Navigating the intricacies of private mortgage insurance (MI) can be a daunting task for borrowers, but the benefits can really add up! They include: ·        Increased buying power: Because MI makes it possible to buy a home with less than 20% down, homebuyers can reach savings goals faster and become homeowners sooner than otherwise possible. ·        Expanded cash […]

Home prices continued their upward trend in February, defying high mortgage rates and low inventory of homes for sale. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller national housing index rose 6.4% from February a year ago and up from the 6% annual increase registered in January.  San Diego led the way with an 11.4% annual increase, while Chicago and […]

A mortgage rate is highly subjective and can vary for a variety of reasons.  A news story that provides an outright level like 7.5% requires context and qualification.  Some online advertisements (especially among builders) could still be showing rates in the high 6’s.  Some borrowers will be seeing rates of 7.625 or higher.  Loans with less than 25% […]

While the rising cost of auto insurance is pushing up the official inflation rate, there is a stealth insurance cost that isn’t showing up in the consumer price index – homeowners insurance.  Along with high mortgage rates and record home prices, soaring insurance rates are just one more thing putting pressure on the cost of […]

A new report has revealed just how reluctant homeowners are to sell due to the attractiveness of their current mortgage rates.  The April ICE Mortgage Monitor report found that, on average, a homeowner’s payment would more than double if they traded up to a home just 25% more expensive. “After American mortgage holders secured some […]

Young Americans who have the means are turning to family for help with down payments as housing costs soar. Working a second job is also a popular way to save for a down payment, with 2 in 5 millennials and Gen Zers doing so.  More than one-third (36%) of Gen Zers and millennials who plan […]

Impersonators may use these and other tactics to scam you. Goods and services scam Scammers pose as buyers or sellers who set up fake websites or profiles offering products and services, sometimes at prices that are too good to be true. They may post fake ads and fake reviews. Always check that you are paying […]

In mortgage lending, almost nothing is more frustrating than working hard on applications that ultimately get rejected — especially when the problems result from simple errors and homebuyer misunderstandings. At a time when it’s so important to close every eligible loan, here’s what many mortgage originators are doing to ensure a smoother loan process, especially […]

A panel of housing experts anticipates continued growth in home prices, though at a slower pace than in recent years, according to the latest Fannie Mae Home Price Expectations Survey (HPES). The panel has upgraded its Q1 2024 projection to a 3.8% rise in home price growth this year and 3.4% in 2025 – a […]

While most Americans aren’t rooting for a recession, there would be some silver linings. Typically, when the U.S. economy is struggling, the Fed will cut interest rates to stimulate the economy and incentivize companies to expand and hire again. Mortgage rates, which are separate from the Fed’s rates, usually follow in a similar trajectory. So […]