices grew at an annual pace of 4.25% in October, the biggest year-over-year gain in nine months, compared with an increase of 3.9% in September, as cheaper financing gave people the ability to bid up home prices, the company said.
The Biggest Changes Coming in 2020 Real Estate- and What Buyers and Sellers Need to Do
Realtor.com/ December 4,2019
Ten years ago, many homeowners were desperately hoping to hang on to their homes. Others were doing everything they could just to scare up potential buyers. Meanwhile, said buyers were struggling to get financing from newly skittish lenders. Ah, memories. What a difference a decade makes!
5 nuances worth noting in mortgage and housing forecasts
National Mortgage News/ November 27, 2019
The 2020 outlook for mortgage lending is generally strong, with many projecting a slight slowdown. Hence it's important to minimize underlying risks and maximize opportunities that might otherwise be missed.
Freddie Mac: Here’s what to expect from the housing market in 2020 and beyond
Housing Wire| November 27,2019
Just over a year ago, mortgage rates nearly hit 5%, levels that hadn’t been seen since the early part of this decade. But as we get ready to move into a new decade, mortgage rates are more than a full percentage point lower than that, comfortably back in the 3% range. And according to a new forecast from Freddie Mac, mortgage rates should stay that low for the rest of this year and well beyond that.
Amazon pushes further into real estate with Lennar smart home deal
Housing Wire| May 9, 2018
Over the past few months, Amazon has hinted at expansion into real estate in various ways.Last July, the online monolith quietly tested (and then removed) a feature that would connect a potential homebuyer or seller with a real estate agent. And earlier this year, Amazon began exploring a move into mortgage lending. In fact, HousingWire’s Editor-in-Chief, Jacob Gaffney, reported in March that Amazon is looking to hire the head of a soon-to-be-announced mortgage division.
Housing confidence hits record high as home prices skyrocket
CNBC| May 7, 2018
A critical shortage of listings is the No. 1 obstacle, not rising mortgage rates or new tax laws that reduce certain homeowner deductions, especially in higher price ranges.
Homebuyers are not bothered by higher rates or taxes, but sellers are
CNBC| March 21, 2018
A critical shortage of listings is the No. 1 obstacle, not rising mortgage rates or new tax laws that reduce certain homeowner deductions, especially in higher price ranges.
House approves changes to TRID rule, loan originator licensing rules
Housing Wire| February 15, 2018
The House of Representatives last night approved a bill that could bring big changes to the mortgage industry, including making it easier for loan originators to move from a traditional bank to a nonbank. The bill would also bring changes to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Know Before You Owe mortgage disclosure rule, also called the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosures rule, or TRID.
Mortgage volume stalls as rates rise to the highest level in four years
CNBC| February 07, 2018
The first week in February usually marks the start of the busy spring housing market, but you wouldn't know that from the mortgage market.
12 high-rent housing markets ready for more first time home buyers
National Mortgage News| February 05, 2018
Rising rents could suggest the homebuyer pool is about to get even bigger at a time when demand in the housing market is already far outpacing supply.
Mortgage applications shoot up 8.3% to start the year
CNBC| January 10, 2018
Total application volume rose 8.3 percent during the first week of the year from the previous week, as mortgage rates held below year-ago levels, according to the seasonally adjusted Mortgage Bankers Association report.
Mortgage rate forecast for 2018: Rates expected to increase
Bankrate| January 3, 2018
Mortgage rates are expected to climb in 2018, so it might be worth shopping for a mortgage before this long period of low rates takes a turn. The average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage peaked at 4.44 percent in mid-March before dropping to 4.15 percent at the end of 2017, according to Bankrate’s weekly survey of lenders.
8 questions mortgage pros must ponder in 2018
National Mortgage News| December 28, 2017
From consolidation to tech innovation, here's a look at some of the top challenges and trends that mortgage executives from lenders, servicers and vendors are focused on for 2018
Homeowners: Here's what's in the tax bill for you
CNN Money| December 17, 2017
Senate and House Republicans have reconciled their versions of tax legislation and the final plan shrinks some popular deductions. Lawmakers aim to vote on the bill next week and then send it to President Trump's desk.
Mortgage Applications for New homes on the Rise
MReport| December 13, 2017
Mortgage applications for new homes increased 12.2 percent in November 2017 compared to the year ago period according to data from the MBA Builder Application Survey for November 2017 that was released recently. However, mortgage applications for new homes decreased by 6 percent compared to October 2017. The survey said that this change did not include any adjustment for typical seasonal patterns.
Here are 6 housing predictions to know for 2018
Housing Wire| November 29, 2017
The latest report from realtor.com shows the market will begin to see more manageable increases in home prices and a modest acceleration of home sales. Analysts from the real estate listings website also predict Millennials will begin to increase their market share of homeownership in 2018.
Senate Banking Committee introduces repeal of Dodd-Frank Act
Housing Wire| December 5, 2017
The bill, S. 2155, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act, contains policies which would roll back or eliminate key parts from the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
The New Gold Standard: 10 U.S. Housing Markets That Will Rule 2018
Realtor.com| December 4, 2017
To determine our predictions for the best real estate markets of 2018, realtor.com's® economic data team took a look at the number of sales of existing homes and their prices, along with the amount of new home construction in the 100 largest markets. We also analyzed the local economies of each area, along with population trends, unemployment rates, median household incomes, and other factors.
What to expect from the 2018 housing market
INMAN| November 3, 2017
National Association of Realtors (NAR) Chief Economist Lawrence Yun today announced the 2018 economic and housing forecast at the Association’s Realtors Conference and Expo in Chicago.