Fed Talking About Big Rate Hikes, But Mortgage Rates Moved Lower
By: Matthew Graham It was a week for paradoxes on several fronts, most notably when mortgage rates moved lower just after the Fed floated the idea of an even bigger hike. There's a popular misconception that the Fed sets mortgage rates, or controls them directly in...
Survey Finds Many First-Time Homebuyers Have Misconceptions
Americans who have never owned a home believe 20% down payments are required. KEY TAKEAWAYS 80% of prospective first-time homebuyers are stressed about affording a down payment. More than a third of Americans and 41% of those who’ve never owned a home believe they...
Scammers are targeting a new generation of homebuyers
BY DIANE TOMB With homebuying season in full swing, homebuyers are deciding to make one of the biggest purchases of their lives. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that a safe and comfortable home environment is crucial. That’s why, despite rising housing...
Title insurance is vital to protecting the American dream
Title insurance plays an essential role in the economics of homeownership As someone who spent a career in the title insurance industry – both as a builder of a title business and leader of the industry’s trade group, — I am proud of the role we play in helping to...
ALTA Continues to Educate Consumers About Title Insurance During Homeownership Month
For many Americans, a home is more than just a residence. It is a place that instills a sense of pride, security, and comfort that, no matter what challenges in life arise, they have somewhere to go and call their own. National Homeownership Month in June provides an...
Why Home Loans Today Aren’t What They Were in the Past
In today’s housing market, many are beginning to wonder if we’re returning to the riskier lending habits and borrowing options that led to the housing crash 15 years ago. Let’s ease those concerns. Several times a year, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) releases...
Three Key Cyber Threats Spurred by Russia’s Attack on Ukraine
It’s been three months since Russia invaded Ukraine. While this situation continues to intensify, so do cybersecurity threats. It is important to stay vigilant to protect yourself from hackers and fraudsters. We will explain the three most common threats coming from...
How fraudsters target mortgage lenders
As more and more business happens through the internet, cyber threats have become a common concern for most. It is predicted that a new cyber attack happens every 11 seconds. Mortgage lenders are often targets of hackers because of the high-value transactions taking...
2 signs the US isn’t in a housing bubble
The housing market has been crazy this year with home prices reaching historic highs. People watching the market are considering the likelihood of another housing crash. "The housing market is showing signs of froth, no doubt, "Ali Wolf, the chief economist for Zonda,...
CLOSING TIME: 5 STEPS EVERY HOMEOWNER SHOULD EXPECT
Your long home-buying journey is almost over. You found the home you love, the seller agreed to your offer and now it's time for closing. Of course, there's a lot to think about right now, and the last thing you want is something to go wrong. So make sure you work...