First-Time Homebuyers

Younger homebuyers turn to social media, AI and each other

Affordability, Artificial Intelligence, First-Time Homebuyers, Gen Z, Housing Market, HWmember, Millennials, Social Media, Technology / Ricky Vasquez

Faced with high housing costs, economic instability and declining trust in traditional lending institutions, younger generations are redefining how they approach homeownership. A newly released NextGen Homebuyer Report — compiled by National Mortgage Insurance and financial literacy nonprofit FirstHome IQ — highlights how Gen Z and millennials are creatively navigating a changing real estate landscape. […]

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Phillip Cantrell’s book offers blueprint for real estate entrepreneurship

Affordability, Brokerage, First-Time Homebuyers, Housing Inventory, HWmember, Real Estate, Real Estate Agents, United Real Estate / Ricky Vasquez

Veteran entrepreneur Phillip Cantrell distills four decades of hard-won business wisdom into his newly released book, “Failing My Way to Success: Lessons from 42 Years of Winning (and Losing) in Business,” which officially launched July 15. The founder and CEO of Benchmark Realty — who sold the company to United Real Estate in 2020 —

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Survey: Down payment concerns delay homeownership for many

Affordability, Down Payment Assistance, First-Time Homebuyers, Home Prices, Homebuyers, Housing Market, National Association of Realtors, NeighborWorks America, Real Estate / Ricky Vasquez

Despite strong interest in home-buying, affordability challenges and misconceptions about down payments are deterring many potential buyers, according to a new survey from NeighborWorks America. The nonprofit organization reports that 27% of U.S. adults say they plan to buy a home within the next year. However, among those who are postponing or not planning to

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NAR: Homebuyers still have down payment misconceptions

Affordability, Down Payment Assistance, FHA loan, First-Time Homebuyers, Homebuyers, Housing Market, HWmember, National Association of Realtors, VA Loan / Ricky Vasquez

Despite growing attention around all-cash transactions, most Americans — especially first-time buyers — continue to finance their home purchases, according to new data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Among primary residence buyers, 74% financed their home purchase in 2024. That share jumps to 91% for first-time buyers, said Jessica Lautz, NAR’s deputy chief

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Stable mortgage rate environment reshapes how LOs engage with borrowers

Federal Reserve, First-Time Homebuyers, Homebuyers, HWmember, LendingLife, Loan Officer, Mortgage, Mortgage Rates, Origination, Refinancing / Ricky Vasquez

Analysts, economists and mortgage professionals are coining this quarter’s activity as one of the most “calm” periods for mortgage rates in recent memory. It follows nearly three years of borrowers being sidelined by higher rates or “stuck” in loans with historically low rates. BTIG analysts said Wednesday that despite Treasury volatility in April, mortgage rates

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Aspiring buyers turn to Realtors first in their home searches: survey

First-Time Homebuyers, Homebuyers, Homebuying, HWmember, NeighborWorks America, Real Estate, Real Estate Agents, Realtor / Ricky Vasquez

A national survey released by NeighborWorks America found that prospective homebuyers overwhelmingly turn to Realtors first when seeking information about the homebuying process — outpacing friends, family and online searches. According to the poll, 41% of respondents who plan to buy a home in the next year — or are waiting for the right time

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How to think about home prices for the rest of 2025

Altos, Data & Visuals, Existing home sales, First-Time Homebuyers, Home Prices, Home Sales, Homebuyers, Housing Inventory, Housing Market, Housing Market Data, Mortgage Rates, New Home Sales, Pending Home Sales / Ricky Vasquez

The story for the housing market over the past three years has been, “Home sales are down, home prices are up.” Because inventory was so restricted after the pandemic, prices pushed higher even as demand weakened. That story may finally be inverting as unsold inventory of homes is now great enough that home prices are

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Blue Sage Solutions adds rent payment data to Freddie Mac mortgage assessments

Blue Sage Solutions, First-Time Homebuyers, Freddie Mac, HWmember, Mortgage, Renters, Technology, Underwriting / Ricky Vasquez

Blue Sage Solutions has integrated Freddie Mac’s new policy on positive rental payment history into its digital lending platform, allowing lenders to factor on-time rent payments into mortgage applications. The change comes as part of a broader effort to expand access to homeownership, particularly for renters with limited traditional credit histories. Freddie Mac’s Loan Product

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Sidelined homebuyers see opportunity in a possible recession

First-Time Homebuyers, Home Sales, Homebuyers, Housing Market, HWmember, Real Estate, Realtor.com, Recession / Ricky Vasquez

As economic concerns grow, a new survey from Realtor.com shows that a significant share of prospective homebuyers may view a potential recession as an opportunity rather than a deterrent. According to the survey, 63.4% of respondents expect a recession within the next year, reflecting the highest level of concern since 2019. Despite that, nearly 30%

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ERA Real Estate franchise affiliate announces Texas partnership

Brokerage, First-Time Homebuyers, HWmember, Partnerships, Real Estate, Real Estate Agents, Texas / Ricky Vasquez

ERA Experts — a franchise affiliate of ERA Real Estate — has made a strategic investment in Austin-based Sprout Realty LLC, which will now operate as Sprout Realty ERA Powered. Leaders said the move is aimed at accelerating Sprout Realty’s growth across Austin, Waco, Dallas-Fort Worth and other parts of northwest Texas, while allowing the

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Phillip Cantrell’s book offers blueprint for real estate entrepreneurship

Survey: Down payment concerns delay homeownership for many

NAR: Homebuyers still have down payment misconceptions

Stable mortgage rate environment reshapes how LOs engage with borrowers

Aspiring buyers turn to Realtors first in their home searches: survey

How to think about home prices for the rest of 2025

Blue Sage Solutions adds rent payment data to Freddie Mac mortgage assessments

Sidelined homebuyers see opportunity in a possible recession

ERA Real Estate franchise affiliate announces Texas partnership

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