Bankers Title and the Circuit Courthouses will be closed on

Monday, January 15, 2024

in observance of

Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Housing Market Predictions For 2024: When Will Home Prices Be Affordable Again?

by Robin Rothstein, Caroline Basile, Forbes

2024 may be a better year to purchase a home—at least for some. While home prices will likely remain elevated—and even increase in some markets—industry experts expect prices in certain areas of the country to soften. Economists are also optimistic that the Federal Reserve is done with its rate-hiking campaign to lower inflation after policymakers kept the federal funds rate unchanged for a third straight meeting on December 13. The federal funds rate is the benchmark interest rate financial institutions charge each other for overnight loans; it tends to indirectly influence mortgage rates. Even so, affordability challenges will continue in 2024. Click HERE to gain insights into other market predictions for the year.

Use Strategic Thinking To Create The Life You Want

by Rainer Strack, Susanne Dyrchs, and Allison Bailey

In corporate strategy projects, executive leadership teams work through a series of questions to determine how their businesses can succeed. Individuals can use a similar process to figure out how to live a meaningful life. It starts with defining what makes a great life for you and then outlining your purpose and vision. You must also look at your current “portfolio” — the areas in which you spend your time and energy — to see if you’re investing the best of yourself in the activities most important to you. You should consider what research says about how people tend to find meaning and joy in life. Finally, you’ll want to identify areas where you need to make changes, and then ensure you follow through with objectives and key results. Click HERE to learn more.

LAST CHANCE:

Limited Quantities of the

2024 Bankers Title

Desk Calendars 

are still available.

Click HERE to reserve yours today!

How Analysts See 2024 Shaping Up For Mortgage Lenders

by Flavia Furlan Nunes



Kyle Joseph, a specialty finance equity research analyst at Jefferies, believes that the worst of the current mortgage cycle may be behind us, a sentiment shared by most analysts covering this industry. Warren Kornfeld, senior vice president of the financial institutions group at Moody's, provided a detailed forecast, stating, “We will see three to four decreases in the Federal Reserve funds rate next year, starting sometime in the second quarter. Mortgage rates will moderate down to about 6% to 6.25%.” Kornfeld expects mortgage originations to range from $1.8 trillion to $2 trillion in 2024. On the refinance side, he predicts a moderate increase in cash-out activity as rates decline, with customers using the resources to consolidate debt and extract some home equity build-up. Click HERE to gain insights on other predictions.

The Different Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders From the Rest

by Lolly Daskal

The best leaders have a different mindset than most leaders, which enables them to effectively lead and inspire their employees and teams. Here are some key mindsets that distinguish the best leaders from the rest:

• Growth mindset
• Emotional intelligence mindset
• Strategic mindset
• Adaptable mindset
• Collaborative mindset

 By developing these mindsets, leaders can effectively lead and inspire their employees and teams, and can help their organizations to grow and succeed. Click HERE gain insights into each mindset to become a more effective leader.

CEO Survey Finds 'Cautious Optimism' Among Banking Leaders

by Craig Gauillot

KMPG surveyed 142 banking CEOs in North and South America, Europe and Asia about their concerns, what they see as current risks and their approach to strategic planning and leadership. Despite an uncertain global economic environment, and uniform concern over the impact of the rising cost of living on talent and borrowing demands, a majority of executives are confident in their three-year outlook and are focusing on resilience and pragmatic growth in the year ahead. Most also say that ESG is now fully embedded in their organization, although many cannot yet substantiate significant positive impacts. Click HERE to learn more about the key takeaways.

Bankers Title Keeps You Safe From Wire Fraud with CertifID

Digital banking makes moving money easier for everyone — including cyber criminals, who are getting more cunning every day. Every wire transfer you send or receive is at risk. Yet many ask if wire fraud is really that serious? Wire transfers continue to be the most frequently reported payment method for fraud with a reported aggregate loss of $2.4 Billion and an average loss of $120k per victim. And, did you know that one out of every three real estate transactions are targeted for wire fraud?

At Virginia Title Center, we take the safety of your money and your client's money seriously and now offer wire fraud protection through a partnership with CertifID. This offers end-to-end protection to keep customer information secured and insured at all times through a suite of services. CertifID makes it easy for us to securely send our wire instructions to clients and lenders; allows us to safely collect bank details from home sellers and other partners; verifies the bank details that have been provided are accurate and not tampered with; and, offers PayoffProtect to validate the authenticity of wiring instructions to ensure loan payoff payments aren't sent to fraudsters. All wire transactions are backed by Lloyd's of London and insured up to $1 million. Click HERE for a flyer you can share with your clients, and talk to your settlement processor to learn how using CertifID can protect you and your clients.