Many people are sitting on the fence trying to decide if now’s the time to buy a home. Some are renters who have a strong desire to become homeowners but are unsure if buying right now makes sense. Others may be homeowners who are realizing that their current home no longer fits their changing needs.
FHFA releases new refi option for low-income borrowers
Following an incredible year for refinances that more often seemed to benefit wealthier borrowers, the Federal House Finance Agency announced it is implementing a new refi product that targets low-income borrowers with single-family mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Should you buy a vacation home as a place to retire?
About 45% of vacation home buyers are in their 50s and 60s, and buy for personal use, said Shaun Greer, vice president, sales and marketing for Vacasa, a vacation management company. When planning ahead for retirement, how can purchasing a vacation home help with the transition?
What is Disrupting the Steady Climb of Mortgage Rates?
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.04%, another decrease this past week, according to Freddie Mac. Per the experts, the key markers that are disrupting the climb of mortgage rates are:
Pandemic Threatening the Financial Future of Seniors
In the Post-2020 Retirement Survey the American Advisors Group (AAG) found that the pandemic had a profound negative impact on their retirement plans and finances.
Mortgage Rates Suddenly Trend Downward
In a change of trend, mortgage rates dropped this week for the first time after seven weeks of rising, as Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) reports rates dropping to an average 3.13% for the week ending April 8, 2021, down from last week’s total of 3.18%.
FICO’s New Credit Score System – UtraFICO
Since the FICO score was created in 1989, the credit score has focused on consumer borrowing history with data provided by Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—the three major credit bureaus. For the first time, UltraFICO—FICO’s new credit score system—can use bank information in addition to traditional credit information.
Second Draw PPP loan
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) now allows certain eligible borrowers that previously received a PPP loan to apply for a Second Draw PPP loan with the same general loan terms as their First Draw PPP loan and it will end on May 31, 2021.
Fannie Mae Getting Stricter with Investment Property Loans
If in your circles, conventional loans are commonly used to finance second/vacation homes and investment properties, take note: starting April 1, it may get a lot harder. Fannie Mae is delivering a one-two punch:
First-Time Homebuyers Shut Out by Affordability
The housing market was turned upside down over the past year, as the pandemic gripped the nation and brought with it, a world of question marks.
How Smart Is It to Buy a Home Today?
Whether you’re buying your first home or selling your current house, if your needs are changing and you think you need to move, the decision can be complicated. You may have to take personal or professional considerations into account, and only you can judge what impact those factors should have on your desire to move.
Why Mortgage Rates Are Likely to Keeping Rising
For borrowers interested in refinancing a mortgage or purchasing a new home, now may be the time.
Did you skip mortgage payments last year? Here’s what that means for your taxes
Amid the economic turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic, millions of Americans opted to pause their monthly mortgage payments.
Federal Housing Finance Authority Extends Mortgage Forbearance and Popular Ways To Help
If your mortgage has been in forbearance, you may have just been granted a bit of a reprieve.
The New Jumbo Loan Program That Shines
When the pandemic began 11 months ago, conditions in the mortgage world started to change rapidly. Lending partners that once held volumes of options in the jumbo loan category became scarce.