“It ain’t over till it’s over.” — Yogi Berra, baseball philosopher In real estate, a house isn’t sold until the Fat Lady sings at the closing. Until then, the seller should keep their options open by accepting backup contracts. Likewise, a buyer whose bid for the property fell short should consider asking the seller to…

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…

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…

More sellers seem to be returning to the market as the number of homes listed for sale surpass 2019 levels, according to a new report from Redfin. KEY TAKEAWAYS New listings of homes for sale are up 4% from a year earlier, and up 3% from the same period in 2019. Median home-sale price grew…

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…

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.…