Arizona Lawsuit Against Investors

Jeffery S. WatsonReal Estate

Arizona Lawsuit Against Investors By Jeffery S. Watson On March 7, 2025, a complaint was filed in the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County by the Attorney General of the State of Arizona, Kristin K. Mayes, which laid out allegations regarding “a convoluted scheme by the defendants to strip Arizona homeowners of millions of dollars of equity in their homes.”  The AG then defined “equity stripping schemes” as targeting “homeowners who have significant equity in their homes, but are facing foreclosure by their mortgage lenders,” and “these high-equity homes are worth significantly more than the balance of the mortgage in foreclosure.” The allegations in the complaint focus on investors engaging in marketing and buying activities designed to “prevent the distressed homeowner from receiving that excess cash by blocking the auction and tricking the homeowner into selling the home far below the fair market value.” The complaint alleges that since …

Local Market Monitor’s National Economic Outlook for July ’25

Brad BeckettNotes

Local Market Monitor, a National REIA preferred vendor, recently released their monthly National Economic Outlook where they share their thoughts on developments taking place in the U.S. economy. “One of the key problems for consumers over the last few year has been the high cost of housing. Since 2020 the average home costs 50 percent more and the average rent (pulled up by those high home prices) is 30 percent higher.” Click here for more information about Local Market Monitor.   The post Local Market Monitor’s National Economic Outlook for July ’25 appeared first on Real Estate Investing Today.

Will Mortgage Rates Go Down After the July Fed Meeting?

Paul CentopaniReal Estate

Will mortgage rates rise after the Fed meets? The Federal Reserve will hold its next Open Market Committee meeting on July 29-30. Will it come with a rate cut? Or will the committee keep rates steady (or possibly even raise them)? The annualized inflation rate remains above the Fed’s long-term goal of 2%, and most recently increased to 2.7% in June from 2.4% in May and 2.3% in April. The central bank held rates steady at its four previous meetings in January, March, May, and June. How will economic data and indicators weigh on the July fed funds rate decision? Find your lowest mortgage rate. Start here Will the Fed cut rates in July? The FOMC is coming off four consecutive holds on the federal funds rate after three straight cuts. The central bank had waited for the economy to show sustainable softness before loosening its monetary policy in 2024. …

Condo Prices See 2nd Largest Price Drop in May

Brad BeckettNotes

Citing MLS data, a recent report from Redfin says condo prices are falling because there are roughly 80% more condo sellers than buyers in the market.  They point out that the only time condo prices posted a larger year-over-year decline was back in April, 2023.   Condo sales were down 11.9% in May – the largest decline since June, 2024.  In addition, the report says many condo owners are trying to offload their properties because of higher HOA fees and insurance costs as well as special assessments. “It’s a slow housing market across the board, but condos have been hit particularly hard…A lot of condo associations don’t allow buyers with FHA loans, which is limiting sales…”  Said Aditi Jain, a Redfin Premier real estate agent in the Boston area.  Click here to read the full report at Redfin.   The post Condo Prices See 2nd Largest Price Drop in May appeared …

U.S. Home Prices Edge Down 0.1% in June, With Declines in Most Major Metros, Led by Washington, Austin and San Diego

Mark WorleyNotes

U.S. home prices were down slightly in June for the third consecutive month. Prices rose 3.4% year over year, the slowest rate since June 2023. 30 of the 50 most populous U.S. metros recorded a drop in home prices month over month.  Prices fell most in Washington, D.C. (-1.8%), where home prices have been falling by at least 1.5% for three straight months amid federal government job cuts.  U.S. home prices ticked down 0.1% in June from a month earlier—the third consecutive month that prices were slightly down on a seasonally adjusted basis. On a year-over-year basis, home prices rose 3.4% , the lowest rate since June 2023. This is according to the Redfin Home Price Index (RHPI), which uses the repeat-sales pricing method to calculate seasonally adjusted changes in prices of single-family homes. The RHPI measures sale prices of homes that sold during a given period, and how those …

Can You Remove Someone from a Mortgage Without Their Permission?

Jamie JohnsonReal Estate

Key Takeaways You generally can’t remove someone from a mortgage without their permission. Refinancing, loan assumption, or selling the home are the most common solutions. Legal action may be necessary if the co-borrower refuses to cooperate. Check options to remove a name from your mortgage. Start here When a relationship ends, shared financial responsibilities, like a mortgage, can become a major source of stress. Maybe you’re going through a divorce or dealing with a co-borrower who’s no longer contributing. Whatever the reason, you may find yourself asking: Can you remove someone from a mortgage without their permission? In most cases, the answer is no. A mortgage is a legal agreement between the lender and all borrowers. That means you can’t make changes without everyone’s consent, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Common situations that might bring up this question Divorce or breakup: Jess and Mike are finalizing their …

ICE Mortgage Monitor – July 2025

Brad BeckettReal Estate

According to the latest ICE Mortgage Monitor, the national delinquency rate ticked down 2 basis points (bps) to 3.20% in May, though it is up 5.2% (16 bps) year over year.  Serious delinquencies (loans 90+ days past due but not in foreclosure) improved seasonally for the 5th consecutive month but are still up 56k (14%) from the same time last year.  However, the 3rd consecutive month, foreclosure starts, active foreclosure and foreclosure sales rose on an annual basis as VA foreclosure resumptions continue to make their way through the pipeline. In addition, the U.S. Department of Education resumed collections efforts on defaulted student loans in May following a five-year pause with student loan debt in the coming months for any emerging signs for stress.  ICE says 20% of mortgage holders in the U.S. carry student loan debt, with that share rising to nearly 30% among FHA mortgage holders. The resumption …

From Ghost Town to Boomtown? How Real Estate Investors Use Property Data

Jennifer Von PohlmannReal Estate

Table of Contents How Investors Spot Hot Markets Inventory Data Trends in Months of Supply and Homes For Sale Decreasing Days on Market (DOM) New Jobs or Rising Salaries Government Investment Neighborhood Trends Indicating Hot Markets An Uptick in Home Improvements Gentrification New Development and Amenities Real Estate and Financial Industry Trends Indicating Hot Markets New Real Estate Agencies and Banks Data for Risk Analysis for Investing Decisions How Investors Can Use Property Data to Predict Hot and Cooling Markets Steadily rising prices are an indicator of a market heating up. But savvy investors look for earlier indicators of property price movements to stay a step ahead. Trends derived from relevant data, when pieced together, can reveal areas where investors stand to gain from rising property prices. Increasingly, investors are looking to data providers like ATTOM to drive their prospecting. By incorporating the right data — economic, population, or neighborhood …

Housing Starts Jump in June

Brad BeckettReal Estate

The U.S. government is reporting that privately‐owned housing starts in June, 2025 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,321,000, which is 4.6% higher than May’s revised number but is 0.5% lower than one year ago.  June’s rate for buildings with five units or more was 414k.  Privately‐owned housing units authorized by building permits in June were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,397,000, which is 0.2% higher than May’s revised number and is 4.4% lower than one year ago.  Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 478 in June. Click here to read the full report at the U.S. Census Bureau.   The post Housing Starts Jump in June appeared first on Real Estate Investing Today.

1 in 7 Pending Home Sales Fell Through Last Month, The Highest June Level on Record

Dana AndersonNotes

14.9% of pending home sales fell through in June, up from 13.9% a year earlier. Some buyers are backing out during the inspection period because a better home comes along, and some are nervous about making a major purchase in uncertain economic times.  Just over 57,000 home-sale agreements nationwide were canceled in June, equal to 14.9% of homes that went under contract that month. That’s up from 13.9% a year earlier and is the highest June share in records dating back to 2017. This is based on a Redfin analysis of MLS pending-sales data. The data is seasonal; typically, there’s a higher share of cancellations at the end of the year and a lower share in the spring. That’s why we compare this June to past Junes. Please note: Homes that fell out of contract during a given month didn’t necessarily go under contract that same month. This data is …