Our mortgage industry blog, MGIC Connects, is where experts share their insights beyond private mortgage insurance to help readers learn about mortgage finance, housing trends, real estate news and social media in the mortgage industry.
Why It’s Okay to Have Student Loan Debt
Start with the fact that student loan debt is not like credit card debt. Debt, regardless of the type, is essentially borrowing from your future self. But student loan debt is also an investment in your future. Simply put, you will be more employable and earn more with a college degree.
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How to Build a Social Media Strategy in the Mortgage Industry
As a mortgage industry professional, social media is one of the most valuable touch-points you have with your customers and prospects. Understanding how to build a social media strategy in the mortgage industry is an important component to any loan officer’s personal marketing strategy.
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What Republican and Democratic Party Platforms Say About Housing Finance Reform
The Republican Party wrapped up its convention in Cleveland a short time ago, nominating Donald Trump as its candidate for President. The Democrats followed the Republicans, nominating Hillary Clinton as their candidate for President at their Philadelphia convention. Here is what the respective party platforms say about Housing Finance Reform.
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Time to Think Differently About Affordable Lending Products
I recently had a discussion with a lender regarding affordable lending products. This lender was looking to use these programs to expand its ability to offer low-down-payment home purchase options for first-time homebuyers. Just to be clear: We’re talking about Fannie Mae’s HomeReady and Freddie Mac’s Home Possible programs.
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4 Ways to Use Facebook Live Videos for Business
I’ve been a fan of Facebook Live videos since they picked up speed in the first half of 2016. Social media is about being authentic and real with your audience, and Facebook Live videos for business are nothing short of that. In fact, I found that the videos done well are almost addictive.
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Making a Case for Deep Coverage Mortgage Insurance
The US housing finance system remains unchanged since 2008, when the Federal Housing Finance Authority (FHFA) placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the GSEs) into conservatorship. As a result, the GSEs continue to present a significant risk exposure to the taxpayers. See how Deep Coverage Mortgage Insurance can help.
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What is the Role of the FHA?
As we enter the summer and the housing market continues to recover from the Great Recession, what seems like an annual ritual has begun again. Rumors have started, and positions are being put forth that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) should reduce its premiums yet again. This is the wrong thing to do on many levels.
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Trended Credit Data is Trending
Trended credit data is all the buzz these days. Some industry experts have gone as far as to call it the biggest thing to happen to credit reporting since the creation of the credit score. So is it the next big thing, or will it have no impact? The answer seems to be…
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9 Important Takeaways from the MBA Secondary Conference
From the Common Security Platform and Freddie Mac loan sales to new accounting rules and which direction mortgage rates are headed, there were plenty of important takeaways during last week’s Mortgage Bankers Association’s Secondary Conference in New York.
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Demystifying Partnership and S-Corp Income Analysis
Analyzing self-employment income from tax returns has long been one of the mysteries of mortgage underwriting — especially partnership and S-Corp returns. Over the past year, Fannie Mae made a clarification for determining qualifying income from Partnership and S-Corp K-1s. Nothing is really new — but it’s making us rethink what we thought we already knew.
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Self-Employed Borrowers — Business Tax Return Analysis
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