Sunday, April 5, 2026

Remote Work Continues to Drive Record Demand for Second Homes

Thu, 08 April 2021  |  pandemic housing 

The number of buyers who locked in mortgage rates for second homes shot up a record 128% year over year in March, according to a new report from Redfin. That marks the 10th straight month of 80%-plus annual growth. The year-over-year increase should be taken in context because demand for second homes was relatively weak in March 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic first hit the U.S. and real estate activity in many parts of the country temporarily halted with lockdowns.

The data in the report is based on a Redfin analysis of mortgage-rate lock data fro... Read More

Home Buyers Eager Despite Hot Market

Wed, 07 April 2021  |  housing 

The latest Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index^® (HPSI) reveals home buyers are still eager to buy despite a sellers' market. The HPSI increased in March by 5.2 points to 81.7. Four of the HPSI's six components increased month over month, including the components related to homebuying and home-selling conditions, household income, and home prices. The mortgage rate outlook component experienced the only decline; and the latest results indicate that only 6% of consumers believe that mortgage rates will decrease over the next 12 months. Year over year, the HPSI is up 0.9 points.... Read More

Half Of Parents Want College Alternatives For Children

Wed, 07 April 2021  |  education 

A national survey of parents looks at how well they think our education system prepares young people for life after high school and finds a sobering disconnect between the opportunities families want for their child and the postsecondary pathways that are available. While attending a four-year college remains the ideal for many families, 46 percent prefer other options. Even among parents who hope their child will earn a bachelor’s degree, at least 40 percent are interested in career-related learning opportunities such as internships or apprenticeships.

These are among the fin... Read More

Fidelity Partners On Launch Of Crypto Council For Innovation

Wed, 07 April 2021  |  crypto fintech 

Fidelity Digital Assets has joined Square, Coinbase, Paradigm and others to form the Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI). The goal of the new alliance of crypto industry leaders is to support governments and institutions worldwide by informing and encouraging responsible crypto-related public policy, and educate the public about crypto’s potential to create positive change.

"We know that crypto holds immense promise for spurring economic growth and creating jobs, improving financial inclusion and access, and enhancing privacy and security -- and that promise transcends borde... Read More

Pandemic Changes How We View Home

Wed, 07 April 2021  |  pandemic housing 

After a year in which "working from home" began to feel like "living at work," America has undergone a profound shift in its understanding of "home," driving homeowners to want more space, new uses and a better environment to nurture positive changes that evolved during lockdown. They also want to address design, condition and space frustrations they felt while spending uninterrupted time indoors.

According to the 8th annual LightStream Home Improvement Trends Survey,1 nearly half (47%) of U.S. homeowners say they are utilizing their space differently since the onset of the pand... Read More

SoFi Launches Auto Loan Refinancing Through Lantern

Tue, 06 April 2021  |  consumers lending 

SoFi announced the introduction of personalized auto loan refinancing offers through Lantern, the financial services product comparison site owned and operated by SoFi. SoFi launches auto loan refinancing in partnership with MotoRefi – an auto fintech startup that provides multiple competitive offers through a network of lenders.

Auto loan debt has quickly become one of the most important areas for consumers to be mindful of when it comes to maximizing financial well-being and now ranks as the third largest component of household debt. This need is underscored by the record-s... Read More