Student Loan Squeeze On Homeownership: How Lenders Can Steer Borrowers Forward

Student Loan Squeeze On Homeownership: How Lenders Can Steer Borrowers Forward

By Dan Catinella, Chief Lending Officer at Total Expert Millions of Americans just felt their financial foundations shake. Federal student loan payments are officially back — and as of May 2025, so are collections — presenting a significant financial squeeze for over 43 million individuals who now face an average monthly payment of $536. For…

Price Cooldowns, Student Loan Debt Turn Up The Pressure For Some Borrowers
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Price Cooldowns, Student Loan Debt Turn Up The Pressure For Some Borrowers

Even as mortgage rates descend and the housing market settles into a stable rhythm, the pressure is building for some homeowners carrying heavy financial burdens. Negative equity is on the rise in some areas of the country, at the same time that student loan debt and short-term financial uncertainty are becoming more prominent, according to…

Rates Declined Ahead Of Trump’s Tax Bill

Rates Declined Ahead Of Trump’s Tax Bill

Mortgage rates descended another 10 bps last week, but the future of affordability remains uncertain. Officials at Freddie Mac reported that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.67%, falling from 6.77% ahead of the holiday weekend. A year ago, they averaged 6.95%. Fifteen-year rates declined to 5.80% from 5.89%, and are down from 6.25% last year….

Western, Southern States See Inventory Top Pre-Pandemic Levels

Western, Southern States See Inventory Top Pre-Pandemic Levels

More and more housing markets are topping their pre-pandemic inventory levels as sellers outnumber active buyers. Realtor.com reports that 22 of the 50 largest metros have more active listings on the market now than they did before the pandemic.  Denver registered a whopping 100% increase in available homes compared to 2017-2019. Austin (+69%) and Seattle…

Refinances Elevate Mortgage Demand

Refinances Elevate Mortgage Demand

Refinances clocked a second strong week as rates inched down, but purchase demand remains constrained. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey shows that the adjusted Market Composite Index — a measure of mortgage loan application volume — rose by 2.7%, adding to the week prior’s 1.1% increase. Refinances rose by 7% and were up 40%…

Employees Report Lower Productivity, Stress At Work Over Homebuying

Employees Report Lower Productivity, Stress At Work Over Homebuying

A recent survey from Multiply Mortgage found that employees planning to buy a home report that the process affects their productivity. Nearly three-quarters of the 1,000 full-time employees surveyed say they’ve spent time at work worrying about housing, with 12% spending more than 6 hours a week distracted. Three in four employees said they would…

Mismatched Credit Scores Can Cause Heartache For Partners Buying A Home

Mismatched Credit Scores Can Cause Heartache For Partners Buying A Home

As affordability hovers out of reach for many Americans, partnering up on a home purchase may be tempting. But buying in a mismatched credit relationship could cause more harm than good. A new Mortgage Research Network study found that purchasing a home with a partner who has a credit score below 640 raises monthly housing…

Rates Cool To 6.77%

Rates Cool To 6.77%

Mortgage rates went down last week, but jittery consumers are still holding back over economic fears. Officials at Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.77%, falling from 6.81%. A year ago, they averaged 6.86%. Fifteen-year rates declined to 5.89% from 5.96%, and are down from 6.16% last year. “Borrowers should find…

New Home Sales Slumped In May, But Contract Signings Got A Boost

New Home Sales Slumped In May, But Contract Signings Got A Boost

New home sales tumbled in May even as contract signings registered gains. New home sales slumped 13.7% on the month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 623,000, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is a seven-month low and the largest drop in nearly…

Sports, Entertainment To Drive Success For Cities
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Sports, Entertainment To Drive Success For Cities

By KIMBERLEY HAAS The future of American cities will be shaped by their ability to draw people in for shared experiences. Kris Larson, chair of the International Downtown Association, talked about creating value in urban centers during a panel conversation at the National Association of Real Estate Editors conference last week. Larson said that since…

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