In a recent article published in the Scotsman Guide, I predicted that last year would be the biggest year for mortgage consolidations since 1994. The prediction was correct but, for different reasons. While I expected a significant increase in the range of interest rates, the loss to the mortgage industry was caused by somewhat higher interest rates resulting in squeezed…
Everyone is always looking for some positive signs when it comes to business and the economy; mortgage lenders are no different. So, let’s consider the recent results of the Fannie Home Purchase Sentiment survey as a glass half full. According to the Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI), the net share of consumers who think that “now is a good time…
Another year, another year older for the Millennial generation. They are now in their prime home-buying years and finally coming to market. According to recent activity, 45% of the purchase loans were made to Millennials versus 43% in December. Conversely, loans made to all other generations declined during the same period from 57% to 55. Millennials buying homes is a…
The dreaded tax filing deadline is fast approaching and this year it also serves as the date that the 3 major repositories will drop the reporting of outstanding tax liens from their credit reporting. As of April 16th, outstanding tax liens against consumers will no longer appear on a credit report pulled by a lender to make a mortgage loan,…
In case you hadn’t noticed, mortgage lending volume is off about 20% from a year ago, with refinances down somewhere around 35%. To add insult to injury, profit margins for traditional mortgage lenders reported for the fourth quarter of 2017 are less than half of that in Q4 2016; $237 versus $535. We all knew this was coming. But, did…
As we know by now, a strong purchase market for housing is forecasted for the next few years. After such a long period of refinances, this presents some real challenges for Realtors, lenders, and consumers. The recent onslaught of refi’s has removed many homes from the market. This results in a rise in home prices leaving fewer affordable homes for…
