Tag Archives: Agents & Brokers

Home construction starts are on the rise in 2012, and updates to a recent survey from the McGraw-Hill Companies indicate a forecasted increase of 2 percent for the year. According to projections from the 2012 Dodge Construction Outlook Midyear Update, total construction starts will hit $445 billion, besting the $434 billion recorded during 2011. Compiled by McGraw-Hill Construction, the outlook report calls the predicted performance "slightly better than" flat in a still-recovering economy dogged by recurring problems.

A new survey from Mortgagebot includes promising findings for community-based lenders hoping to increase their market share. The technology company's recent report shows that upticks in visibility and accessibility via online channels can help level the playing field for smaller lenders competing with the nation's big banks. Mortgagebot's study revealed specific strategies that are enabling the company's clients to capitalize on market share including generating better borrower-facing accessibility online, targeting new customers through an online approach that is tailored to a particular demographic.

CitiMortgage announced Thursday the launch of its proprietary ├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├àÔÇ£Citi Military Road to Recovery Tour├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├é┬Ø designed to help current and former Armed Services members who need assistance with their mortgages. The tour will feature five homeowner-support events near military bases all around the United States. At these events, Citi├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔÇ×┬ós Homeowner Support Travel Team of mortgage experts and HUD-approved housing counselors will have individualized discussions with both current service members and veterans. The first event will take place in San Diego, California on June 29.

Landmark Mortgage Group has added a new advisor to its roster of lending and real estate professionals. The company recently promoted Adina Erridge to mortgage advisor from her previous role as a production assistant.

For baseball fans, it doesn't get any greater than Babe Ruth, and now that a Massachusetts estate once belonging to Ruth is on the market, homebuyers have the chance to live like the Sultan of Swat. The property, which is known as Home Plate Farm, is listed for $1.

Consumer spending fell $4.7 billion, less than 1 percent in May, reversing the 0.15 percent increase in April, the Labor Department reported Friday. Personal income meanwhile grew $25.4 billion or 0.18 percent, down from April's 0.22 percent growth. The numbers suggest GDP growth for the second quarter which ends Saturday could be slip from the first quarter's weak 1.9 percent growth rate. In dollars, income growth in May was less than the $29.4 billion in April, while spending fell from a gain of $16.2 billion in April.

If it becomes law, a Senate bill could increase the number of homeowners who refinance under the Home Affordable Refinance Program by up to 13 million. That's the consensus reached by professors with Columbia University Business School, which released the study on Thursday. The study sketched the likely effects of a bill recently co-sponsored by Sens. Barbara Boxer and Robert Menendez. Researchers said that new HARP modifications could lead to roughly $35 billion in savings for homeowners, a number that could help stem the rate of foreclosure activity nationally.

At a House of Representatives hearing titled Appraisal Oversight: The Regulatory Impact on Consumers and Business Thursday, lawmakers reviewed testimony on recent and impending changes in the appraisal industry. One of issue of focus during the hearing was the rise of appraisal management companies and their validity and necessity in the market. According to a recent report by the Government Accountability Office, AMCs have grown from 15 percent market share to between 60 and 80 percent market share.

The CFPB released a report Thursday showing that although reverse mortgages are meant to help borrowers in retirement, they are in fact causing problems for many who don├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔÇ×┬ót fully understand them. A reverse mortgage is a type of home loan that lets older homeowners access the equity they have built up on their homes and defer loan payment until they sell the home, move out, or pass away. The original purpose of reverse mortgages was to allow these homeowners to convert home equity into retirement income.

Mortgage rates remained somewhat flat for the week ending June 28, according to Freddie Mac├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔÇ×┬ós Primary Mortgage Market Survey. Average fixed mortgage rates remained largely unchanged, helping to keep affordability high for buyers in the market to purchase a home or looking for a refinance. The 30-year fixed averaged 3.66 percent (0.7 point), staying level with the all-time low that was achieved the previous week. At this time in 2011, the 30-year fixed averaged 4.51 percent. The 15-year fixed averaged 2.94 percent (0.7 point), down slightly from 2.95 percent the previous week.