Tag Archives: Attorneys & Title Companies

Even with the seasonal slowdown in full effect, shifting market conditions continued to boost October home sales and prices over last year, Redfin reported Wednesday in its monthly Real-Time Price Tracker. The broker recorded 74,363 total home sales across its 19 tracked markets in October, a 1.0 percent decline from September but a 0.6 percent gain over October 2012. Though historically low mortgage rates and reduced competition have helped keep numbers up, Redfin says the situation is liable to change at any time.

Pacific Union's CEO, Mark A. McLaughlin, was named as the recipient of the 2013 RISMedia Real Estate Leadership Award, a national award recognizing members of the real estate community who embrace innovation and blaze new trails.

Mortgage applications continued to dip last week as November got under way, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported in its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey. The survey's Market Composite Index, a measure of loan application volume, fell 1.8 percent for the week ending November 8. Volume data for the week ending November 1 was revised upward to reflect a 2.8 percent drop (compared to the originally reported 7 percent decrease). On an unadjusted basis, last week's index was down 3 percent.

In a recently released white paper, Equifax delves into undisclosed debt and offers recommendations for how to deal with a potentially difficult hazard.

According to the results of Freddie Mac's latest quarterly refinance analysis, the average interest rate reduction among those who refinanced in Q3 was about 1.8 percentage points, representing a savings of about 30 percent ($3,500 over 12 months on a $200,000 loan). For borrowers who refinanced last quarter, the estimated interest savings over the next year will be about $6 billion. For those who refinanced through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), the average rate reduction in Q3 was 1.9 percent points.

When it comes to next year's regulatory obstacles, CEOs and senior executives from the mortgage industry's biggest players agree on one thing: Education will be key to keeping business going. In a panel at the 2013 Realtors Conference and Expo, high-level names from Quicken Loans, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, JPMorgan Chase, and Bank of America discussed the qualified mortgage (QM) guidelines. While the initial implementation of these rules is expected to restrict lending in the short-term, panelists agreed that business should even out.

In their motion to dismiss a suit brought by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Safeguard's attorneys argue that Madigan's complaint is based on four alleged instances in 2008 (out of the company's estimated 90,000 inspections conducted in the state each month). They also refute claims that Safeguard misled consumers to believe they needed to vacate the property when they were legally allowed to stay.

In addition to its automated direct integration with CIC's e-signature technology, QuestSoft can also accept 4506-T submissions with DocMagic, DocuPrep, DocuSign, eSignSytems, IDS, and Silanis.

The Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) latest analysis of underwriting criteria shows mortgage credit availability opened up in October. MBA's Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI) increased 0.7 percent last month to 111.5, putting a stop to declines recorded in the previous two months. According to the association, October's gain reflects a reduction in minimum credit scores by investors on certain products; that was offset slightly by other investors reducing the availability of cash-out refinances and limiting other programs.

A comparison of four-bedroom, two-bathroom homes in more than 1,900 markets shows Malibu is the most expensive city in the country. According to Coldwell Banker Real Estate, a sample home in the beachside city lists for $2.15 million. On the other hand, a comparable dwelling in Cleveland, Ohio, runs about $63,729, making it the most affordable market in Coldwell's report. According to the firm's findings, there are 20 markets where a four-bed/two-bath residence lists for more than $1 million and eight where they go for less than $100,000.