United Guaranty Insights

The Home-Selling Season: June to December?

December 16, 2016 / Valerie Tucker Ausband, Regional Vice President—Southeast

The Home Buying Season

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.

Loan Officers Connecting with Millenials

Loan 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.

How 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.

Rescission 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?

Identifying 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.

Home 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.

Underwriters: 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.

Recognizing 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.

Appreciating 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.

Loan 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.

Combining 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.

What 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.

A 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.

The 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.

2016'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.

MI 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.

Hottest 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.

MI 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.

The Rising Role of Gifts and Grants in the Home Buying Process