United Guaranty Insights
The Home-Selling Season: June to December?
December 16, 2016 / Valerie Tucker Ausband, Regional Vice President—Southeast
Does the housing industry put too much emphasis on the spring home-buying season? While the April-to-July period continues to account for 40 percent of annual sales, a look at existing home sales from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that strong activity continues long after kids go back to school and even after snow begins to fly in some areas.
Read MoreLoan Officers Connecting with Millennials
November 29, 2016 / Jo Fleischer, PR Director, and Shayla Hill, Digital Services Manager
The nation’s 75.4 million millennials now outnumber baby boomers and will dominate home buying in the years ahead. United Guaranty’s recent webinar presented social media strategies lenders can use to connect with this important and growing group of customers.
Read MoreHow Long Does It Take to Underwrite MI?
November 8, 2016 / Michael Hitt, Senior Vice President—Insurance Operations
In today’s mortgage insurance (MI) industry, the length of time lenders wait for a mortgage insurer's underwriting decision ranges from one day to several weeks. United Guaranty routinely provides underwriting responses in less than 24 hours.
Read MoreRescission Relief: Selecting the Option That’s Best for You
October 28, 2016 / Amy Butler, Regional Vice President—Heartland Region
United Guaranty offers five different rescission relief options. Which one is right for you?
Read MoreIdentifying Mortgage Fraud
October 11, 2016 / John Stoppler, Vice President—Investigations and Appeals
Mortgage professionals need to stay vigilant to recognize fraud as perpetrators shift tactics as they work to stay one step ahead.
Read MoreHome Sales at a 10-Year High, Helped By Low Interest Rates.
October 7, 2016 / Valerie Tucker Ausband, Regional Vice President—Southeast
Home sales reached a 10-year high in July, and recent statistics show low interest rates are continuing to encourage home buyers.
Read MoreUnderwriters: The Last Word on Mortgages
September 20, 2016 / Michael Hitt, Senior Vice President—Insurance Operations
For this week of National Mortgage Professional Month, we’re taking a closer look at underwriters and all they do to educate and accommodate both novice and experienced home buyers.
Read MoreRecognizing the Special Role of Credit Union Mortgage Originators
September 20, 2016 / Shannon VanSickler, Vice President—Credit Union Channel
This week, for National Mortgage Professional Month, we’re taking a closer look at credit unions and the efforts these organizations put into helping their members.
Read MoreAppreciating the Role of Mortgage Loan Processors
September 16, 2016 / Kevin Busick, Vice President—Underwriting and Forensic Underwriting
For National Mortgage Professional Month, we want to recognize the work and skill you apply when working with loan officers and home buyers to prepare loans for underwriting and closing.
Read MoreLoan Officers: On the Front Lines of Customer Relationships
September 06, 2016 / Dan Slade, Senior Vice President–Field Sales
For this week of National Mortgage Professional Month, we're taking a closer look at loan officers and all they do to educate and accommodate both novice and experienced home buyers.
Read MoreCombining Low Mortgage Rates with Mortgage Insurance
August 23, 2016 / Troy Rampy, Regional Vice President-Central Region
With mortgage rates near historic lows, mortgage insurance can provide solutions for qualified borrowers who want to buy now in anticipation of additional home price increases.
Read MoreWhat Millennials Want from the Mortgage Process
August 19, 2016 / Dan Walker, Senior Vice President, Product Development
As the oldest millennials turn 33 years old, the mortgage industry may need to adopt new strategies to maximize sales to the group that represents the largest potential segment of home buyers—with 87 million people, 91 percent of whom say they intend to own a home one day.
Read MoreA Look at Today's Home Buyers
August 12, 2016 / Greg Hare, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer
The Generational Trends housing report reveals opportunities with fast-growing segments of home buyers, including single women, Hispanic families, and people under 35.
Read MoreThe Cost of Not Using Mortgage Insurance
August 5, 2016 / Amy Butler, Regional Vice President—Heartland Region
To understand what prospective home buyers miss out on by delaying a home purchase for years to save up a large down payment, consider the benefits a current renter would have gained by purchasing a home in 2011.
Read More2016's Biggest Home Buying Trends
July 29, 2016 / Lou Esposito, Vice President, Strategic Accounts
So far, 2016 continues the housing market's penchant for defying expectations with interest rates hitting historic lows, prices continuing to climb, and buyers continuing to favor the suburbs.
Read MoreMI NOW: Smartphone Speed and Convenience for Loan Officers
July 22, 2016 / Jayendra Balasubramanian, Vice President, IT
Getting updated MI rate quotes anywhere, at any time, is now possible through MI NOW. For loan officers who increasingly find themselves working with borrowers away from their desks, the app serves as an ideal solution. This free app for iPhones is now available for download at the Apple App store.
Read MoreHottest Summer Housing Markets
July 8, 2016 / Valerie Tucker Ausband, Regional Vice President—Southeast
Summer rivals the spring as the busiest home selling season. In 2015, the spring months trailed July and September in sales of existing homes, and August was strong, too.
Read MoreMI vs. FHA: A Closer Look at Borrower Costs
June 27, 2016 / Peter May, Vice President—Strategic Accounts
There's clearly a growing need for mortgage insurance in today's market. The National Association of Realtors has estimated that it can take a prospective home buyer 12 years to save enough to make the 20 percent down payment lenders typically require.
Read MoreThe Rising Role of Gifts and Grants in the Home Buying Process
June 10, 2016 / Troy Rampy, Regional Vice President-Central Region
Gift funds and grants have become an increasingly popular option for qualified home buyers.
Read MoreMortgage Insurance Offers Flexibility to Step-Up Buyers
May 20, 2016 / Amy Butler, Regional Vice President-Heartland Region
Using all of the profits from a home sale for a down payment on a borrower's next home is not the best financial scenario for every individual or family.
Read MoreUnited Guaranty Pricing Expands Options, Creates Opportunities
April 28, 2016 / John Gaines, Executive Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer
United Guaranty offers competitive pricing, but rather than simply cutting the rates of certain credit bands, we're focused on creating more
Read MoreA Seller's Market Creates Opportunities
April 5, 2016 / Valerie Tucker Ausband, Regional Vice President-Southeast
Home values have reached heights not seen since 2007. For long-time homeowners who want to buy a new home, mortgage insurance provides options and opportunities they may not have considered.
Read MoreGood News! Mortgage Insurance Premiums Tax Deductible in 2016
February 5, 2016 / Troy Rampy, Regional Vice President
The tax deduction on MI premiums benefits eligible taxpayers who made a home purchase in the last nine years or who buy a house during 2016.
Read MoreMillennials: Striving, Not Slacking While Living with Mom and Dad
January 8, 2016 / Amy Butler, Regional Vice President-Heartland Region
The housing market could be even stronger if the industry can find ways to make Millennials (ages 18 to 34) understand that buying a house isn't as difficult as it seems.
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