Don’t know about you but we were hit pretty hard by the recent Nor’easter that hit Philly and other areas of the Northeast. We were without power for more than 3 days. Not good! We had no contact with the outside world, no TV, no radio, and no landline phone. We had no way of knowing what was happening and…
Category: Mortgage Industry Trends
More Home Buyers Flying Blind on Purchases
With home prices rising, a limited inventory, and increased mortgage rates more home buyers are making offers on properties sight-unseen. Home inventories are shrinking and buyer demand increasing makes it more difficult for buyers to find a home. Nearly 20% of the homes recently sold were above their asking price. This trend is expected to continue with the number increasing.…
Education is a Good Foundation to Build Homeownership
It may be hard to believe, but many consumers still believe they need at least 20% down and a 750-credit score to even think about buying a home. That’s not only among first-time buyers. Others, including repeat buyers, are intimidated by the home buying and financing process. So many new rules, so much paperwork, so much time and effort. It…
Will Rising Rates and Values Derail Housing
By all indicators, it’s pretty clear that the Fed will raise rates a few more times this year. Predictions are that the mortgage rate for a 30-year fixed rate loan may hit 5%. That seems like a pretty big jump from not too long ago. We know the effects that rising rates have on the refinance marker but what about…
Is the System Working for First Timers?
Over the past three years, the first-time homebuyer market has increased 40% or 588,000 loans. Now, that’s a lotta loans! In 2017, first-time buyers bought 2.07 million new or existing homes, an increase of 129,000, or 7%, from 2016. During that same period, the number of first-time buyers using PMI increased by 93,000 loans. In the fourth quarter of 2017…
Is Digital Identity The Answer?
With just about everything today going digital, is it time for consumers to carry a digital identity? A standardized digital identity is an electronically verified set of attributes that uniquely describe a person. Those pushing it say it can improve, simplify, and accelerate identity-dependent transactions, including, but not limited to, buying or renting a home. Are we ready for such…