Mortgage Predictions: Inflation's Comeback Isn't Good for Homebuyers
The mortgage market was calmer than usual in recent weeks, with rates holding steady just below 7% since late January. But prospective homebuyers should brace for some turbulence. Wednesday's release of the Consumer Price Index for January showed inflation rising by 3% over the past 12 months, above market expectations. Strong economic data tends to drive up bond yields, which translates to higher mortgage rates.
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Congressional Democrats accuse Trump Administration of 'incursion' at the CFPB
"The Trump Administration has effectively fired the financial cop on the beat and declared open season for predatory lenders and scam artists working to steal Americans' money and threaten their financial security," the Democrats wrote, in a joint letter to Russell Vought, acting director of the CFPB and director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who served as acting director of the bureau for a short period of time.
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Digital ID verification can make property transactions more efficient, less prone to fraud
In the UK, Russia, South Korea, India and Pakistan, biometrics are making their way into real estate transactions, as digital identity options slash transaction times and increase access to key financial tools. The UK government has announced a major new plan to make buying and selling homes faster and more affordable. A release from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government says that "under a fully digitalised home buying and selling process, the information key parties need - from mortgage companies to surveyors - will be within reach immediately, with the necessary identity checks carried out once."
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Woman Reveals How Property Was Stolen in Identity Theft Real Estate Scam With Ties to International Crime Ring
Marx David Sterbcow, a real estate fraud attorney and managing partner of New Orleans law firm Sterbcow Law Group, tells Realtor.com that he has seen similar fraud cases proliferate in recent years. "It's an industry problem, and there needs to be something done to help manage that," he says. "When we started shifting to remote closings and digital signatures, that absolutely put this on a rocket course for problems, for people across the United States."
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