By NICOLE MURRAY
A number of real estate industry professionals experienced a painfully slow 2023 and it is predicted this trend will continue in 2024. With high interest rates and low inventory expected, people are encouraged to use this year to prepare for an explosive 2025.
The Mortgage Note spoke with industry professionals to see what they expect and what tactics they plan on utilizing to be successful until the inevitable market boom everyone eagerly awaits.
“2024 is going to be another stubborn year for originators,” says Jason Perkins, president of CRM company Bonzo. “We might get some relief with rates, but tight inventory and rising home prices will continue to be a burden for potential homebuyers for quite some…
The generational real estate showdown is still underway, and the latest battleground is large homes.
A new report from Redfin found that Baby Boomers with empty nests own 28% of the nation’s large homes, while Millennials with kids own just 14%.
This a huge turnaround in the last ten years, as a decade ago, younger adults with children were just as likely to own large homes as their parents.
Redfin defined “empty nesters” as households headed by Baby Boomers that report only 1-2 adults living in the home, and based on the number of bedrooms, with three or more being considered large.
Part of the problem is the current state of the housing market. Many Baby Boomers own their homes…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS
Wells Fargo released its fourth quarter 2023 financial results on Jan. 12 and leaders there say as they continue to streamline their home lending business profitability will improve.
The company reported a net income of $3.4 billion, or $0.86 per diluted share.
CEO Charlie Scharf said in his comments that the continued execution of their more focused home lending strategy should produce higher returns and earnings over the next several years.
“As we look forward, our business performance remains sensitive to interest rates and the health of the U.S. economy, but we are confident that the actions we are taking will drive stronger returns over the cycle,” he said.
Scharf said their new credit card products have…
Mortgage rates increased slightly last week but remain in the mid-6s, encouraging some potential buyers to come off the sidelines.
Officials at Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.66%, up from the week prior’s 6.62%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.33%.
This is the second consecutive week of increases, but just the second since October. Rates have fallen more than a full percentage point since then, giving homebuyers more breathing room as they struggle against record-high unaffordability.
The 15-year fixed rate bucked this trend and fell for a second week, from 5.89% to 5.87%. A year ago, it averaged 5.52%.
Freddie Mac Chief Economist Sam Khater noted that even as rates…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS
A hotline that will give brokers the ability to make changes to approval letters at any time was announced by leaders at Rocket Pro TPO this week, and it is powered by artificial intelligence.
Executive Vice President Mike Fawaz unveiled the new technology during an Ignite: Live! session on Monday afternoon. He demonstrated that to use the new AI system, all brokers have to do is make a call to provide the loan number, client name, and financing request.
If approved, the system will update the appropriate documents.
“This is a win for you. This is a win for us to be able to deliver to the broker community something that you can use that gives you…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS
Home affordability is expected to be a pressing issue for American families again this year and although it is not a top priority for Republican presidential candidates yet, they are talking about it.
At a rally last month in Durham, New Hampshire, former President Donald Trump said mortgages have become unattainable to the average person and promised to go after banks if he wins back the White House.
“After three years of Bidenomics, they call it Bidenomics, from hell, the average monthly mortgage payment has gone from $1,746 under my administration to $3,322 today, but you can’t get the money, so it doesn’t matter,” Trump told the crowd.
Trump claimed that “Biden’s handlers are making the banks…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS
The president of the National Association of Realtors has stepped down after allegedly receiving a threat to disclose a past personal matter.
Tracy Kasper reported the threat to law enforcement and informed NAR’s Leadership Team. The threat involved a non-financial matter, according to a press release.
“As president and a long-time member of NAR, I always have put the interests of NAR first. As a result of the recent threat and given the significance of this moment for myself, my family, and the organization, it is again time for me to put the interests of NAR first. So, it is with a mix of gratitude and a heavy heart that I submit my resignation as your president…
Artificial intelligence is changing how people buy homes and leaders at Rocket Companies are leaning in and embracing the latest technology.
In December, it was announced that the Rocket Homes app is now available to potential buyers while they are driving through Apple CarPlay. Homes listed for sale can be seen in the “Nearby” tab. By tapping the vehicle’s screen, drivers can get directions to a home, call an agent, or save listings to their “Favorites.”
Doug Seabolt, CEO of Rocket Homes, said at the time that the app is making house hunting more convenient for busy homebuyers on the go.
“When looking for a new home, the search never stops – even when you are driving around town. That…
Buffalo, NY, is slated to be the hottest market of 2024 as affordable metros gain popularity among money-minded Americans.
Cincinnati and Columbus took numbers two and three on Zillow’s Hottest Markets of 2024 list, driving home the importance of savings for homebuyers this year.
The list is made up of relatively low-cost cities, primarily in the Midwest and South. Indianapolis, IN; Providence, RI; Atlanta, GA; Charlotte, NC (2023’s hottest city, now in 7th place); Cleveland, OH; Orlando, FL, and Tampa, FL, rounded out the top ten.
Zillow’s analysis looks at the 50 most populous metros and measures local home value growth and the speed at which home sellers are entering contracts with buyers, as well as job growth per new…
The last two weeks of 2023 brought a slump in mortgage applications as buyers continue to grapple with affordability.
The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey shows the adjusted Market Composite Index – a measure of mortgage loan application volume – fell 9.4% from the two weeks prior. The data includes adjustments for the holidays.
Adjusted purchase applications dropped by 5%, while the unadjusted index fell 34% and was 12% lower YOY.
Americans appear to be losing interest in falling rates, which initially sparked some activity in the market. The 30-year fixed ended the year at 6.76%, ticking up very slightly from the week prior but still down more than a full point from its October peak.
MBA Vice President and…
