News

Housing affordability is finally starting to improve. According to a new index, affordability is up from Q4 of 2016. More than 60 percent of all homes sold in Q1 were affordable for the nation's median income of $68K.

For those looking to save on housing, heading southward may be the answer. According to a new study, Mississippi and Alabama have the lowest housing costs in the nation, coming in 31.6 percent and 26 percent lower than the national average, respectively. Mississippi was also named the most affordable city in the country, taking into account healthcare, housing, utlities, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses.

The second-annual Five Star Diversity Symposium, a day-long event focused on advancing the conversation on diversity within the mortgage industry, featured keynote addresses from diversity leaders as well as roundtable discussions and panels. The Diversity Symposium includes representatives by several key companies and government agencies within the mortgage industry.

The industry's inventory problem may begin to ease, as move-up buyer confidence rises and more homeowners put their homes on the market. According to a new survey, repeat buyer confidence is up, with a confidence level of 75 out of 100. That’s higher than the confidence levels of first-time buyers, non-homeowners, and all Americans as a whole.

Situs recently announced that it has completed its acquisition of The Collingwood Group, a Washington, D.C.-based advisory firm.

DocMagic, Inc., and BeSmartee are working together to accelerate the mortgage loan origination process, delivering speed and accuracy BeSmartee CEO Tim Nguyen says millennials expect.

Safeguard Properties, a mortgage field services provider based in Valley View, Ohio, announced Tuesday two new professionals are joining the company’s management team: Sheilla Lienerth as Assistant VP of Client Relation s and Lisa Nicholas as Director of Finance and Accounting.

In an effort to streamline the mortgage loan origination process, ValuAmerica announced Tuesday that LendingQB customers will now have access to ValuAmerica title services.

Representatives from the leading mortgage servicers and default servicing law firms in the U.S. met to discuss issues currently impacting business. Attendees listed to several panels and speakers to learn more about changes and issues the industry faces.

President Donald Trump may be gearing up to nominated Brian Montgomery to head up the FHA. Currently the Vice Chairman of The Collingwood Group, Montgomery previously served as FHA Commissioner under President George W. Bush and President Obama. He also served as Asisstant Secretary for HUD and Deputy Assistant at the White House.