Welcome to the FREEandCLEAR Blog! Our blog offers unique insights on the latest mortgage market news and trends. We also use our blog to shine a spotlight on important topics that are shaping the real estate and mortgage markets including housing affordability, socioeconomic developments and financial literacy. We are always adding interesting features to the FREEandCLEAR Blog so sign up below to receive our Mortgage Market Update and other posts or check back frequently.
Trended Credit Data Impacts Mortgage Qualification ProcessPOSTED: Thursday October 06, 2016
Fannie Mae recently incorporated the use of trended credit data as another input in the mortgage qualification process. In short, Fannie Mae is a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) that develops mortgage programs and underwriting policies. Fannie Mae also provides capital to lenders by buying mortgages from them. Although the policies and practices used by Fannie Mae […]
USDA Lowers Mortgage Insurance Fees for USDA Home Loan ProgramPOSTED: Wednesday October 05, 2016
As of October 1, 2016, the USDA lowered the upfront and ongoing mortgage insurance fees for the USDA Guaranteed Home Loan Program. The USDA Home Loan Program enables eligible borrowers to buy homes located in federally-designated rural areas with no down payment. The program is designed to help individuals with low-to-moderate incomes afford to buy […]
Your Path Mortgage Program Expands Home Ownership OpportunityPOSTED: Thursday September 29, 2016
We want to highlight a new Freddie Mac mortgage program designed to extend home ownership to more borrowers. Freddie Mac, in collaboration with Alterra Home Loans and New American Funding, launched the Your Path Mortgage Program to address the growth in multi-generational households and increase in borrowers with non-traditional income sources. Similar to other low […]