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.

HUD has loosened its rules regarding FHA loans for condos. Learn what that means for your clients.

Nontraditional couples have been going in on big purchases together forever. But unmarried duos going in on a property purchase together is a rapidly growing trend. What does this mean for agents?

There are many misconceptions about the simplicity of the process of separating out a home loan. Learn why executing a quitclaim deed may not be the only thing your clients need to do.

Brokers share tips for working with unmarried buyers, as well as their stories of going through the experience themselves — for better or for worse.

Whether it’s a group of friends investing in a multi-unit building or a couple that sees no need to tie the knot before buying a home together, agents and buyers have plenty of reason to understand the distinctions between different types of joint ownership structures.

Mortgage lenders and developers regularly find themselves working with a team of agents or brokers, which comes with its own advantages and common issues.

Two new policies in the works have the potential to reshape the way homebuyers access credit through programs backed by the U.S. government.

This summer, the mortgage industry has good news for veterans in high-cost real estate markets thanks to the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, recently signed into law. But the bill was nearly bad news for those interested in VA loans, as previous versions would have raised VA loan fees.

The mortgage lending industry and its public referees have responded to short-term rentals with more accommodation than restriction, a positive development for homeowners who hope to earn income through a short-term rental platform. Not only is it possible for homeowners to potentially secure more favorable financing terms on their primary residences if they are renting them out — they also have the same opportunity to do so if they purchase a second home.

When it comes to lending, the rules seem to change weekly. To help keep you in the know, it’s wise to seek the expertise of lending professionals like the ones featured in this story, who opened up to us

Top-producing agents differentiate themselves by providing their developers consulting advice prior to the construction phase. Agents provide crucial information that can ensure the development meets all lender guidelines, so that sales can close once construction is complete. Here are