Housing Markets Run on Speed. Buyers Run on Timing.
The housing market is engineered for speed—instant listings, rapid mortgage closings, and automated insurance validation—yet buyers feel left behind. A Cotality survey shows only 8% of home seekers are confident after finding a property, rising to just 13% on closing day. Pressure to act quickly is felt by 43% of buyers on home selection and 41% on mortgage decisions, highlighting a mismatch between system velocity and human timing. The report argues that measuring timing, not just speed, is essential for building trust and closing deals.
House Rich, Cash Poor: A Structural Mismatch in Home Equity
Cotality’s Homeowner Equity Report shows U.S. homeowners hold about $11 trillion in tappable equity, averaging $300,000 per borrower. Despite record‑high home‑equity lending, more than 97% of that wealth remains unused. The equity is concentrated in older, affluent households, leaving younger, cash‑poor...
Why Adjustable-Rate Mortgages Are Surging in a Falling-Rate Market
Adjustable‑rate mortgages (ARMs) have surged to about 21% of U.S. mortgage originations, the highest share in three years, even as rates fall. In high‑cost states such as California, ARMs account for over 31% of loans, driven by a widening affordability...