New Atllas AI tool aims to simplify cold calls

Not many people in any profession enjoy making cold calls to potential clients, but a venture capital-backed technology startup hopes to make it a little easier for real estate agents.Atllas is launching a new artificial intelligence tool, Cold Call AI, that the company said is designed to streamlin
Read MoreFHFA releases VantageScore historic data to prepare for new credit reporting requirements

Despite concerns from housing and mortgage industry trade groups, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) on Thursday announced the release of VantageScore 4.0 historic credit data, a step that is designed to ease the transition to new credit reporting requirements by the end of next year.The data
Read MoreHow low can mortgage rates go with cooler inflation?

Mortgage rates are falling today as the CPI inflation data came in lighter than anticipated. The shelter side of the equation was a big help in today’s report. The financial markets’ dynamism was evident in the immediate reaction to the 10-year yield, which had a waterfall dive to a key critical lev
Read MoreRE/MAX adds 60-agent Salt Lake City team

RE/MAX is expanding its footprint in Salt Lake City with the acquisition of a 60-agent team.Stratus Real Estate Solutions is rebranding as RE/MAX Stratus. Owner Ernad Mehinovic believes that the support of RE/MAX will help his team boost its business.“RE/MAX has the tools and systems and resources t
Read MoreHow to compete and win with your listing presentation (+ scripts)

Vetted by HousingWire | Our editors independently review the products we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.In this article, I’ll share close to two decades of experience as a licensed agent and small brokerage owner in Boston to help you compete and win listings w
Read MoreNew Homebot, Newzip partnership reduces transaction fees by 2%

Homebot and Newzip are teaming up in hopes of converting engagement into more transactions.The two companies announced the partnership on Wednesday, and it allows customers who are using both Homebot and Newzip to offer consumers up to 2% off their transaction costs. The companies believe this will
Read MoreInterest rates and inventory challenge buyers in northwest Ohio

While Northwest Ohio’s housing market has remained fairly strong in recent months, local real estate agents say things become a bit more complicated when you segment the market by price point.“Things under $300,000 are still moving fairly quickly, especially if the home is priced correctly,” said Ja
Read MoreFOA rating downgraded by Fitch following debt exchange plan

Credit rating agency Fitch announced this week that its long-term issuer default rating (IDR) for Finance of America, the reverse mortgage industry’s leading lender, has been downgraded from “CCC+” to “C” following the announcement of a debt exchange plan that staves off maturity risk beyond 2025.FO
Read MoreIncomes are rising for experienced Realtors but falling for younger ones

In a difficult housing market for Realtors, experience matters — a lot.That’s the conclusion of the 2024 Member Profile poll from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), which shows a sharp divergence in income when comparing more experienced agents to their less experienced colleagues.The media
Read MoreWhy ADUs can be used for aging in place — and how reverse mortgages might help

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) have a lot of potential for aging in place, as evidenced by their growing popularity and statements from private companies and public officials alike that emphasize their utility for housing seniors. In one recent instance highlighted by the Los Angeles Times, one fam
Read MoreThe financial strength of US homeowners is a cushion against a downturn

With the release of the CoreLogic 2024 Q1 Equity Insights report, which Logan discussed last week, and now the FHFA National Mortgage Database Aggregate Statistics, we have a lot of visibility into the financial position of the American homeowner. The important message in the mortgage data is that e
Read MoreHUD posts updated servicing defect taxonomy for stakeholder review

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Wednesday posted an updated draft of its proposed defect taxonomy for servicing Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan reviews.The revised policy will “provide clear guidance to mortgage servicers regarding FHA’s servicing loan review
Read MoreCFPB proposes new servicing rules that would focus on foreclosure assistance

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on Wednesday announced a newly proposed rule that would amend Regulation X and require mortgage servicers to emphasize borrower assistance and loss-mitigation options over foreclosure when a borrower struggles to make their required mortgage payments.“
Read More‘Owning Manhattan’ becomes recruitment supertool for SERHANT.

Brokerages know that the recruitment of real estate agents and teams is always competitive, and some have found it even more so in the wake of the National Association of Realtors’ settlement that’s prompted agents to reevaluate their businesses.But SERHANT. has shot its brand to the top of every ag
Read MoreRents are growing fastest in unexpected places, led by Hartford and Cleveland

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As expected, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell did not set a timeline for lowering interest rates during his semiannual monetary policy report to Congress on Tuesday morning when participants complained about the effects of a tightening monetary policy in the housing market. Powell indicated th
Read More The month in reverse mortgage rates: July 2024

In the May 2024 reverse mortgage rates report, we discussed how reverse mortgage borrowers might benefit from higher interest rates over the life of the loan. While this is counterintuitive, one must often think about reverse mortgages in…well, reverse.Of course, the reason for this is because the u
Read MoreMore than 25% of retired investors are paying down mortgage, credit card debt

Over a quarter (26%) of retired investors continue to pay off their mortgage, and precisely one-quarter of the cohort are continuing to pay down credit card debt, according to a new survey from the Nationwide Retirement Institute.The U.S. retirement population is getting older at a faster rate and a
Read MoreHallelujah! HUD finally updates, expands 203(k) program

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Tuesday announced that it has published updated policies for its 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance Program, in an effort to “modernize the program and enhance its usefulness for individuals and families seeking affordable financing
Read MoreFHLBank Chicago adopts VantageScore 4.0 model

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) and consumer credit scoring system VantageScore announced on Tuesday that the bank is now accepting mortgage collateral using VantageScore 4.0, an updated version of the scoring system using trended credit bureau data.“[M]ember financial instit
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