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Author Archives: Aly J. Yale

Aly J. Yale is a freelance writer and editor based in Fort Worth, Texas. She has worked for various newspapers, magazines, and publications across the nation, including The Dallas Morning News and Addison Magazine. She has also worked with both the Five Star Institute and REO Red Book, as well as various other mortgage industry clients on content strategy, blogging, marketing, and more.

Rising Prices Can’t Stop Home Investors

Despite rising home prices, investors are still flocking to the market—and in droves. Investment home sales grew 4.5 percent last year, while the average median investment-home price jumped 8 percent. Low mortgage rates helped to keep investors in the market as prices climbed.

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Investigation Spurs $75 Million Recovery from Execs

On the backs of an independent investigation of its sales practices, Wells Fargo has reclaimed a total of $180 million from its former CEO and Head of Community Banking. The organization has also changed bylaws, appointed new board members, and replaced other various executives. The investigation was conducted after a lawsuit alleged the bank had opened accounts in its customers’ names without their consent.

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Lenders Preferred Refinancing Over New Purchases Post-Crisis

A new study suggests that after the Fed began quantitative easing in 2008, many lenders began leaning more toward refinancing applicants than those seeking new purchase loans. This was likely due to the stronger payment history and less risk associated with these applicants. Weaker, less-capitalized banks were more likely to follow the trend.

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Home Prices to Appreciate 3.5 Percent Annually

A newly released forecast predicts home prices to appreciate 3.5 percent across the country over the next year. Denver and Seattle are slated to see the most growth, while Alabama will likely be home to the nation’s worst markets. Parts of the NE, Texas, and Florida will also see growth over the next 12 months as well.

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Will Mortgage Originations Top $1T in 2017?

Last year saw nearly $1 trillion in purchase originations, and experts say the market could top that in 2017. Millennials and first-time homebuyers may be the ones to push it over the edge, as will increasing home sales across the nation. Only a handful of states saw sales dip in 2016.

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Millennials Finally Buying in

According to new data, millennials are entering the housing market in droves. In February, the demo accounted for 86 percent of all closed loans, with most of those being conventional loans. Millennials also saw their time-to-close shorten for the month, reaching its fastest turnaround since March of last year.

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Digitization Will Put Big Banks Ahead

Non-bank lenders won’t lead the mortgage space for long, according to Fitch Ratings. As the mortgage process gets more digital, the agency says its big banks who will take over, thanks to their greater resources and ability to tie in additional financial products. Investment in digital processes will be key as millennials buyers make up the larger market share.

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Northeast Sees Highest Property Taxes

A new analysis shows that more than $277 billion in property taxes were levied against 84 million single-family homes in 2016. Though the average tax rate was 1.15 percent, states like New Jersey, Illinois, and Texas came in with significantly higher rates for the year. New Jersey’s was 2.31 percent—more than twice the national average.

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CEO Says Taxpayers Aren’t on the Hook Anymore

In a letter to shareholders, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon made the statement that the days of “too big to fail” are over and that taxpayers will no longer pay for a bailout should a major financial institution collapse. This is because of a stronger regulatory environment, more liquidity, and higher capital levels, Dimon said. He also covered tech, immigration issues, and other issues in his letter, and participated in a town hall event on Tuesday.

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Cordray Comes Face to Face with House Committee

On Wednesday morning, CFPB Director Richard Cordray will go before the House Financial Services Committee. As per Dodd-Frank requirements, the hearing will allow Cordray to present the Bureau’s most recent semiannual activity reports. Cordray’s prepared remarks show he will discuss credit reporting, debt collection, and financial incentives, among other things.

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