HW+ provides career-making insights and analysis for those in Mortgage, Real Estate and FinTech. This long-form digital content provides members with news nowhere else and digs deeper into the “why” behind the daily news cycle. To join the HW+ community, click here.
Santa Monica: An unexpected haven for first-time buyers
Santa Monica’s high list prices aren’t scaring off first-time buyers, many of whom are getting help from family for their down payment.
Peak homebuying season is clouded by mixed signals
While headline home price increases are up 5% to 6% year over year, leading indicators for prices tracked by Altos Research are weaker than that.
Are mortgage rates about to fall?
Traditionally speaking, the spreads between the 10-year and mortgage rates is 1.60%-1.80%. Right now, the difference between them is 2.60%.
Labor market report is good news for mortgage rates
Friday’s jobs report came in as a miss of estimates and wage growth came in lower than expected, which is good news for mortgage rates.
Teraverde CEO Jim Deitch on finding ways to monetize home equity
Teraverde CEO Jim Deitch sees a golden opportunity for lenders who are prepared to serve homeowners with innovative options.
Secondary mortgage market adjusts to higher-for-longer rates
A range of experts across a variety of secondary mortgage market sectors offered their thoughts on the market dynamics at play.
Buyers are struggling to compete in the white-hot Cincinnati market
Rising prices, higher interest rates, low inventory and investor activity are keeping agent in Cincinnati on their toes.
Side’s Hilary Saunders discusses the evolution of brokerage models
The Gathering: Consumers have become more educated about real estate transactions and brokerages are having to adapt their models
Special report: The brokerages gaining or losing market share in Dallas
Few cities have benefited as much from the trend of Americans moving south as Dallas, which added 170,000 residents in 2021 and 2022.
Title insurer Doma unveils new business model
As part of a strategy pivot, top 10 title underwriter Doma announced it would license its instant underwriting software to other firms.
Title firms turn profits in Q2 despite the headwinds
Despite recording stronger financial results during the second quarter of 2023 than the first, executives at First American Financial and Old Republic did their fair share of bellyaching over current housing market conditions on Thursday’s earnings calls.
Zillow shuts down Closing Services
Zillow announced the shut down of Zillow Closing Services as it looks for a tech-enabled title platform for its housing super app vision.
GSEs further expand AVMs, desktop and hybrid appraisals
The GSEs’ equitable housing finance plans expand the use of non-traditional appraisals, including AVMs, desktop and hybrid appraisals.
Opinion: A unified approach for reducing appraisal bias
With advances in data engineering and modeling, we can begin correcting some of the bias and issues in the modern appraisal process.
What permanent desktop appraisals mean for the industry
Desktop appraisals became a permanent option in March, but not everyone has embraced them. We dive in to find out the issues.
