Real Estate Industry News

Home sales and prices tumbled in 2019’s first quarter in the Hamptons, the summer playground for Wall Street bankers and Hollywood glitterati. Wall Street bonuses are down and the new federal tax code is making it more expensive to own luxury properties in states that have high property taxes.

Housing affordability has been a tremendous concern for Americans across the country, especially as affordability conditions now sit at a 10-year low. In order to identify innovative solutions to the nation’s affordability crisis, Fannie Mae has launched the third and final phase of its Sustainable Communities Initiative.

Reverse mortgages are traditionally thought of as a last-resort option for seniors who want to stay in their homes but have little resources and few options left. But research has proven otherwise. For those over 62 who want to age in place, a reverse mortgage can be a beneficial financial planning tool for more well-off […]

The median price of a single-family home in the luxury segment of Miami Beach’s real estate market soared 61% in the first quarter. “I explain it by saying: Americans from the northeast are the new foreign buyers in Miami Beach,” said Jonathan Miller, president of Miller Samuel.

Existing home sales slid 4.9% in March after jumping the most in almost four years in February, according to the National Association of Realtors. A dearth in supply is keeping sales in check, said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.

Home sales and prices tumbled in 2019’s first quarter in the Hamptons, the summer playground for Wall Street bankers and Hollywood glitterati. Wall Street bonuses are down and the new federal tax code is making it more expensive to own luxury properties in states that have high property taxes.

Last week, HUD announced it was issuing new rules for down payment assistance on FHA mortgages. According to HUD and the FHA, the new rules were meant to provide clarity around what documentation would be required for borrowers who are using funds from another source to cover part of the their down payment. But, according […]

Housing affordability has been a tremendous concern for Americans across the country, especially as affordability conditions now sit at a 10-year low. In order to identify innovative solutions to the nation’s affordability crisis, Fannie Mae has launched the third and final phase of its Sustainable Communities Initiative.

The Treasury Department released a second round of rules clarifying requirements for Opportunity Zones recently in a move designed to encourage more development in low-income areas. The new rules are intended to make it easier for developers looking to take advantage of the tax breaks promised by investing in Opportunity Zones, and clear up some […]

Earlier this year, a report from CBRE showed that there were more apartments built last year than in almost any other year since the 1980s. The report also showed where those apartments are being built, with the majority of the development coming from the top 20 markets. But are builders building where renters actually want […]

Artificial intelligence and machine learning innovator Quantarium is sponsoring HousingWire’s engage.marketing event to be held this June in Charlotte, North Carolina. HousingWire’s second annual summit will gather the industry’s top marketing minds for a day and a half of outstanding content and the opportunity to network with the peers, prospects and referral sources that are […]

Mortgage interest rates have now risen for the fourth consecutive week, according to the latest Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. Freddie Mac Chief Economist Sam Khater said despite the recent rise in mortgage rates, both existing and new home sales continue to show strength.

The founder and president of a defunct Massachusetts mortgage company will spend nearly three years in prison after admitting to defrauding Ginnie Mae out of approximately $2.5 million. Court documents show that starting in 2011, Mortgage Security founder Robert Pena began diverting money borrowers sent to MSI into private bank accounts, which he then used […]

LendingTree recently released an analysis that compares the borrowing patterns of first-time buyers to repeat mortgage borrowers. The report determined that just 24% of first-time homebuyers claim to be very familiar with the different types of mortgages available to them.

Waterstone Mortgage founder Eric Egenhoefer has joined Panorama Mortgage Group as co-managing partner, launching a new brand extension, Novus Home Mortgage. Novus Home Mortgage is a residential lender operating in more than 35 states that aims to simplify the mortgage process using cutting-edge digital solutions, smartly leveraging the resources of its parent company to maximize […]