Mortgage rates nosedived by 31 basis points last week, dropping below 5% for the first time since April, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. Freddie’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) found that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.99%. Last week it averaged 5.30%, and a year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 2.77%. “Mortgage rates remained volatile due to the tug of war between inflationary pressures and a clear slowdown in economic growth,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “The high uncertainty surrounding inflation and other factors will likely cause rates to remain variable, especially as the Federal Reserve attempts to navigate the current economic environment.” Recession fears are adding to a dip in homebuyer demand spurned on…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS Officials at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are cracking down on a mortgage company that allegedly discriminated against minority families and a bank that is accused of pressuring employees into unlawfully accessing the credit reports of customers. With the aid of the U.S. Department of Justice, CFPB officials took action to end Trident Mortgage Company’s alleged discrimination against families in minority neighborhoods in the greater Philadelphia area. It is alleged that Trident violated the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Consumer Financial Protection Act. DOJ officials also claim Trident violated the Fair Housing Act. In Philadelphia neighborhoods that were more than 80% minority, more than half of the applications Trident generated were from white applicants, according to…
By SCOTT KIMBLER Times have changed when it comes to the home buying process. The age-old way of buying a first-time home, or even a larger home was to save to have 20% down and sign on to a 30-year-mortgage. Other parts of the equation included maintaining a high credit score and paying off debts so you could get a good rate. But now some people are finding they need to be re-educated about the process of home buying in their search for the best home and the best price. Elizabeth Rose is with Mortgage 300 in Dallas, TX and says even though interest rates have gone up and will continue to, home ownership is still something to strive…
By TYRONE TOWNSEND Renters continue to engage in bidding wars as Americans struggle to find affordable places to live. The demand for rental properties is growing due to rising mortgage rates, increasing inflationary concerns, and supply chain problems. Michael Scuito is a Savannah, Georgia, resident and an Army veteran who says he had to rearrange his budget to fit the current rental market. In 2020, he moved into a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment and was paying $1,575 a month. Later that year, the price was raised by over $200. “I live in one bed and one bath, paying $1650 a month. That’s not including utilities. I’ve constantly rearranged my budget to adjust to raising rent, food, and gas prices,” Scuito told…
Mortgage and real estate companies are releasing their earnings reports for Q2 2022, providing information on the state of the housing market and where it might be headed. NPR’s David Gura noted on Morning Edition that earnings reports “can shape our understanding of what the economy may look like in the future.” “So while earnings reports and calls executives do with analysts may seem dry, not relevant to most people, they are worth paying attention to because companies have access to tons of data about themselves, their customers, talking about customer spending patterns, how they’re feeling,” he said. Some major players in the mortgage industry released their reports this week. Freddie Mac said its earnings fell by 33% YOY, netting…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS The Breakers mansion is a grand summer “cottage” that symbolizes the Vanderbilt family’s social and financial pre-eminence in the Gilded Age and you can tour this luxurious estate by the sea. Built between 1893 and 1895 at the cost of over $7 million, this National Historic Landmark located at 44 Ochre Point Avenue in Newport, RI, was the summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. He became the president and chairman of New York Central Railroad in 1885. The Vanderbilt family was one of the wealthiest and most prominent families in America. According to The Preservation Society of Newport County, the Breakers was everything a millionaire of the Gilded Age could want in a summer getaway with its…
Pending home sales tumbled in June after a slight increase in May, falling 8.6% month-over-month and 20% YOY. The National Association of Realtors’ Pending Home Sales Index posted a reading of 91 last month. A reading of 100 is equal to the level of contract activity in 2001. The PSHI is a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings. “Contract signings to buy a home will keep tumbling down as long as mortgage rates keep climbing, as has happened this year to date,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “There are indications that mortgage rates may be topping or very close to a cyclical high in July. If so, pending contracts should also begin to stabilize.” Buying a…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS Officials at the US Department of Justice say a Michigan real estate consultant and accountant will serve 18 months in prison after he filed false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service. Steven Mills, of Harbor Springs and formerly of East Lansing, was retained by a corporation to supervise several real estate agents. Between 2012 and 2015, Mills demanded and received about $577,000 in kickbacks which he did not report on his tax returns, according to officials. Mills did not report all of the income he earned when he operated Mills Real Estate Consulting LLC. Officials say he did not report $100,000 he received from a real estate developer between 2013 and 2015. IRS-Criminal Investigation led the…
Zonda’s New Home Pending Sales Index for June 2022 finds the housing market cooling to levels seen in February 2020. The New Home PSI posted a reading of 125.5 for June, down 7.5% YOY and 27.9% below cycle highs. It measures new home orders and average sales rate per community. New home sales dropped month-over-month by 0.2%, the fifth straight month of declines. The new home orders component fell 10.5% YOY, while the average sales rate per community component fell 8.2% YOY. “Home sellers and home buyers are adjusting to a new reality in the housing market,” said Ali Wolf, Zonda’s chief economist. “Home sellers are quickly understanding the days of frenzied demand are behind us and it takes an…
Non-QM lender Angel Oak Home Loans has opened five new branches in three states, the company announced. South Carolina now has three additional branches, one in Charleston, led by Ed Powell, SVP of Angel Oak Home Loans’ Consumer Direct Division; one in Columbia, led by Drew Church; and one in Cheraw, also headed by Church. The other two locations are in San Marcos, CA, led by Sean Casey, SVP and Western Regional Sales Manager, and Jacksonville, North Carolina, led by Brian Mitchell, Regional Sales Manager. Angel Oak now has 52 offices across 43 states. These five new branches add to a time of growth for the company, which opened four new offices just last month. “Angel Oak is well equipped…
