Latest Industry News

 Most people assume forged deeds are worthless legal documents that could never support valid property claims. The recent Arizona Supreme Court case Estate of Dominguez v. Dominguez undercuts that assumption, holding that even completely forged deeds can provide the foundation for acquiring property ownership under certain circumstances. 

    Industry experts predict a moderate increase in U.S. home prices, with projections ranging from 2% to 4.5% in 2025. This growth is attributed to factors such as limited housing inventory, sustained demand, and the gradual easing of mortgage rates. While affordability remains a concern, especially for first-time buyers, the market is expected to stabilize, offering opportunities for both buyers and investors to navigate the changing landscape. 

 Home equity contracts—often called home equity “investments”—are relatively new financial products in which homeowners get an upfront payment from a company and, in exchange, must make a single lump sum repayment in the future that is based, in part, on the home’s value. 

 Depending on the buyer and the market, a home in need of TLC can be an appealing purchase, one that first-time buyers and investors alike are willing to pay for. However, a recent study by Zillow1 shows that the opposite is true in today’s climate.  

    Industry experts predict a moderate increase in U.S. home prices, with projections ranging from 2% to 4.5% in 2025. This growth is attributed to factors such as limited housing inventory, sustained demand, and the gradual easing of mortgage rates. While affordability remains a concern, especially for first-time buyers, the market is expected to stabilize, offering opportunities for both buyers and investors to navigate the changing landscape. 

 Orphe Divounguy, a senior economist at Zillow, shares his personal struggles in purchasing a home in Raleigh, North Carolina. Despite his expertise, he faced intense competition, losing multiple bids before securing a home through a direct arrangement with the seller. His experience underscores the importance of understanding local market dynamics and the emotional toll of homebuying, even for seasoned professionals.  

  Paying down your mortgage helps build equity in your home, but you don’t have to wait until you completely repay your loan — or sell the property outright — to access that equity. Instead, you can convert the equity you have into ready money, and continue paying off your mortgage, with a cash-out refinance. 

   Mortgage demand from homebuyers rose for the second straight week, suggesting that potential buyers are now more enticed by the increasing supply of houses for sale than they are dissuaded by recent economic uncertainty and concern over tariffs. 

 In a sign of continued bipartisan cooperation to address issues related to housing costs and supply, Sen. Ruben Gallego of (D-Arizona) and Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania) have introduced a bill that’s designed to better facilitate interagency coordination on housing issues. 

  The delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties increased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.04 percent of all loans outstanding at the end of the first quarter of 2025, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) National Delinquency Survey. 

  Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) are often overlooked in equity discussions because of the model minority myth, which paints a misleading picture of uniform success.

 Coming up with enough cash for a down payment to buy a house can be the single biggest roadblock for prospective home buyers. But how much of a down payment do you really need? That depends on the type of loan, your lender and your priorities. . 

 Digital closings have shifted from a nice-to-have to a vital part of mortgage lending strategy. With investment in eClosing technology at nearly ubiquitous levels, the focus is shifting from whether lenders will adopt eClosing to how deeply it’s integrated into their daily operations—and whether they’re fully leveraging its potential. 

  AnnieMac Home Mortgage is a rapidly growing lender that remains committed to a close-knit, family-oriented culture. Embracing technology to streamline operations, AnnieMac enhances the mortgage process for both lending teams and borrowers to ensure exceptional service and lasting relationships. 

  In an industry built on customer loyalty, understanding what truly matters to borrowers is a top priority. But, what do borrowers actually want? To answer this question, Snapdocs surveyed over 2,000 borrowers about their recent homebuying experience—and the factors that help (or hurt) customer satisfaction. 

National Mortgage News is an award-winning comprehensive digital information resource serving the entire residential mortgage industry, including depositories, nonbank lenders and servicers, brokerage firms, vendors and regulators. In addition to providing news analysis and perspective, NMN convenes industry participants to provide insight on topics including regulation, compliance, technology and loss mitigation. 

 As the leading advocate for the real estate finance industry, the MBA represents and serves its members through a comprehensive array of capabilities and tools that enable members to successfully deliver fair, sustainable and responsible real estate financing within ever-changing business environments.

 Covers mortgage lending, real estate, and housing market trends with in-depth reports.  brings together original data, analytics, technology, media and events to support informed leaders. 

 Mortgage Rates Edge Slightly Higher, But Tomorrow is Anyone's Guess

Mortgage rates didn't move much today, which is pretty crazy considering the volatility present in financial markets in the afternoon.  

After creeping up over the past few days, mortgage rates all came down this morning.

Hopefully for borrowers, this rolls forward as most of today’s economic indicators point to downward pressure on interest rates.

Most mortgage interest rates have decreased today. According to Zillow data, the average 30-year fixed rate is down five basis points, finally back down to 6.50%.

Mortgage rates opened 10 basis points worse than Friday’s close. Jobs and manufacturing data may move rates, but Trump’s tariffs will have a bigger impact.  For insights on how these changes affect homebuyers and mortgage strategies, Connor Bloskas from West Way Mortgage is available to provide expert guidance. Reach out for personalized solutions in today’s shifting rate environment.

Washington, D.C. summits discuss how Notaries can help fight real estate fraud

NNA representatives recently met with industry leaders and government officials to discuss the Notary community's role in preventing real estate scams.

A website that provides up-to-date news, analysis, and data on mortgage rates, the housing market, and the broader financial landscape. It offers real-time mortgage rate tracking, market commentary, economic reports, and insights for industry professionals, homebuyers, and investors. 

Source of Title has become the premier resource for locating independent title professionals and is, by far, the most active community of it kind.  With more than 12,000 registered users generating approximately 150,000 page views each month.

 The American Land Title Association, founded in 1907, is the national trade association representing more than 6,200 title insurance companies, title and settlement agents, independent abstracters, title searchers and real estate attorneys. 

 The American Land Title Association, founded in 1907, is the national trade association representing more than 6,200 title insurance companies, title and settlement agents, independent abstracters, title searchers and real estate attorneys.