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11 December 2024 M T E C H December 2024 » A vast majority of home buyers today are prioritizing budget above all else. Zillow data finds nearly 80% of recent buyers say it is very or extremely important to find a home within their initial budget (79%). That became a bit easier when mortgage rates dropped this fall. New Zillow research finds the share of homes that a middle-income household could comfortably afford hit a nearly two-year high in September. A household making the median U.S. in- come could comfortably afford 27.3% of homes listed for sale across the country. Only 22.7% of all homes listed for sale were affordable to a middle-income household when mortgage rates peaked above 7% in May. That significant shift shows how quickly homes can go from being unaf- fordable to affordable in today's market. BuyAbility gives shoppers a competitive edge by keeping them up to date on exactly what they can afford at any given time. BuyAbility is currently available in every state but New York on the Zillow app and will be coming soon to desktop computers on Zillow's website. MERIDIANLINK AND SCORENAVIGATOR ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO ENHANCE CREDIT ANALYSIS CAPABILITIES M eridianLink, Inc. has an- nounced it has partnered with ScoreNavigator, Inc., a provider of an advanced credit report analysis tool designed to help consumers better under- stand and manage their finances. Through this newfound partnership, ScoreNaviga- tor integrates with MeridianLink Mortgage Credit Link (MCL). The integration deliv- ers powerful new solutions to CRAs and mortgage lenders, enabling them to better serve their customers. This partnership represents progress in advancing credit analysis and improve- ment within the mortgage lending sector. Through the ScoreNavigator integration, MCL users can track and monitor score changes based on applicant actions. This innovative functionality provides lenders with a more efficient screening software solution by supplying a communication platform to help increase the lender's op- portunities for application approval and provision competitive lending terms. "As financial institutions increas- ingly seek out faster, more efficient methods of assessing applicant creditworthiness and look to provide resources to their consumers that can help improve credit scores, ScoreNav- igator has emerged as an innovative industry leader," said Megan Pulliam, SVP of MeridianLink Marketplace. "Our partnership with ScoreNavigator rep- resents a significant step forward in our commitment to providing top-tier credit analysis solutions to our customers." The integration of ScoreNavigator into MeridianLink's platform has un- dergone extensive testing with leading CRAs, including CIC and Advantage Credit, providing a seamless experience and powerful capabilities from day one. "CIC Credit is excited to offer this innovative, modern credit analysis solu- tion from ScoreNavigator to our lender community," said Mike Thomas, Chief Operating Officer at CIC Credit. "The ScoreNavigator solution takes a fresh look at consumer credit score improvement and enables us to provide a more compre- hensive suite of products to our lenders." Providing financial literacy resourc- es to applicants during key financial moments enhances the consumer experience and offers valuable sup- port. Institutions that deliver relevant materials at the right time—particularly through powerful automated engage- ment tools—can strengthen consumer relationships and boost retention. "ScoreNavigator provides the tools for lenders to better understand con- sumer creditworthiness and consumers to better manage their credit," said Rusty Bresse, CEO of ScoreNavigator. "We look forward to partnering with MeridianLink and working with lenders to expand financial freedom and open up significant benefits for consumers, institutions, and fintech partners alike." "Mortgage rates have been on a wild ride this year. With improving inflation numbers and more balanced economic activity, mortgage rates could ease slightly heading into the new year." —Orphe Divounguy, Senior Economist, Zillow Home Loans