Top 10 Counties with the Highest Zombie Foreclosure Rates in Q2 2025

Megan HuntReal Estate

According to ATTOM’s newly released Q2 2025 Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report, approximately 1.4 million (1,382,480) residential properties—representing about 1.3 percent of all U.S. homes—are currently vacant. This marks the 13th straight quarter the national vacancy rate has remained steady at 1.3 percent. WATCH: ATTOM #FiguresFriday – Top 10 U.S. Counties with the Highest Zombie Foreclosure Rates in Q2 2025 ATTOM’s latest vacant properties analysis also shows that 222,358 properties were in the foreclosure process in Q2 2025—an increase of 4.8 percent from the previous quarter but a 6.3 percent decline from a year ago. This uptick follows five consecutive quarters of declining foreclosure activity. The report notes that in the second quarter of 2025, 7,329 pre-foreclosure properties—3.3 percent—were classified as “zombie” homes, meaning they were vacant and abandoned by owners during the foreclosure process. This share remains nearly unchanged from Q1 2025 but is up slightly from 2.9 …

Mission Loans Mortgage Review for 2025: Rates, Loan Options and Customer Feedback

Valencia HigueraReal Estate

Pros and cons of Mission Loans Mission Loans Pros: Provides conventional, FHA, VA, jumbo, and bank statement loans. Offers low down payment choices. Maintains high customer satisfaction ratings on Google. Features an entirely online application process. Includes a pre-approval tool to help estimate budget. Mission Loans Cons: Origination fees are much higher than the national average. Mortgage rates trend higher than other lenders. Does not publish interest rates on its website. Does not offer USDA loans for rural buyers. Few branch locations limit in-person service. Mission Loans mortgage rates Mission Loans interest rates often trend higher than the national average. The lender does not publish rates on its website, so you need to speak with a loan officer or apply online to get a personalized quote. We used HDMA Act data to calculate average interest rates for Mission Loans’ most common loan types. The table below shows the averages you …

Who Actually Owns the Various Power Tool Brands?

Brad BeckettNotes

Today’s graphic from Pro Tool Reviews lays bare the answer about which companies own which tool brands. They say that if you’ve ever wondered who owns Craftsman Tools, Milwaukee Tool, Mac Tools, Skil, or any other major tool manufacturing brand, this interesting chart might answer most of your questions.  Indeed… Stay safe and have a Happy Friday!! (as of May 2024) Hat tip to Pro Tool Reviews.   The post Who Actually Owns the Various Power Tool Brands? appeared first on Real Estate Investing Today.

USAA Mortgage Review for 2025: Rates, Loan Options and Customer Feedback

Peter WardenReal Estate

Pros and cons of USAA Mortgage USAA Mortgage Pros: Doesn’t charge an origination fee on VA loans Offers competitive mortgage rates Provides the Fannie Mae HomeReady program for first-time home buyers Gives borrowers repayment options, including 10-, 15-, 20-, and 30-year terms Serves all 50 states and supports online applications USAA Mortgage Cons: Only available to military members, veterans, and their eligible family members Does not offer FHA loans or USDA loans Website does not provide personalized rate estimates Customer satisfaction ratings are lower than average USAA mortgage interest rates USAA mortgage rates in 2025 are competitive and tend to fall below the national average, especially for VA loans. The lender publishes sample rates on its website for both home purchases and refinances, which gives you a general idea of pricing. However, you can’t customize these rates based on your credit score, location, or down payment amount. You’ll need to …

Movement Mortgage Review for 2025: Rates, Loan Options and Customer Feedback

Peter WardenReal Estate

Pros and cons of Movement Mortgage Movement Mortgage Pros: Average closing time is under 25 days, quicker than the national average. Possible loan approval within six hours after applying. Offers down payment and closing cost assistance for FHA loans. Shares profits through the Movement Foundation to support charitable causes. Provides a highly-rated mobile app. Movement Mortgage Cons: Does not post mortgage rates online; you must call for rate quotes No online chat option for customer service Lacks transparency on origination fees on its website Movement Boost is unavailable in New York Some borrowers report occasional closing delays and communication gaps Movement Mortgage interest rates Movement mortgage rates are generally competitive and frequently lower than the national average. However, since they don’t post interest rates online, you need to speak with a loan officer or apply online for a personalized quote. We used HDMA Act data to gather average rates for …

RentCafe’s Top 10 Rental Cities for Q1 2025

Brad BeckettNotes

RentCafe says that with spring in full bloom and summer getting closer, it’ll soon be time for the busiest moving season, when renters are searching for apartments.  With that in mind, their new quarterly Rental Engagement Tracker for Q1 2025 has identified the top 10 rental cities for the quarter.  Rentcafe says their new REnT (Rent Engagement Tracker) series format will offer an even clearer, long-term view of renter trends and shifting preferences across the top 150 U.S. cities. “Washington, D.C., attracted the most interest from renters in the first quarter of 2025 by showcasing strong online activity across all metrics. Next, Cincinnati comes in second after soaring nine spots since one year ago, followed by Kansas City, MO, in third place after a 12-spot ascent. Then, Atlanta drops one position into #4, and Chicago climbs one spot to #5.” Click here to read the full report at RentCafe.   …

High Housing Costs Are Keeping Homebuyers at Bay–But Price Relief Is in Sight

Dana AndersonReal Estate

The median monthly U.S. mortgage payment is just $25 shy of its record high, sidelining would-be buyers. But the tide is turning for buyers: Redfin economists expect home prices to decline by the end of the year, and a surplus of listings is motivating sellers to negotiate.  The median monthly mortgage payment nationwide was $2,860 during the four weeks ending May 25, up 3.6% year over year and just $25 shy of the all-time high. Housing payments are high for two reasons: The weekly average mortgage rate is 6.86%, the highest level in three months, and the median U.S. home-sale price is up 1.9% year over year.  High costs, along with widespread economic uncertainty, are keeping would-be homebuyers at bay. Pending home sales are down 1.7% from a year ago, and Redfin’s Homebuyer Demand Index–a measure of tours and other buying services from Redfin agents–is essentially flat from a month …

The U.S. Housing Market Has Nearly 500,000 More Sellers Than Buyers—the Most on Record. That Will Likely Cause Home Prices to Fall

Lily KatzReal Estate

There are 34% more sellers in the market than buyers. At no other point in records dating back to 2013 have sellers outnumbered buyers this much. In other words, it’s a buyer’s market. Redfin expects home prices to drop 1% by the end of the year as a result. Prospective buyers may see their purchasing power increase, and prospective sellers should consider selling sooner rather than later. 31 of the top 50 metros are buyer’s markets. The strongest buyer’s market is Miami, where sellers outnumber buyers roughly 3 to 1. The strongest seller’s market is Newark, and the most balanced market is St. Louis. The condo market heavily favors buyers; there are 83% more condo sellers than buyers. By comparison, there are 28% more sellers than buyers in the single-family-home market. There are an estimated 1.9 million home sellers in the U.S. housing market and an estimated 1.5 million homebuyers. …

Cotality SFRI: Rent Up 2.9% Year-Over Year in March

Brad BeckettNotes

According to the latest Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) Single-Family Rent Index (SFRI), U.S. single-family home rental prices increased 2.9% year over year in March, 2025. “Single-family rent growth picked up for the third consecutive month in March, appearing to have bottomed out in December of last year…National trends are firming. Markets with large numbers of new rental units coming online showed softness in single-family rents, as these new units give renters some bargaining power. This can be seen in the single-family rent growth in Dallas, which showed an annual decrease of 0.5% in March”  Said Cotality senior principal economist Molly Boesel. Click here to read the full report at Cotality (formerly Corelogic)   The post Cotality SFRI: Rent Up 2.9% Year-Over Year in March appeared first on Real Estate Investing Today.

Which Online Mortgage Marketplace Is Right for You? | 2025 Review

Ryan TronierReal Estate

Find competitive rates and lenders with a mortgage comparison site Buying a home or refinancing your mortgage is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make, and the difference in interest rates can mean thousands of dollars over time. That’s why comparing offers from multiple lenders isn’t just smart; it’s essential. Mortgage marketplaces make this easier by letting you view prequalified rates from top lenders side by side, all in one place. Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or refinancing to lower your monthly payment, the mortgage comparison sites in our list can help you find the right loan faster and feel confident you’re getting a great deal. Get matched with multiple mortgage lenders. Start here In this article (Skip to…) Why use a mortgage marketplace? A mortgage marketplace brings together loan offers from different lenders in one spot, so you don’t have to fill out dozens of applications. You …