Is Zillow Credible? If and when I go to find another home loan, is Zillow going to set the rate? Is Zillow going to underwrite it? (Sorry – venting a little here.) In a report that some would say is “Big Brotherish”, according to research by Zillow Mortgage Marketplace, done with myFICO.com, any potential borrower [...]

It’s been slightly over two years since the government took over Fannie & Freddie and a few months since the Frank/Dodd Finreg bill was passed. And today the House Financial Services Committee is hearing testimony on the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Below are some reference links. Of particular note are the two [...]

A blog spat between TheBigPicture and ZeroHedge a few days ago is ancient history now, but seeing two heavyweights take shots at each other was rap battle-esque in its entertainment level. TheBigPicture author Ritholtz started it by asking, with his signature artisan curiousness, if ZeroHedge jumped the shark. ZeroHedge author Tyler Durden finished it, with [...]

Private Mortgage Insurance Improving On the mortgage insurance front, PMI will be increasing its maximum LTV to 97% effective October 8. It is a good sign for many in the industry, and loans must have a minimum 720 credit score, be in non-distressed markets, owner-occupied, conforming, originated only through a retail channel, etc. And it [...]

The S&P Case Shiller July 2010 report of existing home sales showed year-over-year 3.2% price gains averaged across 20 major metropolitan areas. Although home prices increased in most markets in July versus June, 15 metro areas saw these monthly rates moderate in July. This reporting period was after the peak of activity corresponding to federal [...]

Will Fixed Rate Mortgages Disappear In U.S.? A new study of lending practices in 12 developed countries shows that the U.S. is an outlier in offering fixed rate mortgages. The study results showed that 95% of new loans made in the U.S. in 2009 were long-term fixed-rate products compared to 1% in Spain, 2% in [...]

Calculated Risk assembled some Fed speak over the weekend that shows a changing stance regarding whether they’d step back into the mortgage bond market or engage in some other form of “quantitative easing” as soon as November—in the case of mortgage bonds, it means buying bonds to bid up the price and drive the yield [...]

Compare Housing Costs In Different Cities Here’s a good site for Realtors or others looking to compare housing costs in different states and communities.

Rate/Market Recap, Week of September 20 Rates dropped .125% last week, mostly because of mortgage bond rallies following Wednesday’s Fed meeting where they alluded to more quantitative easing if economic conditions didn’t improve. This means they’d buy more mortgage bonds to bid prices up and rates down.

Saw this infographic on TheReformedBroker, it’s originally from MortgageRates. A bit of a stretch in its accusations but some of the quotes do justifiably incite Maestro madness. Click image for large size.