Wall Street Journal, Feb. 20, 2020–Michael S. Derby (subscription)Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Richard Clarida was upbeat about the state of the U.S. economy in a television interview, and he said …
MBA Newslinks Archive
Fake Employers Help Borderline Borrowers Qualify for Mortgages
Orange County Register, Feb. 20, 2020–Jeff LazersonThe Fannie Mae fictitious California employer list started in 2018. With its January fraud alert, the list has grown to 65 companies that appear …
Here’s Why Mortgage Borrowing Just Cooled Off, Despite Low Rates
Yahoo! Finance, Feb. 20, 2020–Doug WhitemanBorrowers may be overreacting — and losing out — as mortgage rates pause after falling steadily for weeks.https://finance.yahoo.com/news/heres-why-mortgage-borrowing-just-135701621.html
Ellie Mae: January Refis Hold Steady; Closing Rates Increase
A slight drop in interest rates in January stabilized refinance activity and improved closing rates, said Ellie Mae, Pleasanton, Calif.
HUD Report Notes ‘Credit Invisibility’ Among Assisted Households
HUD and the Policy and Economic Research Council, in a new study examining reporting rent payments to credit reporting agencies, said while rent payment performance can improve both credit visibility and the fraction of tenants with credit scores above 620, it also shows that many public housing tenants continue to have subprime credit scores that can limit their housing choices and their ability to obtain insurance.
Zillow: Home Value Growth Expected to Re-Accelerate Just in Time for Home Shopping Season
Zillow, Seattle, reported annual U.S. home value growth slowed for the 21st consecutive month in January—but that’s not the headline.
The Real World: Why RON Matters and What Lenders Should Expect
There are countless arguments that have been made regarding why lenders should embrace remote online notarization, but in my eyes it all boils down to a few questions every lender should be asking themselves. How do I make it more convenient for my borrowers to do business with me? How do I fully realize the benefits of an eClosing? How can we increase loan officer referrals?
People in the News
The Mortgage Bankers Association presented Stacey Berger, Executive Vice President of Midland Loan Services, with its 2020 Commercial Real Estate Finance Distinguished Service Award.
Commercial/Multifamily Briefs
Commercial real estate platform Biproxi, San Diego, acquired Officespace.com, the country’s second-largest CRE listing site.
Industry Briefs
OptifiNow, Buena Vista, Calif., announced Sun West Mortgage Co. launched its cloud-based CRM and marketing automation platform for wholesale, distributed retail and its Home Buyer Connect mortgage lending channels.