Is the end of Libor a threat to financial stability?

WASHINGTON — There is little doubt in anyone's mind that by the end of 2021, the London interbank offered rate will cease to exist. But as banks prepare for the switch, a growing chorus is warning of financial-stability issues with the transition to a new interest rate benchmark.

Read more... https://www.americanbanker.com/news/is-the-end-of-libor-a-threat-to-financial-stability

The Dawn of a New Era for Title

In 1964, Bob Dylan famously sang the lyrics, "Oh, the times they are a-changin." While Dylan's melodramatic anthem focused on the shifting American societal landscape during that turbulent decade, the title industry is currently undergoing its own era of change in the 21st century. 

Read more... https://dsnews.com/daily-dose/10-24-2019/the-dawn-of-a-new-era-for-title

Refinance or not? Getting a better deal isn't a slam dunk, but low rates offer compelling choices

Low interest rates are sparking another mortgage-refinance boom. If you haven't applied for a loan in a few years, it might be time to reconsider.

Read more... https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/economy/2019/10/20/mortgage-refinancing-popular-interest-rates-what-know/3977040002/

Tracking Home Equity Growth Since 2012

Redfin reports that people who purchased homes in 2012 have earned $203 billion in home equity. The buyer who bought a home the year prices reached their lowest point following the Great Recession has earned $141,000, or 261%, in home equity. 

Read more... https://dsnews.com/daily-dose/09-30-2019/tracking-home-equity-growth-since-2012

Trump administration unveils plan to privatize Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has unveiled its plan for ending government control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two giant mortgage finance companies that nearly collapsed in the financial crisis 11 years ago and were bailed out at a total cost to taxpayers of $187 billion.

Read more... https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/09/05/fannie-mae-freddie-mac-overhaul-plan-privatize-mortgage-companies/2226608001/

   

Google Vows To Invest $1B On New Housing In Silicon Valley

Search giant Google on Tuesday promised to invest more than $1 billion creating thousands of new homes in California's Bay Area, continuing a trend among large companies to spend big sums on solving a growing housing affordability crisis.

Read more... https://www.inman.com/2019/06/19/google-vows-to-invest-1b-on-new-housing-in-silicon-valley/

New federal tax rules create advantage for real estate investment trusts

As Generation X and millennials inherit their baby boomer parents' assets amid the so-called Great Wealth Transfer, some will look to invest it in rental property to generate income.

Read more... https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/17/federal-tax-rules-create-advantage-for-real-estate-investment-trusts.html

You can now buy your house on Amazon

Some Americans apparently love to fantasize about an extreme downsize that reduces their personal space to the bare minimum and slashes their cost of living to a fraction of what it once was. Hence, the rise of the tiny house trend.

Read more... https://www.housingwire.com/articles/49260-you-can-now-buy-your-house-on-amazon

Multifamily lenders unprepared for end of LIBOR

Many multifamily lenders are preparing for the end of LIBOR, but are waiting on regulators to make decisions before they take action.

Read more... https://www.housingwire.com/articles/49255-multifamily-lenders-unprepared-for-end-of-libor

California Housing Market Driving Millennials Back to Parents' Doorsteps

More millennials are moving back in with their parents in the San Francisco and San Jose, California, areas, according to a report by The Mercury News. More than a fifth of millennials (ages 23-37) lived with their parents in 2017, according to information from Zillow and U.S. Census Data.

Read more... https://themreport.com/daily-dose/06-03-2019/west-coast-housing-market-driving-millennials-back-home/

California Housing Market Driving Millennials Back to Parents' Doorsteps

More millennials are moving back in with their parents in the San Francisco and San Jose, California, areas, according to a report by The Mercury News. More than a fifth of millennials (ages 23-37) lived with their parents in 2017, according to information from Zillow and U.S. Census Data.

Read more... https://themreport.com/daily-dose/06-03-2019/west-coast-housing-market-driving-millennials-back-home/

CoreLogic: Home Prices Still Going Up

Home prices increased by 3.7 percent year-over-year and one percent month-over-month in March, according to new data from CoreLogic.

Read more... https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/news/70939/corelogic-home-prices-still-going

The 55+ housing market is booming

The 55+ housing market is thriving right now as more Baby Boomers look to invest in a new nest to live out their retirement dreams.

Read more... https://www.housingwire.com/articles/48972-the-55-housing-market-is-booming

Fewer first-time home buyers likely to qualify for mortgages under tougher FHA standards

Some first-time and low- to middle-income home buyers will likely be edged out of the housing market under tougher standards recently adopted by the Federal Housing Administration, experts say.

Read more... https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/03/25/home-loans-fewer-first-timers-get-mortgages-under-tough-standards/3271050002/

Phoenix homes prices climbed 130 percent in 10 years. What's next?

Home prices hit a new record in metro Phoenix last year, and so did incomes in the Valley.

Read more... https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/real-estate/catherine-reagor/2019/03/22/metro-phoenix-home-prices-up-130-percent-decade/3212914002/

D.R. Horton buys Phoenix land for $80 million, plans luxury homes

A homebuilder has paid a record price for approximately 120 acres in northeast Phoenix. Only one home was on the nearly vacant swath of desert.

Read more... https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/real-estate/catherine-reagor/2019/03/28/d-r-horton-buys-ne-phoenix-land-80-million-plans-luxury-homes/3302275002/

Metro Phoenix apartment rents climbed faster than anywhere in the U.S.

Apartment rents climbed faster in metro Phoenix than anywhere in the U.S. during the past year.

Read more... https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/real-estate/catherine-reagor/2019/03/22/metro-phoenix-apartment-rents-climbed-faster-than-anywhere-u-s/3179293002/

Goodbye bidding wars: Homebuyers gain edge in this year's housing market

If you're hunting for a house this spring, say goodbye to frenzied bidding wars. And if you're selling, get ready for good, old-fashioned negotiations.

Read more... https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/03/07/homes-sale-buyers-gain-edge-spring-house-buying-negotiations/3065260002/

Will Individual Agents Be The Real Winners In The IBuyer Game?

While iBuyer companies continue to make news, there's an interesting trend afoot that virtually no one seems to have noticed: Opendoor, Knock, Offerpad and Redfin might not be as formidable as the press makes them out to be. Could it be that the real winner in the iBuyer arena is the agent conducting an old-fashioned print marketing campaign?

Read more... https://www.inman.com/2019/02/25/will-individual-agents-be-the-real-winners-in-the-ibuyer-game/

These 1 percenters are NYC real estate’s biggest losers

Don't believe the brochures. A Billionaire's Row apartment can be a terrible investment.

"One of the things that I struggle to wrap my head around is why people continue to park money in high-end New York real estate when it's not a very lucrative asset class," said Grant Long, senior economist at StreetEasy, a New York listing platform.

Read more... https://nypost.com/2019/02/16/these-1-percenters-are-nyc-real-estates-biggest-losers/

Housing Sentiment May Be Bouncing Back

Respondents to Fannie Mae's January National Housing Survey adopted a new outlook to go along with the new year, primarily in responses about their personal financial situation.  As a result, the Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) increased 1.2 point to 84.7, taking back some of the 2.3 points it shed in December.

Read more... http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/02072019_national_housing_survey.asp

The U.S. Cut Taxes. Why Will Fewer Folks Get Refunds?

U.S. taxpayers are filing their first returns under the 2017 tax code overhaul that lowered rates for most people. What makes the paperwork headaches tolerable for many is the promise of a tax refund at the finish line. Yet more taxpayers will end up with no refund, or a smaller one, compared with a year ago, before the lower rates fully took effect. How could that be? The explanation rests with the many other changes that made it into the revised tax code. Some Americans are venting their surprise and anger.

Read more.... https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/the-us-cut-taxes-why-will-fewer-folks-get-refunds/2019/02/09/c7d34af4-2c40-11e9-906e-9d55b6451eb4_story.html

18 Commercial Real Estate Trends To Dominate In 2019

Goodbye 2018, hello 2019! As the new year approaches, Bisnow spoke with several industry execs, researchers and economists to uncover the major trends expected to dominate the commercial real estate industry in the coming year. From the rise of opportunity zones to a slowdown in industrial absorption, these are 18 trends experts forecast for 2019.

Read more at: https://www.bisnow.com/national/news/commercial-real-estate/commercial-real-estate-trends-to-dominate-in-2019-95890?utm_source=CopyShare&utm_medium=Browser

Read more https://www.bisnow.com/national/news/commercial-real-estate/commercial-real-estate-trends-to-dominate-in-2019-95890

Phoenix's Desert Ridge City North land sold in bankruptcy deal, development to finally restart

Development on a big chunk of northeast Phoenix's popular Desert Ridge community is no longer on hold. That means more money could start flowing to Arizona schools.

Read more https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/real-estate/catherine-reagor/2019/01/30/phoenix-desert-ridge-land-sells-deal-development-restart-crown-realty-bruce-gray/2711534002/

Mr. Cooper laying off 109 mortgage employees in California

Over the last several months, layoffs have hit companies across the housing industry as the industry works to find solid footing in a shifting mortgage market.

Read more... https://www.housingwire.com/articles/47921-mr-cooper-laying-off-109-mortgage-employees-in-california

CoreLogic: November Home Prices Up 5.1 Percent

Home prices in November increased by 5.1 percent from one year earlier and were up by 0.4 percent from October, according to new data from CoreLogic.

Read more... https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/news/69597/corelogic-november-home-prices-percent