Wall Street Journal, Sept. 1, 2024–Jim Carlton Environmentalist are increasingly using burn risks to halt huge home developments in the state—but some say they go too far.Click here for more (subscription)
Category: Top National News

California Allows Highest Home Insurance Hike in Years
Newsweek, Aug. 30, 2024-Giulia CarbonaroThe California Department of Insurance gave Allstate permission to increase its homeowners insurance premiums by an average 34.1 percent, the largest rate hike of any major …

Banks’ Mortgage Servicing for Others Falls
Inside Mortgage Finance, Aug. 30, 2024–Brandon IveyBanks are pulling back on mortgage servicing for others, according to a recent Inside Mortgage Trends report.Click here for more (subscription)

How Homebuyers Can Use ‘Pledged’ Assets and Put Just 10% Down
Orange County Register, Aug. 29, 2024–Jeff LazersonPledged assets, including cash, stocks, bonds and mutual funds, can serve as collateral in exchange for a lower down payment.Click here for more

‘Soft Landing’ Gets a Boost From New Data
The Wall Street Journal, Aug. 29, 2024-Corrie Driebusch and Will ParkerThe U.S. economy grew more than previously thought in the second quarter, data released Thursday showed, bolstering the case that …

Two Less-Obvious Ways the Fed Made Mortgages Pricier
Axios, Aug. 27, 2024-Neil IrwinThe Federal Reserve has pushed mortgage rates higher not just through its much-discussed interest rate policy decisions, but through two less widely understood channels, a new …

When Rates Skyrocketed, Mortgage Servicing Reset the Board. The Next Battle Is About to Begin
HousingWire, Aug. 26, 2024-Flávia Furlan NunesWhen interest rates began skyrocketing more than two years ago, mortgage companies faced a pivotal decision regarding a crucial part of their business: the servicing …

Freddie Sharpens Guidelines for Self-Employed Borrowers
Inside Mortgage Finance, Aug. 26, 2024–Dennis HollierFreddie Mac is tightening up a bit when it comes to underwriting guidelines for self-employed borrowers.Click here for more (subscription)

Credit Scores are One of the Key Factors in Whether a Homebuyer Will Qualify for a Home Loan
Orange County Register, Aug. 22, 2024–Jeff LazersonSo, you want a buy a house. Many people often ask me about the evaluation process. What does it take?Click here for more

Wells Fargo to Sell Bulk of Commercial Mortgage-Servicing Business to Trimont
The Wall Street Journal, Aug. 20, 2024-Gina HeebWells Fargo will sell the bulk of its commercial mortgage-servicing unit to Trimont for an undisclosed amount, the companies said Tuesday.Click here for more …