Category: Top National News

National Mortgage Professional, Nov. 19, 2018–Phil HallOrigination volume for commercial and multifamily properties took a drop in the third quarter, according to new data from the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Washington Post Writers Group, Nov. 19, 2018–Kenneth R. HarneyDon’t call it a “buyer’s market.” Don’t call it a “correction.” But the fact is that a sobering change is taking shape in the housing market – an unmistakable cooling trend that defies an economy that is showing impressive growth, has the lowest unemployment rate in years and the highest home-equity levels on record.

National Mortgage News, Nov. 19, 2019–Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)Subprime originations are climbing in multiple consumer loan categories, including mortgages, but the increase is much smaller in the home loan sector than it is in other markets, according to TransUnion.

HousingWire, Nov. 19, 2018–Ben LaneThrough the deal, Black Knight will acquire an economic ownership interest of less than 20% in the re-capitalized Dun & Bradstreet. As part of the deal, Anthony Jabbour will assume the role of CEO of Dun & Bradstreet, in addition to continuing to serve as Black Knight’s CEO.

Politico, Nov. 20, 2018–Lorraine WoellertAn epic housing shortage has collided with the largest cohort of young adults in the country’s history. That has sent prices into the stratosphere and put homebuying out of reach for many, especially in job centers. The perverse result: Only affluent first-time buyers are able to capitalize on the wealth-building tool of homeownership. (MBA mention)

Wall Street Journal, Nov. 19, 2018–Ryan Tracy (subscription)Randal Quarles, the Fed’s vice chairman for bank supervision, is expected to be named to chair the Financial Stability Board, sources said.

Bloomberg, Nov. 20, 2018–Prashant GopalHot markets are cooling fast as interest rates rise. In the great housing slowdown of 2018, shoppers are reclaiming the upper hand, after years of soaring prices that placed most inventory out of reach for many families.

Scotsman Guide, Nov. 16, 2018–Victor WhitmanNew-home purchase applications declined 2.1 percent compared to the October 2017 pace, but were up by 11 percent over September without adjusting for seasonal changes. The Mortgage Bankers Association estimated new-home sales rose by 4.7 percent from the September pace to a seasonally adjusted rate of 673,000 units in October.

Wall Street Journal, Nov. 16, 2018–Harriet Torry (subscription)Household indebtedness continued to climb in the third quarter, with balances continuing to rise for almost all types of borrowing, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported Friday.

National Real Estate Investor, Nov. 16, 2018–Patricia KirkCentral business district office assets have enjoyed eight years of robust demand and growth in both rents and valuations. But as the market corrects, office assets in CBDs without a diverse economy or favorable supply-demand dynamics risk loss in values and loan loss severity.