Lower mortgage rates prompted mortgage applications to increase 9.2% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ending Sept. 5. Last week’s results include an adjustment for the Labor Day holiday. On an unadjusted basis, the index decreased 3% compared with the previous […]
Mortgage applications jump nearly 10% as rates drop Read More »
The facts uncovered in fraud investigations are often shocking, revealing stories of both tragedy and comedy. And those stories inform how we help our clients to navigate the landscape of risk, regulation, and management. Stories about occupancy fraud, until very recently, never made the news. Then in the Spring of 2024, a top producing loan
Occupancy fraud: Not as simple as you think Read More »
Consumers shopping for a home on Zillow can now virtually stage properties in their specific design style, as long as those properties are using Zillow Showcase. The listing portal giant announced the integration of Virtual Staging with Zillow Showcase on Wednesday. The integration enables homebuyers using Zillow to view rooms — in listings that are
‘Zillow, show me this house with mid-mod furniture’ Read More »
A federal judge blocked President Donald Trump’s effort to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, granting Cook’s request for a preliminary injunction on Tuesday evening. In her ruling, Judge Jia Cobb said that Trump’s reasons for removing Cook did not meet the standard for sufficient cause, noting the alleged conduct occurred before her tenure as
Federal judge blocks Trump’s attempt to fire Lisa Cook Read More »
The homeownership rate among Black Americans fell to 43.9% in the second quarter of 2024, the lowest level since late 2021, according to Redfin. That was down from 45.3% a year earlier and marked the steepest annual decline since the third quarter of 2021. By comparison, the Hispanic homeownership rate rose slightly to 48.8% from
Homeownership among Black Americans drops to 4-year low Read More »
Americans grew slightly less confident about the housing market in August, as more consumers expressed concerns about job stability, selling conditions and future home prices, according to Fannie Mae’s monthly National Housing Survey. The agency’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) fell 0.4 points to a reading of 71.4 — with four of its six components
Fannie Mae: Consumer housing sentiment slips in August Read More »
Compass has appointed Ethan Glass as its new chief legal officer. Glass — a veteran antitrust lawyer — previously led the global antitrust and competition practice at Cooley LLP and directed U.S. Department of Justice teams that investigated and sued multiple listing service (MLS) organizations over anticompetitive conduct. “I’m honored to join Compass, a company
Compass taps former NAR settlement attorney Ethan Glass as chief legal officer Read More »
A new report from FirstHome IQ found that while younger generations express confidence in managing their finances, most still lack core financial literacy skills. The 2025 NextGen Financial Literacy Report, released on Monday, is based on a survey done in partnership between FirstHome IQ and National MI. It includes 500 people between the ages 18
The next generation of homebuyers is ‘overloaded’ and confused Read More »
Fintech Aven has raised $110 million in a Series E funding round, expanded into mortgage refinancing and added heavyweight advisers Lawrence Summers and Patrick McHenry to its board, the company announced Tuesday. The San Francisco-based fintech, best known for its home equity-backed credit card, is now valued at $2.2 billion following the round led by Khosla
Fintech Aven raises $110M, expands into mortgage refinancing Read More »
With the next interest rate decision from Federal Reserve monetary policymakers just over a week away, mortgage rates have continued their downward trajectory as many lenders and investors have priced in a cut. But the markets will need to navigate one more inflation report before the Fed’s Sept. 17 meeting. On Tuesday at HousingWire’s Mortgage
Mortgage rate declines are anchored to an expected Fed cut Read More »