WASHINGTON, D.C. – Individuals who are experiencing student loan debt now have a better shot at qualifying for a home loan thanks to changes that the Biden Administration has made to federal mortgage lending rules. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) recently announced changes to its student loan calculations that are anticipated to create an easier environment in…

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Home prices in car-dependent areas are up 33% since before the pandemic versus 16% for transit-accessible neighborhoods, according to a new report from Redfin, Seattle, reflecting the rise in remote work and the declining importance of proximity to public transportation. The disparity arises even as the Mortgage Bankers Association and other trade groups, policymakers and…

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By writing policy that prioritizes Americans’ access to homeownership, lawmakers could address both the affordable home shortage and the racial wealth gap, deduces Urban Institute visiting fellow Mike Loftin. He bases his assessment—that such access will foster financial stability and mobility for millions of Americans—on data collected by Urban Institute and Zillow researchers. “Some believe homeownership…

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There’s good news for home buyers: It’s finally getting easier to get a mortgage loan. After tightening their lending standards during the pandemic, it seems mortgage lenders are starting to loosen the reins a bit. In fact, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, mortgages were about 2.2% easier to come by in April than in March.…

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Legislation would axe downpayment and monthly mortgage insurance fee for firefighters, police officers, paramedics, teachers New legislation would extend a benefit similar to Veterans Affairs (VA) loans to first responders and teachers who buy homes. U.S. Representatives John Rutherford (R-Fla.), Al Lawson (D-Fla.), John Katko (R-N.Y.), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) introduced the bill, dubbed the Homes for…

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It’s a great time to be a homeowner: ATTOM Data Solutions, Irvine, Calif., said home equity rose sharply in the first quarter, with equity-rich properties in the U.S. outnumbering seriously underwater homes by a 7-1 margin. The company’s first quarter Home Equity & Underwater report said 17.8 million residential properties in the United States were…

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Mortgage rates below 3% have brought homeowners stampeding back to the refinance market. A sharp rise in refi demand is driving an increase in overall mortgage applications, a new report shows. Refinancing to take advantage of mortgage rates that remain far below historical averages can be a smart play. Because with the economy recovering and over 116…

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A decade after the housing market emerged from a deep downturn, housing is hot again. Indeed, home values are soaring to new highs. With its double-digit appreciation and rampant bidding wars, the latest real estate party has some eerie similarities to the last one. “It’s clearly the strongest housing market that we’ve seen since the global…

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