Fannie Mae downgrades home sales expectations for 2022 and 2023

Higher mortgage rates are now “housing market’s primary constraint,” economists at Fannie Mae said in a new forecast predicting home sales will fall 13.5 percent this year. Continue reading

HomeLight raises $115M and acquires cash offer rival Accept.inc

Scottsdale, Arizona-based HomeLight announced that its all-stock deal raises the company’s valuation to $1.7 billion and makes it the largest “agent-focused” cash offer program in the U.S. Continue reading

Fed’s biggest rate hike in 28 years might not further impact mortgages

After bond market sell-off Friday and Monday, investors take Fed’s 75 basis-point rate hike in stride. “The Fed managed to hint at today’s move,” said the CEO of one capital markets advisory firm. Continue reading

Mortgage demand picked up last week before latest rate surge

Homebuyer demand for purchase loans picked up before a bond market sell-off sent mortgage rates soaring past 6 percent, according to the MBA’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey. Continue reading

WFG expands title agency footprint into Rocky Mountains

Brian Phillips will head operations for the company’s new Rocky Mountain Region, encompassing Colorado, Utah, Montana and Wyoming. Continue reading

Lower launches ‘Realtor agnostic’ cash-offer service, MortgagePass

Less than a month after partnering with Orchard to provide Power Buyer services, Lower pilots its own program in Columbus, Ohio, with plans to go nationwide. Continue reading

Mortgage rates surge past 6% on fears of Fed tightening

Dramatic inflation reading fuels speculation that Federal Reserve policymakers will implement drastic 75-basis point interest rate hike Wednesday. Continue reading

Mortgage rates under pressure again with inflation at 40-year high

Bond market investors wary that Fed will be forced to implement drastic 75-basis point rate hike in June or July. Continue reading

Crypto Corner: How blockchain is changing real estate

Rich Hopen invites you to jump down the crypto rabbit hole in his new series for Inman. First up, the basics of bitcoin and blockchain. Continue reading

RE/MAX’s Motto Mortgage lures key exec from rival to fuel growth

Chris Erickson has held product management roles at Guaranteed Rate, CoreLogic, Nationstar Mortgage and Citi. Continue reading