“We need to remind ourselves that we are all in this together. We’re in a bad spot as a country, and we need to get through this together.” — Tim Brigham, branch manager at Union Home Mortgage

A new report from the Mortgage Bankers Association points to pent-up demand this spring.

Both the way appraisers approach their work and the adoption of AVMs and other technology-based valuations will likely see major changes in the coming years, according to experts.

Some transactions are having to start over from scratch because of a paperwork problem. But Cook County’s chief deputy recorder tells Chicago Agent magazine he’s working on a solution.

The city’s new Chicago Housing Solidarity Pledge offers relief from foreclosure as well as tenant protections.

Some homeowners worry that, after a few months of forbearance, they’ll be required to pay everything they owe upfront, in one lump sum.

A new Marcus & Millichap report calls on multifamily owners and operators to implement a 90-day moratorium on evictions.

Small business owners could help keep their businesses running through a combination of Paycheck Protection Program loans and private loans.

At Chicago Agent’s recent Accelerate Summit, some of Chicago’s top lenders sat down to talk about ways they partner with agents to help generate business.

Almost everyone agrees that it’s time to do something about the federal conservatorship of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and that lawmakers and regulators should handle the transition with care. But what will reform look like, when will it get done and what will it mean for lenders, real estate brokers and home buyers?

While most of the predictions about interest rates in 2019 were off by a long shot, one crucial element of the housing market in 2020 remains true: The cost of borrowing is very low, by both modern and historic measures.

It stands to reason that, as home prices rise faster than income, buyers are going to need larger loan amounts. And for the fourth straight year, the Federal Housing Finance Agency has increased the conforming loan limits for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Federal Housing Administration loans.

While there’s no guarantee that Congress or the administration will tackle GSE reform in 2020, the FHFA did announce that it will re-propose regulations on capital requirements for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac sometime in the next year as a clear move toward the end of conservatorship.

It’s important for real estate professionals to understand how unique the lending picture is in America because of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and how regulators and lawmakers are proposing to change the situation.

Cash-strapped Generation Z and millennial veterans are taking advantage of  VA loans that allow them to purchase with $0 down payment, no mortgage insurance, flexible credit guidelines and the industry’s lowest average interest rates.

But beware of the busy times: Customer satisfaction rates drop when loan volume increases.