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Opinion

Affordability-first search: Why patent revival puts real estate at a crossroads

Agent, Brokerage, Contributors, Opinion, Real Estate /

The real estate industry is at an inflection point. Affordability has become the single most pressing issue for consumers, regulators, and professionals alike. For decades, buyers searched by list price, even though every lender knows that what really matters is the monthly payment a family can carry under underwriting standards. Now, search-by-payment is no longer […]

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Here’s why non-QM earned its place at the mortgage dinner table

Contributors, Mortgage, Non-QM, Opinion, Origination, Refinancing /

The non-qualified mortgage market has experienced significant growth since its introduction nearly a decade ago. 10 years in, credit ratings agencies regularly release performance metrics for investors, which provide remarkable insight into this extremely versatile asset class. In a recent default study on non-QM performance over the years, for example, KBRA analysts note that non-QM

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Where rental agents are cashing in: The states to watch for the remainder of 2025

Agent, Contributors, Opinion, Real Estate, real estate agent, Real Estate Agents, Rental Assistance, Rental Properties /

The U.S. rental market is shifting in 2025, but for rental agents, opportunity remains abundant. National vacancy rates reached 7 percent in the second quarter, up from 6.6 percent a year earlier, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A wave of new construction and moderating rent growth has created a more balanced market, but in

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AVM testing under fire: New methodology challenges industry norms and raises risk for lenders

Appraisals and Valuations, Automated Valuation Model, Contributors, Mortgage, Opinion, Origination /

The reliability of Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) has been thrust into the spotlight in recent weeks, following groundbreaking changes in the way these models are now being tested. The implications for home equity lenders, who rely heavily on AVMs to determine property values, could be far-reaching, especially as the industry grapples with new regulatory questions

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What are Non-QM loans and who are they for?

Contributors, HWmember, Mortgage, Non-QM, Opinion, Origination /

If you’ve ever been told “you don’t fit the box” even though you can comfortably afford the payment, you’ve felt the limits of traditional mortgages. Non-QM loans exist for exactly that situation. “Non-QM” stands for Non-Qualified Mortgage. It sounds technical, but the idea is simple: fully documented loans for creditworthy people whose finances don’t slot

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The quiet advantage in real estate: Pre-approval

Contributors, HWmember, Mortgage, Opinion, Origination /

When it comes to real estate, the best outcomes rarely happen by chance. The buyers who succeed are usually the ones who prepare early, long before they walk into their first showing. Preparation starts with understanding what a lender is willing to offer, and that can take one of two paths: a simple pre-qualification or

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Uncovering the hidden costs of investor reporting in mortgage servicing

Contributors, HWmember, Mortgage, Mortgage Servicing, Opinion, Servicing /

Cost optimization is key to creating success in the world of mortgage servicing. Mortgage servicers have dedicated significant resources in pursuit of optimized processes and prices, as every fraction of the cent saved contributes to the bottom line. Servicers are laser-focused on enhancing throughput efficiency, applying advanced technology to automate and streamline every step from

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Occupancy fraud: Not as simple as you think

Contributors, HWmember, Opinion, Real Estate Fraud /

The facts uncovered in fraud investigations are often shocking, revealing stories of both tragedy and comedy. And those stories inform how we help our clients to navigate the landscape of risk, regulation, and management. Stories about occupancy fraud, until very recently, never made the news. Then in the Spring of 2024, a top producing loan

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