FIRST FUNDING BLOG

jfennimore

Feb 223 min read

Do Your Budgets and Inspections Agree?

Don't overlook these five common examples of budget omissions. As the saying goes, a picture speaks a thousand words. The problem in...

Residential Pre-Foreclosure Auction Best Practices

jfennimore

Feb 66 min read

Residential Pre-Foreclosure Auction Best Practices

Although the pre-foreclosure acquisition path presents complexities and challenges, the rewards can be substantial for those who navigate...

jfennimore

Jan 233 min read

Market Update: Capital Sources

For lenders to thrive in the current demanding capital landscape, understanding the pulse of the market and the factors driving it is of...

Quarter Trend Comparison: Landscape Mostly Unchanged

jfennimore

Jan 91 min read

Quarter Trend Comparison: Landscape Mostly Unchanged

Second quarter 2023 trends are similar to first quarter. Overall, we're seeing the same trends as we did in the first quarter: rising...

Mix ‘n’ Max: 5 Bold and Beautiful Bathrooms That’ll Inspire You To Finally Take a Design Risk

jfennimore

Jan 31 min read

Mix ‘n’ Max: 5 Bold and Beautiful Bathrooms That’ll Inspire You To Finally Take a Design Risk

Bathrooms are one of the few areas in your house where you can take very personal design risks. Here are five unique ways to combine...

The New Wave in Decor: These Are the Hottest Design Trends You’ll See in 2024

jfennimore

Dec 12, 20231 min read

The New Wave in Decor: These Are the Hottest Design Trends You’ll See in 2024

According to the pros, a new wave of decor trends is on the horizon, promising to reshape our homes and living spaces. “For 2024, it’s...

Will the Housing Market Roar Back in 2024? Our Fearless Predictions for the Year Ahead

jfennimore

Dec 4, 20231 min read

Will the Housing Market Roar Back in 2024? Our Fearless Predictions for the Year Ahead

The past year has been a particularly brutal one for the housing market. Buyers can’t afford to buy, sellers don’t want to sell, mortgage...

Where Are People Moving to in 2023? An Inside Look at This Year’s Moving Trends from PODS

jfennimore

Nov 16, 20231 min read

Where Are People Moving to in 2023? An Inside Look at This Year’s Moving Trends from PODS

Here’s a breakdown of the top 20 cities in the U.S. that have seen the most growth, with their position on our list last year in...

Goldman Just Dropped a Housing Market Forecast for 2024 & Sees High Home Prices, High Mortgage Rates

jfennimore

Oct 31, 20231 min read

Goldman Just Dropped a Housing Market Forecast for 2024 & Sees High Home Prices, High Mortgage Rates

One thing has been true about home prices since the pandemic began: They just keep going up across the country. In 2023, this has...

Bargain Hunters, Rejoice: Top 20 Emerging Housing Markets Deliver on Affordability This Fall

jfennimore

Oct 26, 20231 min read

Bargain Hunters, Rejoice: Top 20 Emerging Housing Markets Deliver on Affordability This Fall

The top emerging housing markets in America this fall have one key thing in common: They’re generally places where buyers can still find...

S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index Continues to Trend Upward in July

jfennimore

Oct 17, 20231 min read

S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index Continues to Trend Upward in July

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, reported 1.0% annual change...

jfennimore

Oct 3, 20231 min read

Understanding Draw Management

Lenders must help borrowers understand the intricacies of draw management for their rehab projects, including how draws are tied to...

Vacation Rental Bonanza: The 10 Cities Where Hosts Can Make the Biggest Profits

jfennimore

Sep 8, 20231 min read

Vacation Rental Bonanza: The 10 Cities Where Hosts Can Make the Biggest Profits

Renters are looking for places with access to popular outdoor amenities like beaches, lakes, and ski resorts, says Bram Gallagher, an...

Comparing Year-Over-Year Loan Data: Q1 2022 to Q1 2023

jfennimore

Aug 8, 20231 min read

Comparing Year-Over-Year Loan Data: Q1 2022 to Q1 2023

Analysis of the first quarter year-over-year changes reveals that market conditions have exerted pressure on both private lenders and...

Real Estate Investor Demand Turned a Corner in Early 2023

jfennimore

Jul 20, 20231 min read

Real Estate Investor Demand Turned a Corner in Early 2023

Demand from local real estate investors turned a corner in early 2023, a good sign for the private lending industry and the retail...

jfennimore

Jun 30, 20231 min read

Top Housing Markets for 2023

In this update, our 2023 Top Housing Markets report, we zoom in on the top ten markets ranked by sales and price growth to see why these...

Is an All-Cash Offer on a House Always a Good Idea? The True Risks and Rewards

jfennimore

Jun 15, 20231 min read

Is an All-Cash Offer on a House Always a Good Idea? The True Risks and Rewards

While an all-cash offer has many positive qualities, there are still some pitfalls you’ll want to avoid. Here’s how to do it right. Put...

Foreclosure Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

jfennimore

Jun 1, 20231 min read

Foreclosure Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

In an ideal world, borrowers would never default, and lenders could avoid the time and expense of foreclosure. Of course, defaults do...

Old School Rules: Getting Back to Lending Basics

jfennimore

May 16, 20231 min read

Old School Rules: Getting Back to Lending Basics

In today's market, your sales/ origination team needs to be the front line of defense. They must have a deep understanding of guidelines...

2023 Housing Market Forecast and Predictions: Homebuying Costs Aren't Coming Down

jfennimore

Apr 27, 20231 min read

2023 Housing Market Forecast and Predictions: Homebuying Costs Aren't Coming Down

After being overwhelmed in the housing frenzy of the recent past, homeowners, sellers, buyers, and renters may be underwhelmed in 2023....