Buyer agent representation: Why it matters and how you can help

Unless you’ve sworn off all forms of media, news, and the internet (in which case, how are you reading this?), you know the real estate industry has had quite a roller coaster ride in 2024. Buyer representation has become one of the hottest and most debated topics of the year. Amid the lawsuits and
Read MoreBaron Silverstein on Newrez’s AI journey and the call center question

Like most of its peers, top-five mortgage lender Newrez is prioritizing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to provide call center representatives with real-time information on its policies, procedures, and guidelines to improve customers’ experience, according to its president, Baron Silverstei
Read MoreHUD, FHA further extend Maui foreclosure moratorium to 2025

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) on Friday published Mortgagee Letter 2024-15, which extends a foreclosure moratorium on the Hawaiian island of Maui through Jan. 1, 2025, for FHA-insured forward mortgages and Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs).The moratorium, initially scheduled to exp
Read MoreReverse mortgage veteran reflects on his career: ‘Everyone has a story to tell’

Jim Cullen spent nearly 20 years in the reverse mortgage profession and recently decided that it was time to retire. But as a longtime industry professional who recognizes the potential value of the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Program (HECM), Cullen previously explained to HousingWire’s Reverse
Read MoreIt can be a ‘trap’ to carry mortgage debt into retirement: USA Today

As the numbers of seniors carrying mortgage debt in retirement has increased, so too has the potential financial burden of a regular monthly mortgage payment. Increases in inflation and the cost of living can overwhelm those living on a fixed income, according to an article published this week in US
Read MoreAtlantic Coast Mortgage adopts Nextwave CRM

Virginia-based Atlantic Coast Mortgage announced this week that residential and wholesale banking software company CRMNow’s mortgage-oriented customer relationship management (CRM) product, Nextwave CRM, will be used by its loan originators across the 30 states it operates in.“Nextwave CRM was the c
Read MoreHow will a White House plan for federal lands impact states like Utah?

A plan announced last week by the White House includes a nationwide cap on rent increases. But another element of the proposal — the allocation of surplus federal land to be dedicated to affordable housing construction — may have been lost in the mix, especially following the Democratic shake-up in
Read MoreSurging home insurance premiums challenge mortgage industry, regulators

Home insurance premiums have risen by as much as $865 this year for homeowners who originally purchased their policies in 2021. In response, the mortgage industry and federal regulators are aiming to determine the best courses of action to mitigate the financial burdens on both homeowners and insura
Read MoreeXp Realty welcomes top-producing Philly team

The largest brokerage in the nation based on transaction sides has strengthened its presence in Philadelphia. On Thursday, eXp Realty announced that the top-producing Matt Fetick Team was making the move from Keller Williams to eXp.The team is led by Fetick and David Maio Williams, who bring more th
Read MoreWhat’s the rationale behind the Mr. Cooper-Flagstar deal?

If closed as expected, the acquisition of Flagstar Bank‘s servicing businesses has the potential to make the mortgage servicing rights (MSR) portfolios of Mr. Cooper Group reach the $1.56 trillion mark in unpaid principal balance (UPB), consolidating the company into the top mortgage servicer in the
Read MoreLower’s Craig Montgomery talks growth goals for mortgage originator mentorships

On a recent episode of the Power House podcast, HousingWire CEO Clayton Collins chatted with Craig Montgomery, chief strategy officer at Lower and former chief production officer at CrossCountry Mortgage. Collins and Montgomery discussed Lower’s plans for growth, its strategic partnerships and how i
Read MoreMRI Software throws its hat in the ring to purchase REcolorado

It appears the sun may not have completely set on the proposed sale of the shares of REcolorado owned by the Denver Metro Association of Realtors (DMAR) and the South Metro Denver Realtor Association (SMDRA) to MAZL LLC.On Wednesday, MRI Software — the parent company of CTM eContracts, which serves
Read MoreA $1 million starter home? It's the norm in 237 cities

New home sales struggling to grow with higher rates

Will the Federal Reserve pivot in time to save construction workers? We have discussed this topic for some time now because, for the first time in a while, single-family permits are falling and 5-unit permits are already in recession. This is key because, traditionally, residential construction work
Read MoreState officials push back against FHFA’s title waiver pilot program

Attorneys general in 14 states have joined together to send a letter to Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) director Sandra Thompson that urges the termination of the agency’s title waiver pilot program.The letter, which was sent on Monday, was spearheaded by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Sk
Read MoreNew tech startup Finaya adds insurance quote comparison tool to offerings

A freshly minted tech startup based in Palo Alto, California, and Seattle believes it has a solution for homeowners looking for insurance.Finaya is adding a marketplace for assessing and comparing home insurance offerings. The company will deliver a network of insurance providers for homeowners look
Read MoreReverse mortgage veteran appointed chair of MISMO working group

Reverse mortgage industry veteran George Morales has been appointed as the new chairperson of the dedicated reverse mortgage development workgroup (DWG) inside the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization. MISMO is a subsidiary of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), which signaled it
Read MoreCentury 21 welcomes two new affiliates

Century 21 is welcoming new affiliates on both coastsOn Tuesday, the company announced it was welcoming Staten Island, New York-based Herman & Co. Real Estate to the brand. The firm is now doing business as Century 21 Standard Real Estate.The brokerage was founded in 2004 by broker-owner Herman Herr
Read MoreThe most effective aging-in-place renovations, according to experts and retirees

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: older Americans overwhelmingly support aging in place in their own homes, with some recent survey data indicating at or over 90% of seniors supporting retirement living in their own homes.But sometimes the cost of renovations can exceed the
Read MoreThe share of ‘stagnant’ listings is rising: Redfin

Sales of both new homes and existing ones have declined, and it’s affecting how long homes stay on the market.A new report from Redfin shows that 64.7% of listed homes in June stayed on the market for more than 30 days, which is up from 59.6% a year ago. It’s the largest year-over-year increase for
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