Mortgage rates have jumped higher in recent weeks — an ugly surprise for would-be homebuyers who were hoping the Federal Reserve’s outsize rate cuts last month would provide relief. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has increased for the third week in a row to 6.5%, according to Freddie Mac. That rate is a quarter-point … Read more
The national banking regulator says it will no longer require borrowers with uninsured mortgages to undergo a stress test when switching providers. The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions says it will end the policy for lenders to apply the minimum qualifying rate to straight switches when uninsured mortgages are renewed at a different institution … Read more
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday announced changes to some mortgage rules as part of an effort to make housing more affordable, although some housing experts are doubtful that the new measures will have a meaningful long-term impact on housing affordability and say they might even push prices up. The federal government will increase the cap on insured mortgages … Read more
When Joelle Fraser-McGaghey had to evacuate her home during the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire, she only had a few minutes to pack before her family had to get out the door. Trying to pull outdoor furniture away from her house was not at the top of her list. “Honestly, I’m not thinking ‘Should I remove … Read more
Eye on America: Anti-squatter measures, and inside the growing Land Back movement – CBS News Watch CBS News In California, we look into efforts to deal with squatters illegally dwelling on other people’s property. Then, we explore the growing Land Back movement which aims to reconnect indigenous people with their ancestral land. Watch these stories … Read more
Hotter summers in Canada that have sparked wildfires in tourist areas, intense hailstorms and thunderstorms with severe flooding in major cities, all likely linked to climate change, are leading to personnel shortages and potentially claims adjustment delays, according to insurance sector insiders. The industry depends on teams of insurance adjusters to look into claims and … Read more
Changes from a landmark settlement affecting broker commissions from America’s largest real estate trade association take effect this weekend, potentially creating a more complex and uncertain buying process for consumers, according to industry experts. The changes made under the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) $418 million settlement, announced in March, “adds more uncertainty and unknowns to an … Read more
The 30-year amortized mortgages announced in the 2024 federal budget are kicking in on Thursday. First-time homebuyers who are purchasing newly built homes can now qualify for a 30-year mortgage, giving them five additional years to pay off an insured mortgage. For other mortgages where default insurance is required, a 25-year amortization limit is still … Read more
Home prices reached a new record in May amid an ongoing housing shortage, even as high mortgage rates continued to push affordability out of reach for millions of Americans. Prices increased 5.9% nationally in May when compared with the previous year, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller index showed on Tuesday, down from the 6.4% pace recorded the previous month. … Read more
California’s largest insurer, State Farm, recently notified California’s Department of Insurance to allow them to hike home insurance rates for millions of residents, or they will drop coverage of many insured. The request comes amid the state’s ongoing insurance crisis as coverage costs increase. Several insurers, such as Allstate, Farmers Direct, and State Farm, have … Read more
