Black Knight: Interest rate drop led to flood of mortgage prepayments in March

Black Knight | April 23, 2019

Mortgage interest rates dropped throughout the month of March, culminating in interest rates closing out the month with the largest single-week decline in 10 years. As of the end of March, mortgage rates were at their lowest point since January 2018. And as one might expect, that drop in mortgage rates led to a massive increase in mortgage prepayments in March, according to a first look at March’s mortgage data from Black Knight.

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Market Outlook, Real Estate Investment

McGrath Acquires Colorado-Based Container Rental Company

Businesswire | July 11, 2023

McGrath RentCorp (“McGrath” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: MGRC), a leading business-to-business rental company in North America, today announced it has acquired the assets of Inland Leasing and Storage, a regional provider of portable storage solutions in the Colorado market. The transaction was funded with borrowings from McGrath’s revolving credit facility. The acquisition adds approximately 600 assets to McGrath’s portable storage operations in Colorado. “Our acquisition of Inland Leasing and Storage is highly complementary to our portable storage rental business,” said Joe Hanna, President and CEO of McGrath. “Consistent with our ongoing capital deployment and geographic expansion strategies, this opportunity provides us with accelerated regional density and a high-quality fleet to serve the Colorado market. We look forward to expanding our market share with a new set of customers.” About Inland Leasing & Storage Inland Leasing & Storage is a locally owned and operated trailer and storage container rental and sales supplier serving a broad range of businesses with branches located in Loveland, Colorado, Chicago, Illinois and Tucson, Arizona. With our team of quality employees and proven sales force, Inland Leasing & Storage provides reliable storage and rental solutions for many personal, industrial, agricultural, and commercial business needs. This type of service is essential to a smoothly run operation for any industry. Inland Leasing & Storage philosophy is to fill the needs of customers when they need it most. From daily rentals to long term leases, Inland Leasing & Storage is your solution! We offer semi trailers for local and long distance transportation needs and also trailers & storage containers for storage only purposes. From 40' to 53' long enclosed trailers and flatbeds to 8' wide x 10' long to 10' wide x 40' long storage containers we are able to assist you in any storage need possible. Choose from 1 day rentals to long term leases. Our customer base varies from regional clients to single facility companies and the family homeowners. Trailer & Container modifications are also available. Call or e-mail us for more information or to get a quote on your storage needs. AboutMCGRATH McGrath RentCorp (Nasdaq: MGRC) is a leading business-to-business rental company in North America with a strong record of profitable business growth. Founded in 1979, McGrath’s operations are centered on modular solutions through its Mobile Modular and Mobile Modular Portable Storage businesses. In addition, its TRS-RenTelco business offers electronic test equipment rental solutions. The Company’s rental product offerings and services are part of the circular supply economy, helping customers work more efficiently, and sustainably manage their environmental footprint. With over 40 years of experience, McGrath’s success is driven by a focus on exceptional customer experiences. This focus has underpinned the Company’s long-term financial success and supported over 30 consecutive years of annual dividend increases to shareholders, a rare distinction among publicly listed companies.

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Real Estate Technology, Real Estate Investment

Reggora Launches AI-Powered Appraisal Review Solution for Lenders

PRnewswire | June 29, 2023

Reggora, an appraisal management software company that is modernizing residential real estate valuation for mortgage lenders, announced today the launch of its appraisal review solution, Reggora Appraisal Review. This innovative software is set to transform the appraisal analysis process for mortgage lenders by significantly reducing repurchase risk and ensuring every appraisal meets the correct quality standards. Reggora Appraisal Review leverages cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms to automate and streamline the appraisal review workflow. With its advanced natural language processing capabilities, the software swiftly analyzes appraisal reports, identifies key data points, inconsistencies, and potential red flags. For example, the solution uses advanced AI technology to detect bias in reports far more accurately than lexicon-based tools — so underwriters remain confident in the objectivity of their appraisals, without wasting time reviewing false positives. For instance, consider a report that mentions a property located in the city of "Race Point Beach." While the term "Race" would trigger a keyword-based bias detection tool, Reggora's AI-powered algorithm can discern the context and understand that it is simply the name of the city. By analyzing the report's language, tone, and content comprehensively, AI ensures that lenders can swiftly identify genuine instances of bias, avoiding unnecessary scrutiny and enabling them to focus their review efforts on reports that truly require attention. With this groundbreaking solution, manual appraisal review becomes far more efficient. Reggora Appraisal Review significantly reduces human error, enhances efficiency, and ensures accuracy. By thoughtfully automating the review process, mortgage professionals can expedite their review cycles, reducing turnaround times and accelerating the loan origination process. One of the critical features of Reggora Appraisal Review is its ability to reduce repurchase risk. By customizing rule sets and quality control checks, mortgage lenders can align their appraisal review processes with industry regulations, investor guidelines, and internal policies. This comprehensive compliance and risk mitigation capability empowers mortgage professionals to mitigate costly repurchase demands, protecting their financial stability and reputation. Seamless integration with existing loan origination systems further enhances operational productivity. The user-friendly interface allows users to effortlessly navigate through appraisal reports, highlight critical information, and annotate directly on the documents. Comprehensive audit trails ensure transparency and facilitate collaboration between stakeholders. "Reggora Appraisal Review represents a significant step forward in the mortgage industry," said Brian Zitin, CEO of Reggora. "We are committed to empowering mortgage professionals with cutting-edge technology that drives efficiency, reduces risk, and ultimately allows them to originate loans much faster." This all-new review solution accompanies Reggora's existing suite of integrations with leading third-party review tools. Reggora Appraisal Review caters to the unique needs of diverse stakeholders, providing customizable features that can be tailored to individual business requirements. Whether a small regional lender or a large national lender, this software offers a flexible and scalable solution. About Reggora Reggora is driving appraisal innovation with a modern, two-sided platform for mortgage lenders and appraisal vendors. Through advanced and configurable workflows, Reggora streamlines the entire appraisal process for everyone involved, while improving the overall borrower experience. Lenders and appraisers benefit from payment processing, automatic appraisal ordering, rule-based reviews, appraisal delivery, status updates, and more, creating unprecedented operational efficiency.

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Mortgage and Lending

RE/MAX and CCIM Institute Forge New Relationship to Empower Real Estate Professionals

PR Newswire | August 24, 2023

RE/MAX, LLC, one of the world's leading franchisors of real estate brokerage services, announces a groundbreaking relationship with the CCIM Institute, the premier provider of commercial real estate education. This collaboration, unveiled during the 2023 RE/MAX Broker Owner Conference, opens up new possibilities for growth and success for commercial brokers and residential agents interested in expanding their expertise. RE/MAX® affiliates can now access the comprehensive educational resources at discounted rates through RE/MAX University® and the CCIM platform. The courses range from foundational knowledge for beginner agents to advanced topics for seasoned brokers. RE/MAX provides a wide variety of educational opportunities that enable agents to expand their knowledge and stay cutting-edge. "At RE/MAX, we support the growth and development of our affiliates, and this relationship with CCIM is a testament to that dedication," said Shawna Gilbert, Senior Vice President of RE/MAX Global and Commercial. "We recognize the growing demand for expertise in commercial real estate, and through this alliance we offer our agents and brokers unparalleled access to valuable education and resources." With CCIM Institute's offerings integrated into RE/MAX University, learners can conveniently engage with the courses at their own pace and on their own time. Broker/Owners can track their agents' progress, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development within their offices. Aside from the new education CCIM Institute will provide, real estate professionals who are interested in commercial real estate can attend the 2024 RE/MAX Global Commercial Symposium from June 10 – 12 in Tampa, Florida. The annual event provides agents with insights from leaders in the commercial space and ample opportunities for networking. About the RE/MAX Network As one of the leading global real estate franchisors, RE/MAX, LLC is a subsidiary of RE/MAX Holdings with more than 140,000 agents in over 9,000 offices and a presence in more than 110 countries and territories. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX, as measured by residential transaction sides. RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by Dave and Gail Liniger, with an innovative, entrepreneurial culture affording its agents and franchisees the flexibility to operate their businesses with great independence. RE/MAX agents have lived, worked and served in their local communities for decades, raising millions of dollars every year for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals® and other charities.

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