According to some experts, the elimination of the SALT deductions may result in some homeowners looking to move from high tax states. Is that so bad? The net effect of such moves will remain to be seen. First off, will existing homebuyers just up and move because of the SALT elimination? Maybe some, but what about their jobs, their family,…
The outlook for 2018 is for continued home value and price increases at a rate of about 3 to 4%. That’s good and bad news. Good news for homeowners who will see increased equity which they can tap for other purposes or use toward the purchase a new home at a higher value. Of course, that is as long as…
77% of the 347 mortgage lenders responding to the recent Mortgage Bankers Performance Survey reported a pre-tax profit in third quarter of 2017. Not too bad, but this is down from the 86% reporting a profit for the 2nd quarter. Not so good for the other 23%? For comparison purposes, those responding reported a net gain of $929 per loan…
TILA requires a lender to provide an applicant with a good faith estimate of the fees that will be charged to, or imposed on, the applicant in connection with their loan. Seems simple, if you’re gonna charge it; disclose it. There’s a little catch, the fee must be for a service that is actually provided by the lender. For example:…
The MBA, along with other mortgage and banking industry trade groups, are challenging CFPB’s ‘Proposed Guidance’ for handling the disclosure of HMDA data. The CFPB proposes to exclude certain loan-level data points, modify other data points prior to disclosure, and disclose other information without modification. The trade groups say the disclosure of information will put the consumer at risk. Consumers…
Like those TV drama series, the mortgage market is poised for its winter season finale. We are faced with all kinds of suspense coming from what might happen in 2018. Based on current headlines, we see: An increase in home buyer and seller sentiment A forecast for rising interest rates A shortage of housing Increasing home equity Increased FHFA and…
