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Apache is functioning normally

After exceeding 8 percent in October, rising mortgage rates overtook “lack of housing inventory” as the top concern for real estate agents, according to the results of the latest monthly Inman Intel Index.

Approximately one-third of agents and the brokerage executives who lead them believe high mortgage rates are the biggest for concern in the housing market today, surpassing low inventory and fallout from commission lawsuits such as Sitzer | Burnett, according to the results of October’s Inman Intel Index survey, released last week.

After exceeding 8 percent in October, rising mortgage rates overtook “lack of housing inventory” as agents’ top fear after ranking second in the same survey a month earlier. The findings are among hundreds gleaned from the Inman Intel Index, or Triple I, which was conducted Oct. 23-31 and drew 1,269 responses. The 168-page report is available exclusively to Inman Intel subscribers and includes a comprehensive breakdown of all survey responses.

This month’s Inman Intel Index survey is open now.

“I think that homebuyers and real estate agents understand well that the 3 percent mortgage rate is a historic abnormality and is not the norm,” Gay Cororaton, chief economist for the Miami Association of Realtors, told Inman by email. “But the current rate of 8 percent is also not normal, and I expect rates to go further down in 2024.”

Mortgage rates have fallen significantly in November, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage closer to 7 percent than it has been in two months. For homebuyers and sellers, the benefit is clear, but after more than a year of rates in excess of 6 percent, the decline in rates is also a huge morale booster for real estate professionals, according to the survey results.

Only one group surveyed in the Triple-I didn’t rank interest rates as their top business concern in October. Mortgage originators, who did rank them first in September, put them second behind lack of home inventory. With refinance activity down severely, it stands to reason that brokers and bankers are focused on homes coming on the market.

To track industry sentiment, the Triple-I polls real estate agents, loan originators, brokers, industry executives and proptech leaders monthly. November’s survey opened today and can be accessed here.

No one gets a bite at the apple, though, until someone decides to buy a home, and elevated interest rates continue to factor heavily into the homebuying equation for many Americans. A new consumer survey undertaken by Inman, in partnership with Dig Insights, surveyed 3,000 potential homebuyers and found that many need to see a far more dramatic rate drop to move forward.

More than 2 out of 3 Americans surveyed by Dig Insights indicated they were unlikely to buy in the next 12 months, and 35 percent of those said that high interest rates were a factor in their decision. Asked how much mortgage rates would need to decrease for them to become likely to buy, one-third chose “More than 2 percent.”

According to an Inman Intel analysis last month, a mortgage payment that would have been close to $1,175 four years ago now comes to over $2,600 a month. That’s a problem for a lot of homebuyers, first-timers or not.

“With mortgage rates still expected to be elevated at over 5 percent, there’s naturally a higher financial hurdle for existing homeowners to move,” wrote Cororaton, a former senior economist and the director of housing and commercial research at the Research Group of the National Association of Realtors.

With a potential ceiling on rates, real estate agents and loan originators are looking toward 2024 with cautious optimism. While nearly 70 percent of agents indicated their buyer pipeline was either lighter or substantially lighter than it was 12 months ago, less than 30 percent felt that would be the case one year from now. Over one-quarter of them responded “Heavier,” while just under 44 percent said they expected it to be about the same.

Mortgage originators were even more optimistic, with over 37 percent expecting a heavier borrower pipeline in 12 months.

Email Chris LeBarton

Source: inman.com

Apache is functioning normally

A Senate subcommittee is subpoenaing Live Nation/Ticketmaster for documentation it says the company has failed to produce. The subpoena arrived on Tuesday after months of investigations into disastrous incidents that sent ticket prices soaring for Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen and other concerts.

In other words, don’t mess with Swifties, the BeyHive or Bruce tramps.

Key context

  • Live Nation Entertainment dominates event ticketing and promotion. The company was formed by the 2010 merger of Live Nation (an event promoter) and Ticketmaster (a ticketing company). In a letter to the Department of Justice, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) cited data that found 60% of the event ticketing market is controlled by Live Nation, including 80 of the top 100 arenas in the country.  

  • In November 2022, tickets for Taylor Swift’s long-awaited Eras tour went on a multitiered presale. Ticketmaster prematurely outsold its inventory, effectively canceling its public sale. At the same time, resellers who snagged tickets posted them for tens of thousands of dollars. The debacle induced angry Swifties to file a class-action lawsuit accusing Ticketmaster of a multitude of offenses, including fraud, misrepresentation and antitrust violations. 

  •  In the subcommittee letter, Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Edward Markety (D-Mass.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) wrote, “Because of Live Nation’s market dominance, artists, venues, and consumers simply have no choice but to use the platform notwithstanding its flaws and failures. The Swift presale is the latest and highest profile illustration of the monopolistic harms, but the harm was not even limited to her events.”

  • Swift wasn’t the first high-profile ticketing disaster. In August 2022, Bruce Springsteen tickets climbed as high as $5,000 for U.S. shows due to Ticketmaster’s “dynamic pricing” policy, which prices tickets in real time depending on demand.

  • In February, Ticketmaster took a different approach to sales for Beyonce’s highly anticipated Renaissance Tour. It used the Verified Fan program, which requires registration and a lottery system. Its intent is to sift out resellers. But ticket prices still surged, including more than a hundred dollars for “listening only” tickets. 

  • Live Nation Entertainment is under congressional investigation. Back in January, the Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings specifically on the Swift incident. By February, it recommended that the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division investigate Live Nation Entertainment over monopoly concerns. Months of inquiry followed without results sufficient for the PSI. Hence the subpoena.  

What the Senate subcommittee is arguing

  • Blumenthal, who chairs the PSI, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “Live Nation has egregiously stonewalled my Subcommittee’s inquiry into its abusive consumer practices—making the subpoena necessary.” 

  • Blumenthal added, “American consumers deserve fair ticket prices, without hidden fees or predatory charges. And the American public deserves to know how Ticketmaster’s unfair practices may be enabled by its misuse of monopoly power.” 

How Ticketmaster is responding

  • Live Nation Entertainment released a statement on Tuesday saying it expected the subpoena but has cooperated with the investigation, claiming it has produced documents in every question raised by the subcommittee. 

  • However, Live Nation Entertainment says some of the information requested “is highly sensitive client information about artists, venues and others” that Live Nation works with, such as tour revenue data.

  • The company claims it also told the subcommittee that it would produce documentation with confidentiality protections, which the subcommittee has denied.  

  • The statement said, “Our limit in this process—that the Subcommittee Chair has chosen to call stonewalling—is simply that we value our artist relationships and the interests of other stakeholders we work with too much to betray their trust by turning over their information without adequate protections.”

What this means

  • The investigation into Live Nation Entertainment’s business practices is moving forward. The subcommittee once again urged the DOJ to “vigorously investigate” competition in the event ticketing market.  

  • According to the subcommittee letter to the DOJ, if the investigation shows that Live Nation did in fact abuse its position as the dominant player in the market, it urges the DOJ to consider breaking up the Live Nation/Ticketmaster company. 

  • The subcommittee wrote in the letter that breaking up the company “may be the only way to truly protect consumers, artists, and venue operators and to restore competition in the ticketing market.”  

What to look out for next

  • A subpoena requires Live Nation Entertainment to provide documents requested by the Senate subcommittee.

  • Meanwhile the Biden Administration has had its eye on junk fees for more than a year. The White House has called on Congress to take action to prohibit excessive ticketing fees.

  • On June 15, a group of event ticketing and travel companies — including Live Nation/Ticketmaster — pledged to commit to “all-in” pricing. That means consumers will see total costs up front, including fees, rather than getting a surprise at checkout.

Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images via Getty Images

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

With the mortgage crisis in full swing, you never quite know what will happen next, especially as the situation continues to threaten markets worldwide.

That brings us to one of the latest victims of the credit crunch, a familiar name in an unfamiliar place.

GMAC Mortgage and Atlas Funding, both subsidiaries of GMAC’s finance unit ResCap, announced that because of ongoing problems in the credit markets, they would be suspending loan origination in the Netherlands indefinitely.

“GMAC Mortgage and Atlas Funding can reconsider this decision if market conditions improve in the future,” the companies said in a statement, obtained by Reuters.

It is believed that recent troubles in the mortgage securities department forced the company to make the decision, as the unit could no longer securitize its mortgage loans.

Per the Dutch paper Financieele Dagblad (which I’ve translated with Google), the companies halted the issuing of new mortgages on Monday after aggressively building up a 4 percent market share in the country.

The paper said the mortgage lenders provided loans to 50,000 Dutch homeowners and would continue to service existing mortgages despite the halt in new production.

ResCap has seen its share of problems over the last year and change, recording a $4.35 billion loss for all of 2007 while cutting 3,000 jobs, or roughly 25 percent of its workforce.

Last month, parent GMAC said it had no plans to inject additional capital into ResCap and was actively pursuing strategic alternatives for the money-losing unit, including a possible sale of all or parts of the unit.

ResCap includes a number of large brands worldwide, including Homecomings Financial, Ditech, GMAC-RFC, GMAC Mortgage, and GMAC Bank.

(photo: caswelltom)

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

Apache is functioning normally

The Florida housing market in September and the third quarter (3Q) of 2023 showed signs of stabilization in statewide median prices and improved inventory levels compared to the previous year, according to the latest housing data from Florida Realtors®.

“Florida continues to draw new residents, and the dollar volume of single-family home sales in September was up 14.1% year-over-year to $12.2 billion dollars. Over that same timeframe, closed sales of single-family homes rose 6.1%. The Florida market remains strong in the face of higher mortgage rates, and first-time buyers are finding greater selections and less competition than they’ve seen in years.”

Florida Realtors® President G. Mike McGraw

Despite higher mortgage rates, the Florida market remains strong, offering more choices and less competition for first-time buyers.

In September 2023, closed sales of existing single-family homes statewide reached 21,335, a 6.1% increase from the previous year. Existing condo-townhouse sales, on the other hand, totalled 8,387, a slight decrease of 0.2% compared to September 2022.

During the 3Q of 2023, statewide existing single-family home sales declined by 3.2% from the previous year, totalling 66,450. Existing condo-townhouse sales also decreased by 5.8% year-over-year, totaling 26,129. It’s important to note that closed sales may occur from 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.

Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor noted some positive signs as the market entered the fall season:

“In September, closed sales of single-family homes were up for the first time compared to a year ago, rising by over 6%. Closed sales of townhouses and condos in 2023 have been converging with their 2022 levels as well. We were still down in September year over year, but by a fraction of 1%.”

Fla. Sept. Report: Single-Family Sales Up 6.1%

In September, the statewide median sales price for existing single-family homes reached $409,243, a 1.3% increase from the previous year. Condo-townhouse units had a median price of $324,990, reflecting a 5.8% increase compared to September 2022.

For the 3Q of 2023, the median sales price for single-family homes in Florida was $414,000, showing a 1.0% increase over the second quarter of 2022. The median sales price for condo-townhouses during the same period was $320,545, reflecting a 5.8% year-over-year increase.

O’Connor mentioned that new listings have been at their lowest level in several years in 2023, but in recent months, they’ve been closer to pre-pandemic levels. In fact, September’s new single-family listings exceeded the number from the same month in 2019, marking an 8% increase compared to the previous year.

While there is more active inventory at the end of September compared to the beginning, Florida still has a lower inventory of single-family homes than in 2019 before the pandemic. The state had a 3.2-month supply of single-family existing homes in September, a 28% increase year-over-year. Condo-townhouse units had a 4.1-month supply, reflecting a significant 78.3% increase compared to the previous year.

For the full statewide housing activity reports, interested parties can visit the Florida Realtors Newsroom or access the September 2023 and 3Q 2023 data report PDFs under Market Data.

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Mihaela Lica Butler is senior partner at Pamil Visions PR. She is a widely cited authority on public relations issues, with an experience of over 25 years in online PR, marketing, and SEO.She covers startups, online marketing, social media, SEO, and other topics of interest for Realty Biz News.

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Source: realtybiznews.com

Apache is functioning normally

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Last week, I asserted that housing inventory growth had finished for the year. Turns out I was wrong!

This week, the available inventory of unsold single-family homes crept up minimally. It looks like this is evidence that housing markets are returning to normal rather than a case of sellers panicking, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.

After all, more sellers means more sales in 2024.

Watch the video above to get the latest housing market update from Altos Research.

Short on time as you prepare for Thanksgiving? Check out some key data takeaways below for the week ending Nov. 20.

Housing inventory inches up

There were 570,000 single-family homes on the market, or 0.5% more homes for sale than last week and 36% lower housing inventory than in 2019.

Keep in mind that those snowbird states in the South aren’t as affected by the seasonal slowdown in sales thanks to their warmer weather. For instance, we are seeing inventory growth this month in Florida cities such as Sarasota, Miami and Tampa.

Texas housing inventory is inching up this month notably higher than last year. In fact, Austin and San Antonio in Texas, as well as Memphis, have more housing inventory now than in 2019.

More new listings could help boost sales

We saw 58,000 new listings added to the housing inventory this week, with 9,000 of those already under contract. That’s more new sellers this year than the same week a year ago, signaling a tiny improvement in our supply-starved housing market.

This means we should see slightly better home sales volumes in November compared to a year ago. However, we’re watching to make sure there’s no flood of sellers or a shrinking of immediate sales that would indicate a weakening market. 

Pending-home sales grow

Pending-home sales are finally getting close to eclipsing last year. We started 2023 with 30% fewer homes under contract than in 2022, however, that gap has narrowed to just 3% now.

What does that mean? It’s a positive sign we’re near the bottom of the housing recession and maybe we can claw our way back to a more stable housing market in 2024.

Home prices hold their own amid higher housing inventory

Notably, there are no signs of falling home prices with this fall’s sellers. The median price of single-family homes in the U.S. is at $428,000, which is 2% higher than this week a year ago.

It’s also worth noting that the home prices of new listings (a leading indicator) isn’t strained by downward price pressure.

Mike Simonsen is the president and founder of Altos Research.

Download the free Altos eBook: “How to Use Market Data to Build Your Real Estate Business”

Source: housingwire.com

Apache is functioning normally

Realtor Connor Anderson has a “friends first, clients second” policy that helps him sell homes without being salesy. In the last 12 months, he’s closed 32 transactions. On today’s podcast, he shares how he did it. In addition to the power of real relationships, Connor covers buying leads from BiggerPockets, working with investors, and setting expectations with buyer clients.

Listen to today’s show and learn:

  • Starting real estate in a new market [3:02]
  • Why Grand Rapids is a great market to invest in [3:40]
  • A great way to hit the ground running as a real estate agent [4:55]
  • Transitioning from a team to a solo real estate business [6:59]
  • Where Connor gets his real estate leads [7:43]
  • BiggerPockets real estate leads [8:21]
  • Running real estate meet ups [11:57]
  • Advice for following up with real estate leads [15:16]
  • Friends first, clients second [19:18]
  • Splitting personal and professional content on social media [21:54]
  • Playing the long game with prospects [23:32]
  • How to handle first-time home buyers: Connor’s process [24:10]
  • Weeding out time wasters [27:26]
  • Solving problems when under contract [29:53]
  • Setting expectations with buyer clients [31:21]
  • Leveraging a transaction coordinator to get more deals done [33:22]
  • A simple gift for football fans [36:36]
  • Connor’s real estate goals and plans [38:24]
  • Advice for new real estate agents [40:46]

Connor Anderson

Connor Anderson, full time realtor focusing on helping investors and first time home buyers build wealth through real estate. Owning real estate has had such a massive impact on his life and financial well being and he wants to help others do the same. Connor likes being able to work with clients and be very hands on with their real estate education so they can be prepared for long term success. He owns 3 properties himself and plans to continue to buy one to two deals a year. Former BiggerPockets employee. Outside of real estate Connor really enjoys golfing, skiing, and running. Instagram is @ConnorTAnderson.

Related Links and Resources:

It might go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: We really value listeners like you. We’re constantly working to improve the show, so why not leave us a review? If you love the content and can’t stand the thought of missing the nuggets our Rockstar guests share every week, please subscribe; it’ll get you instant access to our latest episodes and is the best way to support your favorite real estate podcast. Have questions? Suggestions? Want to say hi? Shoot me a message via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Email.

-Aaron Amuchastegui

Source: realestaterockstarsnetwork.com

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You’re seeing The Post and Courier’s weekly real estate newsletter. Receive all the latest transactions and top development, building, and home and commercial sales news to your inbox each Saturday here.

Dorchester County plantation encompasses 1,644 acres near Edisto River

A large rural tract in the South Carolina Lowcountry is on the market for $12.7 million.

The 1,644-acre Beech Hill Plantation, south of Givhans Ferry State Park near the Edisto River and Old Beech Hill Road in Dorchester County, is listed by Brown Land + Plantation Advisors & Wise Batten Inc.

The pine forest property lies within the landscape of the East Edisto Conservancy and is said to be one of the largest contiguous tracts on the market in South Carolina.

“There’s excellent higher and better use potential, mitigation potential and conservation easement potential,” listing agent C.J. Brown said.



Home decor store Heavens Marketplace is slated to close by mid-December after a 16-month run in Mount Pleasant. Warren L. Wise/Staff


Mount Pleasant home decor store closing after 16 months in operation

The Myrtle Beach-based business cited the economy, the size of the store and the inability to make a left turn exiting the site as reasons for the store’s demise.

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By the numbers

4: Number of new downtown Charleston retail shops celebrating openings as the holiday shopping season gets underway. 

+ 26 and counting: Charleston-area home sales slipped in October for the 26th consecutive month.

Mount Pleasant shopping center sold for $46.75M



Wando Crossing Shopping Center in Mount Pleasant now has a new owner. Carolina Retail Experts/Provided


Mount Pleasant-based Ziff Real Estate Partners now owns a long-established shopping center about three miles north of its office. Provided/Carolina Retail Experts

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Underwriting, Outsourcing, CRM, POS Products; IMB earnings for Q3

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Underwriting, Outsourcing, CRM, POS Products; IMB earnings for Q3

By:
Rob Chrisman

Thu, Nov 16 2023, 11:02 AM

“Every disaster movie starts with the government ignoring a scientist.” Vendors and lenders can’t ignore red ink. Here in Kansas City, one of the discussion topics is how relationships are important during these days when the balance sheets of many lenders and vendors don’t look so great after, for many companies, several quarters of losses. How much pain do some owners want? Balance sheets were plump after 2020 and 2021, and warehouse banks and investor counterparties continue to do business with companies that are losing money based on those balance sheets along with the servicing income. Now? The MBA’s oft-quoted Marina Walsh, VP of Industry Analysis, reported, “Independent mortgage banks and mortgage subsidiaries of chartered banks reported a pre-tax net loss of $1,015 on each loan they originated in the third quarter of 2023, an increase from the reported loss of $534 per loan in the second quarter of 2023. (Today’s podcast can be found here, sponsored by LoanCare, the mortgage subservicer known for delivering superior customer experience through personalization and convenience. Its award-winning portfolio management tool, LoanCare Analytics, supports MSR investors with a focus on customer engagement, liquidity, and credit risk.)

Lender and Broker Software, Products, and Services

Plug-n-play your way to better relationship marketing with Velma, an effortlessly simple CRM tailor-made for smaller lenders, banks, and credit unions. Say goodbye to expensive, complex systems. Velma delivers budget-friendly marketing automation solutions featuring zero implementation fees and seamless, hassle-free setup. With hyper-personalized engagement, effortless efficiency, and a proven track record with over 40,000 mortgage professionals since 2007, Velma simplifies your journey, supercharges your marketing, and keeps your loan officers doing what they do best. Join the Velma revolution today and transform your lending business!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… budget planning! A great POS shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg, and a budget-friendly POS shouldn’t suck. Check out LiteSpeed by LenderLogix – great, budget-friendly, and integrates seamlessly with Encompass® by ICE Mortgage Technology™.

As we head into the holiday season, also known as the time to review your 2024 plans, AmeriHome Correspondent, backed by the strength of Western Alliance Bank, wants to speak to you about how a relationship with them will help you navigate the coming year. Combined with AmeriHome’s industry leading loan purchase platform, this is a “must-have” relationship for mortgage bankers of all shapes and sizes. Financial institutions, IMBs and Emerging Bankers alike benefit from AmeriHome’s Delegated and Non-Delegated options, full suite of conventional and government products, and Bulk, Bulk/AOT and Best-Efforts delivery options. Learn how Leveraging Western Alliance Bank’s Warehouse Lending, MSR Financing, and Treasury Management services can enhance your bottom line and improve execution with AmeriHome. Check out Upcoming Events for details on where they’ll be through year-end, find your sales rep here, or send them an email to learn more about partnering with AmeriHome!

Remember when you could just pick up your phone and text a client with news about their loan? Nowadays, a few bad actors are using texts to bombard people with texts that they don’t want. And go figure, the FCC and the TCPA implemented new A2P 10DLC requirements, to try and stop the junk texting. And the fines for noncompliance are serious. Recently, a mortgage company was fined north of $7 million by the TCPA. That’s scary. Are your salespeople texting their databases? Have your compliance teams even heard about 10DLC federal regulations? Since ALL texting through mortgage CRMs falls under this federal law, it is imperative that you utilize texting legally and compliantly. What have your CRM providers done to help you navigate this challenging compliance landscape? Click here to learn more about the regulations and what you need to do. Share this Infographic with your team.

Ever heard the one about the investor who didn’t need more value? Neither have we! Join Planet Loan Servicing at the IMN SFR Forum West Dec. 4-6 to explore how our expert blend of technology, service, and cost-efficiency enhances Single-family Rental investments. Managing $100B+ in total assets, Planet provides top-tier expertise and savings-focused strategies to support robust portfolio performance. Enjoy complimentary access to our proprietary tools and discover how we create lasting value. Let’s connect in Scottsdale and unlock the full potential of your investments. To schedule your meeting now Email [email protected] or call (585) 512-1030.

Despite the recent rally, this year’s deterioration in the MBS market, marked by both its scale, duration, and concurrent surge in rates, is consistently surprising observers with its resilience. Seeking insights from historical patterns, MCT’s industry webinar titled “The Great Inflation vs. 2024: Analysis & New Tools for the Current Market” aims to provide answers and current market analysis. Phil Rasori and Andrew Rhodes will delve into the current market scenario, draw comparisons with pertinent historical precedents, and introduce new MCT software functionality. Register for today’s webinar at 11am PT for information and valuable insights to navigate the challenges of this historic market.

“Turn fixed costs into variable costs on a dime. When the market zigs, lenders need the flexibility to zag. Richey MayAdvisory brings the mortgage industry expertise and agility you need to convert fixed costs into variable costs. Our difference maker is your ability to outsource services to highly trained experts in a model that fits your needs. Whether that means loan-level accounting, advisory, business intelligence, compliance support, cyber services, internal audits, or underwriting automation, we have the tools, knowledge, and experience to deliver value and improve your financial performance unlike any competitor, anywhere. You’ll feel it almost immediately in your day-to-day operations. Even better, you’ll notice the difference in your bottom line. Reach out or visit our website to learn more about how we can help your operation.”

Processing and Fulfillment Tools

ACES Quality Management Announces Preliminary Speaker Lineup and New Location for ACES ENGAGE 2024! ACES ENGAGE conference will take place at the Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain hotel in Tucson, Ariz. on May 19 – 21, 2024. Attendees learn from industry experts and thought leaders, network, and leave with the knowledge necessary to increase efficiencies, improve productivity and further quality at their organizations. This year’s keynote speaker is Robyn Benincasa, a two-time world champion adventure racer, 20+ year veteran San Diego firefighter and 2014 CNN Hero. In addition, ACES has gathered industry experts for this year’s speaker lineup, including Joel Kan, vice president and chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association; vice president at Fannie Mae, Bill Cleary; and Richard J. Andreano, Jr., partner, and practice leader of Ballard Spahr’s Mortgage Banking Group. Discount pricing available. Register today!

“We are painfully aware of the emotional and financial stress lenders are experiencing in the current environment. Many of you have been forced to choose between saving great people or saving the company: a horrible set of choices. However, with the help of our patented machine + human mortgage loan fulfillment solution, you will never find yourself in that situation again. By harnessing the CandorPLUS™ full loan lifecycle solution and its decision-ready file output, will ensure that you can quickly and confidently scale up or down to match your volume while simultaneously improving your performance metrics: cost, speed and quality. Click here to schedule a call to explore how CandorPLUS™ can help you change the way your business navigates market volatility going forward.”

MBA on Origination Volume

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) newly released Quarterly Mortgage Bankers Performance Report, “A decline in originations volume worsened net production losses in the third quarter of 2023. While production revenues stayed relatively flat, per-loan production costs reverted to the third-highest level in the history of MBA’s survey, which reversed a portion of the cost improvements made in the second quarter.”

Ms. Walsh elaborated. “Net production income has been in the red for six consecutive quarters. MBA forecasts lower industry volume over the next two quarters compared to last quarter, which means a turnaround is unlikely until the second quarter of 2024. One silver lining is that mortgage servicing continues to be a bright spot for many companies. Combining both the production and servicing business lines, roughly half of mortgage companies stayed profitable in the third quarter of 2023. Were it not for mortgage servicing, only about one in three companies would have been profitable.”

Including all business lines (both production and servicing), 51 percent of the firms in the study posted pre-tax net financial profits in the third quarter, down from 58 percent in the second quarter. The average pre-tax production loss was 34 basis points (bps) in the third quarter of 2023, compared to an average net production loss of 18 bps in the second quarter of 2023, and a loss of 20 basis points one year ago. The average quarterly pre-tax production profit, from the third quarter of 2008 to the most recent quarter, is 45 basis points.

The average production volume was down 5 percent from the second quarter. Total production revenue (fee income, net secondary marketing income and warehouse spread) increased to 329 bps in the third quarter, up slightly from 328 bps in the second quarter. On a per-loan basis, production revenues decreased to $10,426 per loan in the third quarter, down from $10,510 per loan in the second quarter.

The purchase share of total originations, by dollar volume, was constant at 89 percent. For the mortgage industry as a whole, MBA estimates the purchase share was at 82 percent in the third quarter of 2023.

Total loan production expenses (commissions, compensation, occupancy, equipment, and other production expenses and corporate allocations) increased to $11,441 per loan in the third quarter, up from $11,044 per loan in the second quarter of 2023 versus an average of $7,305 per loan over the last fifteen years.

Servicing net financial income for the third quarter (without annualizing) was $90 per loan, down from $94 per loan in the second quarter. Servicing operating income, which excludes MSR amortization, gains/loss in the valuation of servicing rights net of hedging gains/losses, and gains/losses on the bulk sale of MSRs, was $104 per loan in the third quarter, down from $105 per loan in the second quarter. (Any questions should be addressed to Marina Walsh.)

Capital Markets

Cooling prices and slipping retail sales are pointing to a fabled soft landing. We learned yesterday that U.S. producer prices declined 0.5 percent last month, the most since April 2020. The decline was mostly due to a drop in gasoline prices, adding fuel (sorry) to the assumption that global central banks are finished with interest rate hikes. If you strip out food and energy, the producer price index was flat on a month-over-month basis and registered lower than expectations.

Meanwhile, we also learned that U.S. retail sales fell 0.1 percent month-over-month in October after a summer spending flurry: should we be cautious about the consumer? The report isn’t adjusted for inflation, so consumer demand for goods in October fell off noticeably from September but was better than expected as expectations were for a larger decline. Sales were up 2.5 percent on a year-over-year basis. Overall, PPI was supportive of bond prices, while the retail sales number was negative for bond prices.

Yesterday’s reports followed consumer price data from Tuesday showing that inflation is broadly slowing. Additionally, recent figures have indicated tempered job growth, suggesting the economy is slowing after aggressive rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. Pricing in fed funds futures markets currently implies a zero chance of another rate hike this year, and that the first interest rate cuts will come in May of next year. Of course, the Fed has indicated that it will remain data dependent. My personal opinion is that the bond market is at risk of leaning too heavily toward rate cuts next year.

Today’s economic calendar is already under way with import prices (+.6 percent, much higher than expected, but down ex-petroleum; -2.0 percent for the year), weekly jobless claims (231k, up from 218k; 1.863 million continuing claims), and Philadelphia Fed manufacturing (5.9). Later today brings industrial production and capacity utilization for October, the NAHB Housing Market Index for November, Kansas City Fed manufacturing for November, Treasury announcing next week’s auctions of 20-year bonds, reopened 10-year TIPS, and 2-year FRNs, Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, and a full slate of Fed speakers (Vice Chair for Supervision Barr, Cleveland President Mester, New York President Williams, Fed Governor Waller, and Fed Governor Cook. We begin the day, one week before Thanksgiving, with Agency MBS prices better by about .250 and the 10-year yielding 4.46 after closing yesterday at 4.54 percent; the 2-year is down to 4.84.

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Source: mortgagenewsdaily.com

Apache is functioning normally

Owning your own home is typically a foundation of the American Dream, and many people are saving for a down payment right this minute. But when you are already paying rent, it can be a challenge to save for a down payment on a house, especially if you live in an area with a high cost of living or are dealing with the impact of inflation.

But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. You can save up for your home purchase by following some wise financial advice and simplifying the process of socking away your cash.

If buying a home is a priority for you, read on. You’ll learn how to grow your down payment savings while still paying rent.

5 Tips to Save for a Home While You’re Still Renting

Rent can take a big bite out of your take-home pay, but it doesn’t rule out saving for a down payment on a house. Here’s some smart budgeting advice to help you set aside money for your future homeownership.

💡 Quick Tip: You deserve a more zen mortgage. Look for a mortgage lender who’s dedicated to closing your loan on time.

1. Pay Down Your Debt First

In order to save for a house, it’s wise to figure out a plan to pay down your existing debt. This will free up more money for you to save for that down payment. Also, when you do apply for a mortgage, you will likely have a lower debt-to-income ratio, or DTI ratio. Reducing you DTI ratio can help your application get approved.

Student loan debt is a common kind of debt to have; the average American right now has $37,338 in loans. If you’re a full-time employee, reach out to your company’s HR department to learn more about student debt repayment assistance. A recent survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that 17% of companies in the U.S. currently have this type of assistance, so it’s worth a try.

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As a more drastic measure, you could always think about going into a profession that offers partial or total student loan forgiveness (such as teaching in certain public schools) or moving to a state that will help pay off your student loan debt just for moving there (currently Kansas, Maine, Maryland, and Michigan).

For an easier fix, you could consider student loan refinancing options, which might lower your rate. By dropping your interest rates, you could significantly reduce both your payments and the length of time you’ll be making them.

However, a couple of points to note. If you extend your term to lower the payment, you will pay more interest over the life of the loan. Also, do be aware that, when refinancing federal loans to private ones, you may then no longer be eligible for federal benefits and protections. However, by getting a lower interest rate, you may accelerate your path to saving for your down payment and getting keys to your very own home.

Credit card debt can also play a role in preventing you from saving for a down payment. This is typically high-interest debt, with rates currently hovering just below 25%.

There are a variety of ways to pay down this debt, such as the debt avalanche method, which has you focus on your highest-interest debt first; the debt snowball; and the debt fireball methods.

If none of these techniques seems right for you, you might look into getting a balance transfer credit card, which will give you a period of zero interest in which you may pay down debt. Or you might take out a personal loan to pay off the credit card debt and then potentially have a lower interest loan to manage.

2. Create a Budget That Will Help You Spend Less and Save More

Another way to free up funds for that down payment is to budget well. Creating and sticking to a realistic budget can help you spend less while saving for a house. While budgeting can sound like a no-fun, punitive exercise, that really doesn’t have to be the case. A budget is actually a helpful tool that allows you to manage your income, spending, and saving optimally.

To get there, you can pick from the different budgeting methods. Most involve these simple steps.

Gather your data: Figure out how much you’re earning each month (after taxes), along with how much you’re currently spending. Add it all up including cell phone bills, insurance, grocery bills, rent, utilities, your coffee habit, the dog walker, gym membership, etc. Don’t miss a dime.

List your current savings: Are you currently putting money into an IRA, 401(k), or other savings plan? List it, so you can see what you’ve already got in the bank.

Really dig into and optimize your spending: Can you cut back anywhere? You might trim some spending by bundling your renters and car insurance with one provider. Perhaps you can save on streaming services by dropping a platform or two. And how’s your takeout habit? If you really want to save for a house, you may need to learn to cook. You might even consider taking in a roommate or moving to a less expensive place to turbocharge your savings for your down payment while renting.

Making cuts, admittedly, can be the toughest step in the budgeting process, but it’s crucial to be honest with yourself about your spending. Remember: However much you cut back can help you get a new home that much sooner.

Finally, check in on your budget every so often and adjust as needed. For example, if you land a new job, get a promotion, or are given an annual raise, perhaps you can add that money to your savings account or put it toward paying off your loans. Whichever one feels more important to you is OK, so long as that extra cash isn’t vanishing on impulse buys.

3. Investigate How Big a Down Payment You Actually Need

Many prospective homebuyers think they must have 20% down to buy a house, but that is not always the case. That is how much you need to avoid paying for private mortgage insurance (PMI) with a conventional conforming loan. Private mortgage insurance typically ranges from 0.5% to 2% of the loan amount, and it’s automatically canceled when your equity reaches 78% of the home’s original value.

Here are some valuable facts: You may be able to take out a conforming loan with as little as 3% down, plus PMI. Certainly, that’s a sum that can be easier to wrangle than 20%, though your mortgage principal will be higher. According to National Association of Realtors data, the average first-time homebuyer puts down about 6%.

In addition, you might qualify for government loans that don’t require any down payment at all, such as VA and USDA loans.

You might also look into regional first-time homebuyer programs that can provide favorable terms and help you own a property sooner.

💡 Quick Tip: Don’t have a lot of cash on hand for a down payment? The minimum down payment for an FHA mortgage loan is as little as 3.5%.

4. Grow Your Savings

If you’ve paid off your debt, set realistic budgeting goals, and are raking in some dough to add to a savings account, you’re already on the right track. A good next move is to put your money to work for you. Among your options:

•   Open a high-interest savings account. These can pay multiples of the average interest rate earned by a standard savings account. You will frequently find these accounts at online vs. traditional banks. Since they don’t have brick-and-mortar branches, online financial institutions can save on operating costs and can pass that along to consumers. Just be sure to look into such points as any account fees, as well as opening balance and monthly balance requirements. (Features such as round-up savings can also help you save more quickly.)

You can also look into certificates of deposit (CDs) and see what interest rates you might get there. These products typically require you to keep your funds on deposit for a set period of time with the interest rate known in advance.

•   If you have a fairly long timeline, you might consider opening an investment account to grow your savings. The market has a historical 10% rate of return, though past performance isn’t a guarantee of future returns. You could try using a robo advisor, or you could work with a financial advisor who will walk you through investment strategies for beginners and beyond and help you invest. Just be aware that investments are insured against insolvency of the broker-dealer but not against loss.

Recommended: First-time Homebuyer Guide

5. Automate as Much of Your Finances as Possible

This is a lot of information to process, but once you get through all the work upfront, you can start automating as much as possible. For example, have a portion of your paycheck automatically go into your savings account each month to plump up that down payment fund.

You might set up the direct deposit of your paycheck to send most of your pay to your checking account and a portion to a savings account earmarked for your down payment. You can check with your HR or Benefits department to see if this is possible.

Another way to automate your savings is to have your bank set up a recurring transfer from your checking account, as close to payday as possible. That can route some funds to your down payment savings without any effort on your part. Nor will you see the cash sitting in your checking account, tempting you to spend it.

The Takeaway

While saving for a down payment isn’t exactly a piece of cake, it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. By trying five effective strategies, which can include budgeting, paying down debt, and automating your savings, you can accumulate enough money to start on your path to homeownership.

Once you have the down payment taken care of, you’ll be ready to shop for a home mortgage that suits you.

Looking for an affordable option for a home mortgage loan? SoFi can help: We offer low down payments (as little as 3% – 5%*) with our competitive and flexible home mortgage loans. Plus, applying is extra convenient: It’s online, with access to one-on-one help.

SoFi Mortgages: simple, smart, and so affordable.


*SoFi requires Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) for conforming home loans with a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio greater than 80%. As little as 3% down payments are for qualifying first-time homebuyers only. 5% minimum applies to other borrowers. Other loan types may require different fees or insurance (e.g., VA funding fee, FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums, etc.). Loan requirements may vary depending on your down payment amount, and minimum down payment varies by loan type.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Mortgages
Terms, conditions, and state restrictions apply. Not all products are available in all states. See SoFi.com/eligibility for more information.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

¹FHA loans are subject to unique terms and conditions established by FHA and SoFi. Ask your SoFi loan officer for details about eligibility, documentation, and other requirements. FHA loans require an Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP), which may be financed or paid at closing, in addition to monthly Mortgage Insurance Premiums (MIP). Maximum loan amounts vary by county. The minimum FHA mortgage down payment is 3.5% for those who qualify financially for a primary purchase. SoFi is not affiliated with any government agency.

SoFi Student Loan Refinance
If you are a federal student loan borrower, you should consider all of your repayment opportunities including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. Please note that once you refinance federal student loans you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans or extended repayment plans.

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Source: sofi.com

Apache is functioning normally

The District of Colombia has sued RealPage and fourteen of the largest landlords in DC for unlawfully conspiring to use RealPage’s Revenue Management (RM) software to inflate rents for tens of thousands of apartments in the District.

Besides RealPage, the Defendant Landlords mentioned in the lawsuit filed in DC Superior Court include Avenue5 Residential, LLC; AvalonBay Communities, Inc.; Bell Partners, Inc.; Bozzuto Management Company; Camden Development, Inc.; Equity Residential Management, LLC; Gables Residential Services, Inc.; Greystar Management Services, LP; Highmark Residential, LLC; JBG Associates, LLC; Mid-America Apartments, LP; Paradigm Management II, LP; UDR, Inc.; and William C. Smith & Co., Inc.

RealPage promotes three revenue management products: YieldStar, LRO, and AIRM. These products share the same functionality as they utilize algorithms powered by RealPage’s extensive data repositories accessible to all three products. RealPage’s RM Software enables clients to optimize rental prices to achieve the highest possible yield or a combination of rent and occupancy for each property. Simply put, these products employ statistical models that analyze data, including proprietary and non-public information, to estimate the supply and demand for specific types of multifamily housing in particular geographic areas. Based on this analysis, the products generate optimal rental prices that maximize the landlord’s revenue. All these actions constitute unreasonable and unlawful restraints of trade in violation of the District of Columbia Antitrust Act, DC Code § 28-4502. The lawsuit demands maximum civil penalties as provided by the DC Antitrust Act.

Instead of competing on price, Defendant Landlords have delegated their price-setting authority to RealPage, creating a centralized system. Additionally, Defendant Landlords have agreed in writing to share competitively sensitive data with RealPage, allowing them to monitor and enforce compliance with the agreed-upon rents set by the RM Software.

This scheme extends beyond the District, as many of the largest providers of multifamily housing in the nation have also joined this rent-setting cartel and adopted RealPage’s RM Software. However, the scheme’s impact is particularly significant in the DC metropolitan area.

Defendant Landlords are among the largest providers of multifamily housing in the District, and RealPage’s RM Software is used to set rents for over 90% of units in large buildings with 50 or more units. Even when considering the broader multifamily housing market, the scope of this misconduct remains significant, with RealPage’s RM Software used to set rents at over 50,000 units in the District.

The consequences of the Defendants’ anticompetitive scheme are widespread and severe. To entice more landlords to join their cartel, Defendants have publicly advertised that participating landlords can increase their revenue (rents) by 2-7%, resulting in millions of dollars in wrongfully inflated rents over the past four years alone.

Defendants achieve these results by limiting market competition. Instead of competing on price to attract renters, they conspire to share information, restrict supply, and drive up rents. In a competitive market, competitors would keep their pricing strategies confidential. However, Defendants understand that recruiting more participants to their anticompetitive scheme strengthens their ability to extract unlawfully higher rents, as they trust that their competitors will not drastically undercut their prices.

The rising cost of housing is a challenge for District residents, particularly as most of the city’s population consists of renters. In recent years, renters in the District have faced staggering rent increases, with approximately a quarter of renters spending over 50% of their income on rent.

The Defendants’ anticompetitive agreement has worsened the affordable housing crisis in DC, causing numerous District renters to overpay for rent month after month. Housing is a fundamental necessity, and by demanding unlawfully high cartel rents, Defendants have inflicted significant harm on neighbourhoods across the District. Every dollar of increased rent that the cartel unlawfully extracts from District renters contributes to widening wealth gaps, forces residents to make sacrifices in other areas of their lives, and pushes them out of a District whose housing is increasingly unaffordable.

The Attorney General is bringing this action in his parens patriae capacity to seek treble damages for the harm inflicted on District renters, along with civil penalties and allow to the District of Columbia its costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees; and k. Order any additional relief the Court deems just and proper.

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Mihaela Lica Butler is senior partner at Pamil Visions PR. She is a widely cited authority on public relations issues, with an experience of over 25 years in online PR, marketing, and SEO.She covers startups, online marketing, social media, SEO, and other topics of interest for Realty Biz News.

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Source: realtybiznews.com