Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies released its Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity report, which projects that year-over-year expenditures for homeowner improvements and repairs will experience a near 3% decline through Q1 2024.
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Builder Confidence Remains Stuck in Low Gear
High rates and red tape are just two of the factors driving up affordability concerns in the single-family construction market, as the nation’s home builders grapple with a slowing housing...
Median Monthly Mortgage Payments Hit Seven-Month Low
In the four weeks ending August 10, the median monthly mortgage payment dropped to a seven-month low from its peak in May, indicating that when the Fed does make the anticipated decrease, mortgage...
Proactive, Not Reactive: Engaging Borrowers Early to Prevent Delinquency
Industry leaders stress the need for trust, technology, and training to keep homeowners in their homes … and delinquencies out of the red zone. The post Proactive, Not Reactive: Engaging Borrowers...
Regional Home Value Divergence: Northeast Grows While Others Stall
Where aspiring homebuyers reside determines whether now is a good time to purchase a home, according to Kara Ng, a senior economist at Zillow, who reported that "buyers are gaining leverage that...
One Big Beautiful Bill’s Impact on the Commercial Real Estate Sector
David McCarthy, Managing Director, Head of Legislative Affairs at the CRE Finance Council, examines Section 899 of President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill and its projected repercussions on the...
Starter-Home Sales Remain Firm Amid Unpredictable Markets
According to recent Redfin research, sales of starter homes increased 3.9% year-over-year in June, hitting the highest level in two years—reflecting a positive development in an otherwise weak...
Q2 Mortgage Delinquency Snapshot
MBA data shows conventional mortgage performance remains sturdy, though tightening labor markets and high student loan delinquencies could alter the trajectory. Here’s the full report. The post Q2...
Is the Post-Pandemic Apartment Constuction Boom Over?
After a surge in remote work during the pandemic that allowed many to relocate, falling rent prices and high borrowing costs for builders have pushed permit levels downward, leading to an overall...
Appeals Court Clears the Way for CFPB to Resume Layoffs
On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C. lifted a lower court’s preliminary injunction, clearing the way for the Trump administration to lay off approximately 1,500 Bureau employees and...
The Hidden Costs of Outsourcing: Why Mortgage Lenders Should Consider Direct Servicing
A look at the complexities and drawbacks of outsourcing, highlighting the need for direct servicing to maintain control and reduce costs. The post The Hidden Costs of Outsourcing: Why Mortgage...
Costs on the Rise: Asking Rents Reach 30-Month High
Fueled by the high cost of homeownership, asking rents are on the rise, as a shrinking supply of apartments coincides with growing renter demand. The post Costs on the Rise: Asking Rents Reach...
Where Are America’s Missing Homes? New Study Pinpoints the Deficit
“You can’t solve affordability by adding units in the wrong places," said Cristian deRitis, Deputy Chief Economist at Moody’s Analytics. "Looking at the census tract level reveals how local...
Strategies for a Shifting Property Preservation Space
An upcoming webinar, presented by the Five Star Institute in partnership with VRM Mortgage Services, will detail how field service professionals are facing a growing range of challenges and offer...
Is a Summer Spike in Foreclosures Brewing?
Nationwide, default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions grew in July, up both month-over-month and year-over-year as the U.S. economy added 73,000 jobs in July, falling short of...
Originator Priorities in an Unpredictable Market
Nation One Mortgage Corporation’s Phil Crescenzo Jr. shares his outlook on a potential end to conservatorship, the impact of credit score-based pricing, and why lenders need to keep messaging...
July Commercial Chapter 11 Filings Jump From Last Year
According to Michael Hunter, VP of Epiq AACER, "As expected, we continue to see strong demand from both consumers and businesses seeking bankruptcy protection, with double-digit percentage...
DOJ Settles With Greystar Over Algorithmic Pricing
Residential property manager reaches agreement with the Department of Justice over pricing recommendations using algorithms from software provider RealPage. The post DOJ Settles With Greystar Over...
Dip in Rates Drives ARM Activity to Three-Year High
Overall mortgage volume rose nearly 11% week-over-week, spurred by a slide in mortgage rates pushing refinance activity to levels last seen in April, and adjustable-rate mortgage activity to highs...
The Resurrection of Vacant REO Auctions: Good News For Housing
Daren Blomquist of Auction.com explains how when vacant foreclosures are renovated, it becomes a win-win-win for the neighborhood, the local economy, and the new homeowners. The post The...
Average U.S. Buyer’s Agent Commissions Rise for Third Straight Quarter
Redfin has reported the average U.S. buyer’s agent commission jumped in Q2 year-over-year, reflecting the third consecutive quarter in which commissions increased after new National Association of...