• Housing costs continue to burden American families: NAHB

    Housing costs continue to burden American families: NAHB,Sarah Marx

    In the first quarter of 2024, 38% of a typical household’s income was needed to make a mortgage payment on a median-priced, new single-family home in the U.S. That’s according to the Cost of Housing Index (CHI) unveiled Thursday by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo. Fo

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  • Newsweek turns eye toward reverse mortgage pros and cons

    Newsweek turns eye toward reverse mortgage pros and cons,Chris Clow

    A reverse mortgage has potential utility for a homeowner in the right situation, but loan terms must be observed closely to remain in good standing and avoid the possibility of foreclosure. This is according to a look at the reverse mortgage product category published by Newsweek.As part of its rece

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  • Peter Knag joins Offerpad as CFO

    Peter Knag joins Offerpad as CFO,Brooklee Han

    After nearly a year of searching, iBuyer Offerpad has a new chief financial officer. The firm announced Thursday that it has pegged Peter Knag for the role, effective June 5.“I am excited to join at such a dynamic time for the company,” Knag said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the t

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  • New York regulator encourages property insurers to offer free loss mitigation

    New York regulator encourages property insurers to offer free loss mitigation,Chris Clow

    The New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) announced on Thursday the publication of a policy recommendation that encourages property insurers to offer free loss-mitigation options for policyholders that would ultimately reduce premium costs.NYDFS Superintendent Adrienne Harris cited the a

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  • Home prices stay elevated as inventory lags: Redfin 

    Home prices stay elevated as inventory lags: Redfin ,Sarah Marx

    The median U.S. home sale price reached a record $387,600 in the four weeks ending May 19, marking a 4% year-over-year increase, according to data released Thursday by Redfin. The pricing surge comes despite a marginal dip in weekly average mortgage rates, which fell from a five-month high of 7.22%

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  • Expect the growth rate of existing home prices to cool down this year

    Expect the growth rate of existing home prices to cool down this year,Logan Mohtashami

    I anticipated solid year-over-year home-price growth in today’s existing home sales report, so I’ve tried my best on social media to inform people that we have a low bar in home-price comps for this report and the next one. This is the context for why the home-price growth data was strong, which too

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  • Are reverse mortgages for purchase a ‘sleeping giant?’ Pros are split

    Are reverse mortgages for purchase a ‘sleeping giant?’ Pros are split,Chris Clow

    According to the most recent annual report to Congress by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) for Purchase (H4P) program saw its share of total HECM endorsements in 2023 rise to its highest level since 2019.That’s not saying all that

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  • Mortgageball: Making a profit on $10,500 a loan

    Mortgageball: Making a profit on $10,500 a loan,makennaclay

    Open the door to the most powerful room in housing. Join us at The Gathering 2025 in Denver, CO, June 8-11. Go here to lock in special pricing with your registration.The promises of the 2018  housing industry aren’t the promises of today. That hot tech thing or product that you had to have in 2018?

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  • Commission lawsuits: The actions to take right now from brokers who are doing it

    Commission lawsuits: The actions to take right now from brokers who are doing it,makennaclay

    Open the door to the most powerful room in housing. Join us at The Gathering 2025 in Denver, CO, June 8-11. Go here to lock in special pricing with your registration.In this engaging panel session, hear directly from top industry leaders as they discuss their strategic responses to the commission la

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  • LOs and agents: Creating collaboration instead of chaos in the homebuyer journey

    LOs and agents: Creating collaboration instead of chaos in the homebuyer journey,makennaclay

    Open the door to the most powerful room in housing. Join us at The Gathering 2025 in Denver, CO, June 8-11. Go here to lock in special pricing with your registration.Join Abby Lee and Kelly Gill for a candid conversation on the dynamic relationship between LOs and real estate agents, with a focus on

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  • Florida Realtors CEO: Providing value to your clients

    Florida Realtors CEO: Providing value to your clients,makennaclay

    Open the door to the most powerful room in housing. Join us at The Gathering 2025 in Denver, CO, June 8-11. Go here to lock in special pricing with your registration.Florida Realtors is known for the valuable services they offer members, including a Tech Helpline that is nationwide. Margy Grant will

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  • Majority homeownership: The future of housing is now

    Majority homeownership: The future of housing is now,makennaclay

    Open the door to the most powerful room in housing. Join us at The Gathering 2025 in Denver, CO, June 8-11. Go here to lock in special pricing with your registration.If you’re still saying minority homeownership, you’re already losing. It’s time to take a hard look at the data. Any player who will b

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  • With elections ahead, housing policy analysts discuss the end of GSEs’ conservatorship 

    With elections ahead, housing policy analysts discuss the end of GSEs’ conservatorship ,Flávia Furlan Nunes

    Housing policy analysts expect discussions about the U.S. debt limit and the end of tax breaks to dominate the fiscal agenda in Washington, D.C., in 2025, obscuring talks about a potential return of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to the private sector.In addition, considering the two leading candidates

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  • Certainty Home Lending adds national business development leader 

    Certainty Home Lending adds national business development leader ,Sarah Marx

    Dallas-based Certainty Home Lending, an affiliate of Guaranteed Rate, named Shadi Kamran as its new national business development executive. Kamran is based in Los Angeles and will support Certainty’s strategy and sales performance. “Our comprehensive product suite offers solutions for virtually eve

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  • Older Americans are ‘splurging’ on home modifications to support aging in place

    Older Americans are ‘splurging’ on home modifications to support aging in place,Chris Clow

    The data is clear: Older adults, when contemplating future living arrangements, would prefer to remain in their homes as long as feasibly possible. But for those who own homes with features or layouts that may not be conducive to aging in place, some are taking proactive measures — and spending a lo

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  • SERHANT. appoints its first chief business officer

    SERHANT. appoints its first chief business officer,Neil Pierson

    New York City-based brokerage SERHANT. is promoting its new development director, Jennifer Alese, to the position of chief business officer, The Real Deal reported on Monday.Alese will be the company’s first chief business officer, and Carolyn Sebba will replace Alese as the new development director

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  • Planet Home Lending appoints new chief information officer

    Planet Home Lending appoints new chief information officer,Sarah Marx

    Connecticut-based lender, servicer and asset manager Planet Home Lending has appointed Bill Shuler as executive vice president and chief information officer. In his new role, Shuler will focus on Planet’s technological growth and enhancements to its operational efficiency.“My focus has always been o

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  • VA to roll out temporary fix to buyer agent commission problem

    VA to roll out temporary fix to buyer agent commission problem,Brooklee Han

    The United States Department of Veterans Affairs will soon release a circular that “bridges the gap” on an agency law that prohibits a VA buyer from paying their real estate agent compensation, a VA official announced on Tuesday. Michelle Corridon, deputy policy director at the VA, announced at the

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  • NAF’s reverse division looks to tell new product stories with ‘Old Wives’

    NAF’s reverse division looks to tell new product stories with ‘Old Wives’,Chris Clow

    The reverse mortgage industry is no stranger to novel marketing campaigns, and it has often made use of celebrity spokespeople to drum up conversation about its products. While consistency can count for a lot when it comes to marketing and messaging, novelty can also be a path toward greater engagem

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  • Why equity-tapping challenges may make reverse mortgages ‘inevitable’

    Why equity-tapping challenges may make reverse mortgages ‘inevitable’,Chris Clow

    Tapping into home equity, particularly for people in or near retirement, can be challenging — especially for those who may have a pressing need. Traditional equity-tapping methods — such as selling the home or taking out a home equity loan — could present lifestyle challenges, which is where alterna

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