As mortgage rates continued to rise in August 2022, the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium took place. For the unacquainted, the Federal Reserve hosts this annual three-day conference, discussing the country’s economic challenges and overall direction. Unfortunately, this latest event came as the United States real estate market heads for a downturn. In the face of […]
Industry News
Inflation Reduction Act: U.S. House Passes Landmark Bill This Year
On July 27th, 2022, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that the House reached an agreement pertaining to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. After months of contentious debates between Democrats and Republicans, the latest Act intends to lower inflationary pressures throughout the country. Furthermore, President Joe Biden signed the Act into law mid-August 2022. […]
July 2022 Real Estate: Mortgage Applications Plummet with Affordability Challenges
Heading into the July 2022 real estate market, the United States continues to face timeless obstacles. As the latest inflation data shows year-over-year growth, the white-hot U.S. real estate market displays signs of stalling. Despite 2021 reflecting a surge in home sales activity, sales of existing homes just achieved their fifth month in a row […]
Remote Notarization in Illinois: Impact on the Title Insurance Industry
In response to the work-from-home movement, remote notarization in Illinois came to fruition. Along with numerous other states, these notions sidestep the face-to-face commute for the closing process. While initially inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, remote notary laws stay in place. Now, they play a big role in the future of the title insurance industry […]
June 2022 Real Estate: New Home Sales Offer Beacon
With the June 2022 real estate market, housing affordability continued its affordability crisis for potential home buyers. However, New Home Sales offer a beacon of hope with a notable gain. Existing Home Sales Fall While New Home Sales Offer Upside to June 2022 Real Estate In terms of Existing Home Sales, June 2022 real estate […]
Fed Testimony Reveals Latest Steps in Bringing Down Inflation
With the recent Fed testimony, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell assured lawmakers about their plans to bring down inflation. Not only does Fed Chair Jerome Powell seek to avoid a recession, he believes the Federal Reserve has the tools to do so. Comments from the Latest Fed Testimony “[The Federal Reserve] understands the hardship high […]
Real Estate Market Challenges Contribute to the Declining Originations
May 2022 highlighted numerous real estate market challenges facing prospective home buyers. Now, the data directly supports the drop-off in activity. Higher Mortgage Rates Fueling Real Estate Market Challenges When discussing the latest real estate market challenges, higher mortgage rates take the top spot across many lists. Throughout the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, […]
Buyers’ Market in 2022: A Changing of the Tide?
As inflation soars and loan applications plummet, real estate analysts are starting to see evidence of a buyers’ market in 2022. For the past several years, many real estate analysts considered the housing market to be a ‘seller’s market’. In the real estate world, home prices rose, interest rates fell, and demand reached one of […]
Total Mortgage Originations Plummeting as Rates Soar This Year
Throughout 2021, the United States real estate market experienced a massive resurgence, however, total mortgage originations are now plummeting this year. Mortgage Bankers Association Forecasts Plummeting Mortgage Originations With the release of last month’s existing home sales report, sales declined. Analysts point to rising mortgage rates as one of the primary causes, taking a large […]
Declining Loan Originations: Rising Prices & Limited Inventory Hurting Housing
After last year’s record-setting real estate year, 2022 is displaying declining loan originations and refinancing activity. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the housing market took center-stage while home demand skyrocketed. As the dust settles, the numbers now point in the opposite direction. As demand wanes. prices surge, and mortgage, refinancing, and loan applications […]