Real Estate Summary News: Email Hacks Affect Real Estate Agents

Nat'l Real Estate Post:
Hacking is starting to affect real estate agents. Too many important and scary details to put in this summary. Go to:
http://thenationalrealestatepost.com/wicked-real-estate-cyber-hack/?
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“Paying kickbacks for mortgage referrals is illegal, and it has been illegal for decades,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “Secret and unlawful payments keep consumers in the dark and put honest businesses at a disadvantage, and the Consumer Bureau will continue to take action against them.” -- Trey Garrison in HousingWire
http://www.housingwire.com/articles/33725-cfpb-maryland-ag-take-action-against-pay-to-play-mortgage-kickback-scheme
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Shared by David Sov, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, southeastern France

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In the wake of the financial crisis, nonbank lenders and servicers have witnessed a significant emergence in the mortgage business. In fact, independent mortgage banks (IMBs) are heavily dominating the single-family market. The IMB share of overall mortgage originations has increased from 25% in 2008 to 40% in 2013, according to MBA’s own research.
Moreover, unlike national depository lending institutions, nonbanks are subject to company licensing and regulation in every state in which they operate. State regulators collect and review quarterly financial statements including balance sheet and income data, as well as quarterly data on IMB’s origination and servicing activities. IMBs and other nonbank lenders are also subjected to market discipline via the counterparty oversight activities of their warehouse banks, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae and FHA, all of whom review and analyze the financial and operational performance of their IMB customers. -- Bill Cosgrove in HousingWire http://www.housingwire.com/blogs/1-rewired/post/33726-mbas-cosgrove-the-importance-of-nonbanks-in-the-mortgage-market
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Personal income in March 2015 increased less than 0.1 percent. Nominal personal consumption expenditures (PCE) rose 0.4 percent. Real PCE increased 0.3 percent. Nominal disposable personal income (DPI) increased less than 0.1 percent. Real DPI decreased 0.2 percent. The personal saving rate as a percentage of DPI was 5.3 percent in March. -- US Department of Commerce
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Shared by T. Siyah, Chefren & Cheope, Giza, Egypt (by Blue Sky Travel Egypt)

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WASHINGTON — Homeownership hit its lowest point in 25 years, according to recent data, in another sign that the housing sector continues to be the laggard during this economic recovery. -- Brian Collins in National Mortgage News
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Nat'l Real Estate Post:
Discount brokers give discounted commissions, but also fewer services. When marketing your full service real estate company, highlight your connections in the real estate community, your contacts: reputable lawyers, handymen, contractors, mortgage loan officers etc.
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Shared by Rock Sharma, Location unknown.

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Nat'l Real Estate Post:
For traditional real estate agents to continue to succeed in this technological environment, learn to use the available technology, like Zillow, and market your knowledge, contacts and people skills.
http://thenationalrealestatepost.com/zillow-turns-fast-fsbo/?
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“The Fed is starting to lay the groundwork for the eventuality of interest rate hikes,” says Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate.com. “It’s only prudent for consumers to prepare themselves as well.” -- Jonnell Marte in The Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/get-there/wp/2015/01/05/where-interest-rates-are-going-in-2015-and-what-it-means-for-your-loans/
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Shared by Plugarasu Maria, House Between Two Rocks , location unknown