Despite the Federal Reserve’s attempts to combat inflation, the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals that such progress may be minor, or nonexistent. The September CPI report saw a 0.6% monthly increase, with annual inflation gaining traction once again at 3.7%. The latest data is up from August’s report, which…
Editor’s note: The COURT REPORT is RISMedia’s weekly look at current and upcoming lawsuits, investigations and other legal developments around real estate. Zillow pleas fall on deaf ears On Oct. 5, the U.S. Supreme Court officially declined Zillow’s appeal to hear a class-action shareholder lawsuit, formally known as Jaeger v. Zillow Group Inc. In the…
Editor’s Note: The Mortgage Mix is RISMedia’s highlight reel of need-to-know mortgage-industry happenings. Watch for it every other Friday afternoon. The numbers: Mortgage rates continue to reach new highs each week, quickly climbing in the 7% range and hitting a “nearly three year high,” as noted by Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) President and CEO Bob…
Above, Sara Bronin Global tensions and economic pressures pushed builder sentiment lower this past September, but a new platform may offer respite for developers, researchers and property owners. Land Use Labs—a zoning data and services company—launched early last week with six data products aimed at providing accurate zoning information. Founder Sara Bronin, a George Washington…
The mid-September Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting came with a unanimous vote to hike interest rates, after many economists predicted that outcome. Minutes from the meeting released today, however, reveal some of the thinking behind that decision. The minutes offer a closer look at the reasoning behind the Fed’s rate hike. Based on…
As mortgage rates surpass the 7% threshold and revisions to the latest jobs report reveals a lackluster employment trend, buyers have continued to traverse a chaotic market with rising inflation against them. Yet, a recent study by nationwide mortgage lender and loan servicer Newrez reveals that despite financial struggles, homeowners are still confident in their…
Editor’s note: The COURT REPORT is RISMedia’s weekly look at current and upcoming lawsuits, investigations and other legal developments around real estate. Better drops challenge against Vishal Garg The Better Home & Finance Holding Company (commonly known as Better) announced in an Oct. 5 press release that their Special Committee withdrew its challenge to the…
The Federal Reserve’s new interest rate increase will likely be felt throughout the real estate industry, with mortgage rates surpassing last week’s data highlighting a two-year peak. According to Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 7.28%, up from last week’s average of 7.03% and up from last year’s…
Unemployment continues to remain steady around the 4% range, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The latest Employment Situation Summary from the BLS reports that the unemployment rate grew slightly—but not dramatically—to 4.2%, with the addition of 29,000 jobs. Previously, the unemployment rate sat at 4.1% for August. Categories like construction and manufacturing…
Above, from left, Matt Widdows, founder and CEO, HomeSmart; Anthony Lamacchia, broker/owner and CEO, Lamacchia Realty, Inc.; DeAnn Golden, president and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties; and Tracy Hutton, CEO and owner, CENTURY 21 Scheetz. Photo by AJ Canarla. News coverage—both from mainstream media and real estate organizations—tends to focus on national trends. But…
“For many buyers, six months spent lowering card balances, correcting report errors and building reserves is cheaper than taking the wrong loan today,” says one longtime loan expert. “A delayed purchase can hurt. A payment you cannot comfortably carry hurts much longer.” Read more.
