Real estate news

• New Wells Fargo CEO pens open letter thanking customers for their loyalty

  05-04-2017 23:36
  
  It probably goes without saying that it’s been a rough few months for Wells Fargo. It all started with the shocking revelation of fake account scandal at the bank, which involved more than 5,000 of the bank’s former employees opening more than 2 million fake accounts to get sales bonuses. And now the bank is working repair its tarnished reputation.
  
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• Housing advocate groups create website to track Ben Carson

  05-04-2017 23:20
  
  Unhappy with the selection of Ben Carson as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a group of housing advocates decided to do something about it. Wondering what Carson did last week? The group created a website online to track his moves in person and online.
  
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• Home Prices Keep on Upswing in February

  05-04-2017 22:11
  
  Home prices nationally kept on the upswing in February, rising 1 percent month-over-month and 7 percent year-over-year, according to CoreLogic®’s recent Home Price Index (HPI™). The HPI Forecast™ projects prices to rise 0.4 percent in March and 4.7 percent by February 2018.
  “Home prices continue to grow at a torrid pace so far in 2017 and these gains are likely to continue well into the future,” said Frank Martell, president and CEO of CoreLogic, in a statement
  
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• Maintaining Growth and Momentum

  05-04-2017 22:03
  
  In the following interview, Ron Copus, managing broker of Realty ONE Group – Glendale in Glendale, Ariz., discusses his approach to agent development, recruitment and retention.
  Region Served: The Northwest Valley, including Glendale, Peoria and Surprise
  Years in Real Estate: 41
  Number of Offices: 1
  Number of Agents: 509
  Best Way to Stay in Touch With Agents: Because we have a large agent population, it’s hard to get everyone together, so I use weekly newsletters to stay in touch and
  
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• Fair Housing Month Puts Spotlight on Housing Discrimination

  05-04-2017 22:00
  
  April is National Fair Housing Month. 2017 marks the 49th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, which protects against housing discrimination due to “race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability and the presence of children” when applying for home financing or buying or renting a home, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD is hosting Fair Housing Month events this month to shine a light not only on discrimination, but also on efforts the ag
  
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• Time to Close for Millennials Tapers to Fewest Days in a Year

  05-04-2017 21:58
  
  The average time it takes millennial mortgage borrowers to close a loan tapered off to 44 days in February, the shortest time period since March 2016, according to Ellie Mae®’s recently released Millennial Tracker™, a measure of millennial mortgage applications. Closing a purchase loan took two days less than the average at 42 days, while closing a refinance loan took 52 days—both fewer days than in January.
  “Purchase loans are increasing, indicating that millennials
  
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• Explore America’s Neighborhoods: Northeast, Minneapolis, Minn.

  05-04-2017 21:57
  
  Editor’s Note: This was originally published on RISMedia’s blog, Housecall. See what else is cookin’ now at blog.rismedia.com:Infographic: How Can You Use Home Equity?
  5 DIY Projects You Can Take On With Your Significant Other
  Decorating Dos and Don’ts for the 30-Year-Old Homebuyer
  Audubon, Columbia Park and Sheridan are just some of the areas that make up Northeast, Minneapolis. Unlike the other neighborhoods I’ve covered in this series, Minneapolis’ fir
  
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• FOMC minutes reveal when Fed may shrink balance sheet

  05-04-2017 21:50
  
  The Federal Open Markets Committee released minutes from its March meeting, showing it may shrink its balance sheet sooner than the market expected. Members didn’t give any specifics on how the reduction will occur, or even when, but did comment on a general time frame.
  
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• Tensions reach boiling point at CFPB Director Cordray's hearing

  05-04-2017 21:07
  
  Both sides of the aisle were primed for battle at the hearing of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray, as this semiannual hearing happened in the midst of controversy around the bureau and Cordray’s position. Tensions quickly rose in the room as representatives questioned Cordray on the constitutionality of his bureau. One representative even asked Cordray why he doesn't just step down.
  
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• Real-estate mogul: 3 ways to assess the quality of a neighborhood - CNBC

  05-04-2017 20:48
  
  CNBC
  Real-estate mogul: 3 ways to assess the quality of a neighborhood
  CNBC
  Whether you are buying a property to flip or a home to live in for decades, the location is as important as the home itself. If you aren't already familiar with a ...and more »
  
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• Wells Fargo reaches data-sharing agreement with Finicity

  05-04-2017 20:28
  
  Finicity, a provider of real-time financial data aggregation and insights, recently reached a deal with Experian that enables consumers to provide income and asset information to lenders digitally through Finicity’s more than 16,000 integrations with financial services institutions. Now, Finicity is adding another integration to a financial services institution, and a rather large one at that – Wells Fargo.
  
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• Hudson's Bay Soars on Heightened Urgency for Real Estate IPO - Bloomberg

  05-04-2017 20:01
  
  Bloomberg
  Hudson's Bay Soars on Heightened Urgency for Real Estate IPO
  Bloomberg
  Hudson's Bay Co. had its biggest gain in 16 months after the owner of Saks Fifth Avenue signaled it may take its real estate assets public, unlocking value for the Canadian retailer as same-store sales decline. In a call with analysts Wednesday ...
  Hudson's Bay explores 'major reinvention,' considers real estate IPONasdaqall 38 news articles »
  
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• Here’s why appraisers are reluctant to work with the VA

  05-04-2017 19:46
  
  Appraisal shortages already plague the market and slow down the closing process, a problem which grows only more complicated when it comes to VA mortgages. One expert explained that while good appraisals are key to maintaining a strong VA Home Loan Guarantee Program, regulatory burdens are getting in the way.
  
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• Hensarling to CFPB's Cordray: You deserve to be fired immediately

  05-04-2017 18:47
  
  Never one to shy away from a chance to batter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, didn’t disappoint on Wednesday when Richard Cordray, the director of the CFPB, appeared before the committee. Hensarling was at his passive-aggressive best during his opening statement, poking at Cordray’s rumored political aspirations and telling Cordray, to his face, that he deserves to be fired by President Donald Trump.
  
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• ADP predicts yet another month of substantial job increases

  05-04-2017 16:48
  
  ADP released its National Employment Report which shows jobs will increase substantially in March. And the construction boom continues as construction jobs see a significant increase. However, with its spotty record, ADP’s report could come in lower than Friday’s report.
  
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• The U.S. Real Estate Market - Trends, Characteristics And Outlook - Seeking Alpha

  05-04-2017 13:27
  
  Seeking Alpha
  The U.S. Real Estate Market - Trends, Characteristics And Outlook
  Seeking Alpha
  The homeownership rate in 2016 was the lowest in 50 years, as renting has been increasingly the more frequent choice compared to purchasing. Were interest rates or inflation surprise to the upside in 2017, the negative price movements of the last ...
  
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• MBA: Mortgage apps barely move as purchase loan size reaches record high

  05-04-2017 13:05
  
  As the refinance demand continues to dissipate, purchase applications are reaching new records. The latest report from the Mortgage Bankers Association shows that refinance applications fell even further, below the eight-year low set last week.
  
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• CBA LIVE: HMDA compliance will be here faster than you think

  05-04-2017 00:50
  
  Even at an overview level, the new Home Mortgage Disclosure Act is intensive, as evidenced by the insights of two panelists at the Consumer Bankers Association’s CBA LIVE conference, who zeroed in on the new act’s impact on home equity lines of credit. Up until this point, there haven’t been any major changes to HELOCs.
  
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• Dimon: FHA, servicing rules changes could add $300B in mortgages per year

  05-04-2017 00:07
  
  Last year, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon painted a particularly unflattering view of the mortgage business in his yearly letter to shareholders. But this year, Dimon’s tone toward the mortgage business is much different. In the 2017 version of his letter to shareholders, Dimon suggested that with some (significant) changes, the mortgage business could grow considerably in 2017 and beyond.
  
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• Why Sellers Are So Stressed in a Seller’s Market

  05-04-2017 00:00
  What do home sellers do when the market is so tilted toward sales that their listed home goes quickly but they can't lock in their own...
  
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• VA Appraisers Few and Far Between in Some Rural Areas

  05-04-2017 00:00
  Home loans through the Veterans Administration are under pressure as a lack of VA-approved appraisers and the physical remoteness of comparables...
  
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• Townhomes Are Having a Moment Again

  05-04-2017 00:00
  Townhomes are regaining popularity as more people realize they’re a more affordable alternative to renting, says realtor.com®’s...
  
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• New Homes Have Gotten Pricier

  05-04-2017 00:00
  Over the last 10 years, the price distribution of new homes has changed significantly, as new homes have grown more expensive.
  
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• Loan Activity Constrained by Prices, Inventory

  05-04-2017 00:00
  Housing analysts say that mortgage applications for home purchases would be much higher today if it weren’t for high home prices and a tight...
  
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• Find Out How Noisy Your City Is

  05-04-2017 00:00
  A new map from the Department of Transportation shows the level of noise on a county-by-county level across the country to let residents know what...
  
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