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Non-QM lender Griffin Funding unveils AI-driven underwriting platform

Artificial Intelligence, Griffin Funding, HWmember, LendingLife, Loan Officer, Mortgage, Non-QM, Origination, Technology, Underwriting /

Griffin Funding has launched an internal artificial intelligence-driven platform designed to help loan officers navigate the complex world of non-QM lending. The tool, known internally as “LIA,” pulls hundreds of pages of program guidelines into a single system and uses AI to deliver tailored answers to loan qualification questions, according to Chloe Shubin, vice president […]

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Baltimore’s push against vacant housing shows positive results

Affordable housing, Baltimore, Homebuilders, HWmember, Real Estate, Urban Institute /

Recent efforts to cut down on vacant residential properties in Baltimore have proven to be effective, according to new Urban Institute data. By 2020, the city had more than 16,000 vacant buildings and a residential vacancy rate of 7.7%. In parts of east and west Baltimore, the rate was nearly one in three houses. “Vacancy

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Mortgage rates drop below 6% for FHA, VA loans

FHA loan, Government Lending, HWmember, LendingLife, Mortgage, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Rates Center, VA Loan /

On Thursday, mortgage rates data from Mortgage News Daily (MND) showed that the 30-year fixed rates for government loans fell below 6%. As of Thursday afternoon, the average Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan rate was 5.97% and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rate was 5.99%. Mortgage News Daily also reported 15-year fixed rates

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Texas bill targets deed fraud, but expert points to online loopholes

Homebuying, HWmember, Real Estate, Real Estate Fraud, Texas, Title, Title insurance, Wire Fraud /

A bill on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk could give county clerks new tools to combat deed fraud, but one industry expert says the measure doesn’t go far enough to protect against scams carried out online. Senate Bill 15 — approved by the Texas Legislature in August — would require clerks to ask for identification

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Real estate pros: Explain the value of buyer rep without sounding like a script

Agent, Buyer Representation Agreement, Contributors, First-Time Homebuyers, Homebuyers, HWmember, NAR Lawsuit Settlement, Real Estate /

One of the most important parts of a real estate agent’s job is helping buyers understand why working with you matters, especially now that the new rules around representation and compensation have changed the conversation. Now, more than ever, it is important for buyers to understand the value your representation brings to the table. Since being an agent is ultimately about building relationships, your goal is to connect with your buyers

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Mortgage rates hit new 2025 low as jobless claims spike

Housing Market, HWmember, Inflation, Jobs Report, Mortgage Rates /

Mortgage rates have reached a new low for 2025, despite the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation being well above the target and showing a stronger increase in the core goods component. Why are mortgage rates at 6.27%? Jobless claims experienced a significant spike today, which suggests that the labor market may not be as strong

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Homebuyers strained by costs, confused about mortgage market

Affordability, Homebuyers, Housing Market, HWmember, Interest rates, Mortgage, Mortgage Rates /

Mortgage rates remain below the 50-year average, but most homebuyers see them as unusually high — a perception that is driving stress, delaying purchases, and reshaping major life decisions, according to a nationwide survey conducted in August. The survey of more than 1,000 buyers, released this week by Tomo Mortgage, highlights the gap between economic

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Most Gen Xers doubt their retirement readiness

Baby Boomer, Gen X, HWmember, Retirement, Reverse, Reverse Mortgage Daily /

With the oldest members of Generation X set to turn 60 by the end of 2025, many are approaching retirement with financial concerns. Northwestern Mutual’s 2025 Planning & Progress Study, released this week, found that more than half (54%) of Gen Xers born between 1965 and 1980 don’t believe they’ll be financially ready when retirement

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The quiet advantage in real estate: Pre-approval

Contributors, HWmember, Mortgage, Opinion, Origination /

When it comes to real estate, the best outcomes rarely happen by chance. The buyers who succeed are usually the ones who prepare early, long before they walk into their first showing. Preparation starts with understanding what a lender is willing to offer, and that can take one of two paths: a simple pre-qualification or

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Avoiding a ‘sea of sameness’: Small real estate teams talk AI

Agent, Artificial Intelligence, Brokerage, Compass, eXp Realty, HWmember, Real Estate, Real Estate Agents, Technology /

Artificial intelligence is elbowing its way into real estate, promising efficiency while threatening the very thing agents trade on: human connection. For Jeff Funk in Orlando and Michael Franco in New York City, the daily experiment isn’t whether to use AI, but how far to lean in without losing authenticity. Funk, leader of eXp Realty-affiliated

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