The Real Deal (New York), Apr. 21, 2016–Putzier, Konrad
The Blackstone Group’s real estate division passed the $100 billion mark in assets under management in the first quarter, while its earnings recovered slightly from a dip at the end of 2015.
Category: Top National News
Why Startups Can’t Disrupt the Mortgage Industry
TechCrunch, Apr. 21, 2016–LaRue, Aaron
Home loans are the Holy Grail of online lending. They come with high loan balances, steady returns and hefty fees. So why can’t startups disrupt the mortgage industry?
Mortgage Applications Rise 1.3% But Buyers Pull Back
CNBC, Apr. 20, 2016–Olick, Diana
Interest rates held relatively steady last week, near one-year lows, but homebuyers were not enticed, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Wednesday.
Investors Hit the Pause Button on Acquisition Activity
National Real Estate Investor, Apr. 20, 2016–Mattson-Teig, Beth
A recent dip in investment sales transactions has sparked questions on whether the decline is a temporary hiccup or a sign of a bigger slowdown ahead.
One Firm Getting What It Wants in Washington: BlackRock
Wall Street Journal, Apr. 20, 2016–Tracy, Ryan; Krause, Sarah
In 2014, BlackRock Inc. executives obtained a copy of a confidential Federal Reserve PowerPoint presentation that argued part of the giant money manager could pose the same financial-system risk as big banks.
Apartment Boom Pushes Commercial Real Estate
CTPost (Conn.), Apr. 20, 2016–Soule, Alexander
With interest rates still low, commercial banks in Connecticut maintained the pace of their commercial real estate lending heading into 2016, with a booming apartment market spilling over into retail developments and other deals.
Wells Fargo’s Q1 Results Low Oil Prices, Weak Mortgage Activity
Forbes, Apr. 20, 2016
Wells Fargo managed to surpass investor expectations with its first quarter results late last week, but it was not all good news for the banking giant as losses from its loan portfolio to oil and gas companies continue to swell even as its cornerstone mortgage banking business remains under pressure.
Fannie Mae Chief Economist: Affordability is Housing Market’s Top Issue
Jacksonville News & Daily Record, Apr. 20, 2016–Hawkins, Carole
Affordability, not rising interest rates, will be the biggest drag on the housing market in 2016. That’s the news Fannie Mae Chief Economist Doug Duncan delivered Tuesday at the Mortgage Bankers Association of Jacksonville’s monthly meeting.
The Rise Of Video In The Mortgage Process
MortgageOrb.com, Apr. 20, 2016–Barnard, Patrick
Video is increasingly being incorporated into the mortgage process – it is being used to deliver important disclosures and educational content to borrowers, and it is a means by which borrowers can virtually agree to disclosures and electronically sign documents. Video is also seeing increasing use in the notarization of important mortgage documents.
In Silicon Seattle, High Home Prices
Wall Street Journal, Apr. 20, 2016–Martin, Anya
Amid rapidly rising prices and bidding wars, buyers in Seattle who want a dream home in a desirable neighborhood will probably need a jumbo mortgage.