Better rapidly scaling up real estate, title insurance businesses

Better’s real estate brokerage subsidiary has largely flown under the radar, but that’s about to change as it integrates Better Real Estate and its other businesses onto a single platform. Continue reading

Homebuyer pool set to expand with mortgage alternatives: CEOs

The CEOs of Divvy Homes and HomeLight said during Connect Now that they can help agents’ clients negotiate challenging market conditions. Continue reading

If home prices don’t cool, watch for Fed tightening and rising mortgage rates

Economists at Fannie Mae are again sounding warnings that rising rents and record home price appreciation could contribute to long-lasting inflation that leads to earlier, more aggressive tightening by the Federal Reserve. Continue reading

New restrictions on Fannie, Freddie refis blamed for tighter mortgage credit

Mortgage lenders tightened underwriting standards in June, undoing much of the easing seen over the last six months as initial fears about the long-term impacts of the pandemic began to wane. Continue reading

Fannie and Freddie will eliminate mortgage refinancing fee starting Aug. 1

Homeowners looking to refinance their mortgages could have an easier time getting a lower rate, with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s federal regulator eliminating a 50-basis point refinancing fee that was intended to help the mortgage giants cover at leas… Continue reading

First-time buyers still eager, despite snags on path to homeownership

A Chase survey revealed nearly 4 in 10 potential first-time buyers lost income during the pandemic, setting back their homeownership goals. Continue reading

EXp, Kind Lending team up to launch new mortgage platform

The new platform is called SUCCESS Lending and will offer loans to consumers working with eXp Realty agents. Continue reading

Digital closing firm Doma sees agents as key area for growth

Doma, which plans to go public this month on the strength of its digital title insurance, escrow and closing platform, is intent on growing its business with real estate agents. Continue reading

‘Summer swoon’: Mortgage rates dip further in mid-July throughout US

The average interest rate on a 30-year, fixed rate mortgage dipped further this week, according to data from Freddie Mac. Continue reading

Mortgage boom for second homes takes hit amid new lending rules

New lending rules and a return to the office may have dented the prolific rise in demand for second-home loans, according to new data. Continue reading