Rocket mortgage acquires redfin, what does this mean for real estate?

Rocket mortgage acquires redfin, what does this mean for real estate?

  In a surprise move, Rocket mortgage is acquiring the real estate brokerage company Redfin for 1.8 billion.  Why is a mortgage company interested in a real estate broker?  What does this mean for realtors, consumers, and competitors?  Will this purchase...
Can the government “take” you property for unpaid taxes

Can the government “take” you property for unpaid taxes

  Over the last 100 years or so counties have operated under the assumption that if property taxes (or in some cases water/sewer, etc…) are not paid then the county can “take” the property for the unpaid taxes.  A recent supreme court ruling radically alters this...
Secret mortgage blacklist, is your property on it?

Secret mortgage blacklist, is your property on it?

Condominium owners across the country are facing a paralyzing problem: They can’t sell their properties because of a fast-growing and mostly secret mortgage blacklist.  Don’t worry this is not some crazy conspiracy from the government.  I’ve experienced this first...
Why are mortgage rates rising when they should be falling?

Why are mortgage rates rising when they should be falling?

The chart above is very surprising.  When the market is predicting a slowdown or a recession, gold typically rises and treasuries also rise, typically in tandem.  The exact opposite is happening now as bond prices are falling and yields are rapidly increasing in the...
Marry, the house, date the rate, ready for a shotgun wedding

Marry, the house, date the rate, ready for a shotgun wedding

  In almost every real estate advertisement I receive, there is a common theme that prospective buyers should not focus on the rate as they will be able to refinance relatively soon at a much lower rate.  How true is this theory?  (hint anyone who bought into...
Closings surge in Q1 what does this mean for the rest of the market

Closings surge in Q1 what does this mean for the rest of the market

Look at the graph above, what has caused my closing to surge in 2025 while overall real estate closing volumes have plummeted?  What does this mean for real estate?  Don’t get me wrong, I like to think the surge in closings is because I’m an amazing lender and a great...