Author name: Ricky Vasquez

Housing finance outlook 2025: It’s a cruel, cruel summer

After a tepid Spring homebuying season, housing market headwinds continue to challenge demand for homebuying, but improved for-sale supply is providing buyers with more options and helping to keep softer price pressures for those looking to buy. And while annual home price growth has slowed considerably, home prices this spring have held steady, and gains […]

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Volo secures funding to expand expat mortgage lending

A mortgage lender helping Americans buy homes abroad received a capital boost this week thanks to a new warehouse agreement with an investment management firm.  Volo Loans, which specializes in serving U.S. citizens looking to finance properties in Costa Rica, landed its $50 million investment from Gramercy Funds Management, a global firm specializing in emerging

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Home remodeling bond sales surge as Americans avoid moving

Wall Street is cranking up the bond machine as US homeowners, finding that buying a new house is out of reach since mortgage rates started climbing in 2022, are instead getting home equity loans and sprucing up their current properties. Roughly $18 billion of bonds, backed by consumer loans on everything from second mortgages to

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Bowman confirmed as top regulator at Fed

Bowman confirmed as top regulator at Fed

Federal Reserve Gov. Michelle BowmanBloomberg News WASHINGTON — Michelle Bowman has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be the Federal Reserve vice chair for supervision.  The Senate confirmed Bowman’s nomination in a 48-46 vote, split along party lines. Once she is sworn in, Bowman will serve as the top bank regulator at the Fed,

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Wells shed its asset cap — but it isn’t clear why

Wells shed its asset cap — but it isn’t clear why

Bloomberg News In 2018, the Federal Reserve Board’s total growth restriction on Wells Fargo established a new tool for dealing with large banks with broken compliance cultures. Many in and around the banking space viewed the $1.95 trillion asset cap — imposed in response to Wells Fargo’s cross-selling and fake accounts scandals — as a

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Goby Homes launches property transaction platform, founder honored by NAR

Real estate technology startup Goby Homes has launched a new platform aimed at increasing transparency, security and communication in residential real estate transactions, the company announced during the 2025 Realtors Legislative Meetings. That announcement coincided with the National Association of Realtors naming Goby Homes founder Terrence Nickelson its 2025 iOi Innovator of the Year. Nickelson

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Top-producing California agent joins eXp Realty

Costanza Genoese Zerbi — a nationally recognized real estate agent and founder of Long Beach, California-based Costanza Genoese Zerbi & Associates — has joined eXp Realty, the company announced Tuesday. Zerbi, a veteran agent with nearly a decade of experience, brings a strong sales record to the brokerage. She closed $91 million in volume during

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Home-price growth at decade low, Florida markets lead declines

Home-price growth in the U.S. fell to its lowest rate in more than a decade this April, according to the latest data from Cotality. Weighing on the market were continued concerns about the economy, including job stability, inflation and possible tariff impacts — all contributing to sluggish buyer demand. “Housing market headwinds continue to challenge

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White House expects reverse mortgages to continue producing government receipts

Following last month’s release of the so-called “skinny budget” from the White House, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has released a 1,200-plus page appendix for the proposal. It includes projections related to the performance of the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) portion of the Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) Fund. According to the data

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