Associated Press–Crutsinger, Martin
The Commerce Department said Wednesday orders for durable goods–items expected to last at least three years, such as refrigerators and cars–increased 2 percent in July after a 4.1 percent gain in June.
Category: Top National News
Housing Market Is Bright Spot in U.S. Economy: Wachter
Bloomberg, Aug. 25, 2015
University of Pennsylvania real estate professor Susan Wachter discusses the U.S. housing market, the performance of housing stocks and the outlook for Federal Reserve policy.
Home Buyers to Make Comeback in Next Decade, Mortgage Bankers Say
Wall Street Journal, Aug. 25, 2015–Kusisto, Laura
By 2024, the U.S. will create between 14 million and 16 million new households, according to the report to be released Tuesday by the Mortgage Bankers Association. Of those, as many as 13 million will be owners and as few as three million will be renters, the bankers say.
About Time: Cost to Originate Mortgages Finally Gets Cheaper
HousingWire, Aug. 25, 2015–Garrison, Trey
The Mortgage Bankers Association said total loan production expenses–commissions, compensation, occupancy, equipment, and other production expenses and corporate allocations – decreased to $6,984 per loan in the second quarter, from $7,195 in the first quarter.
Fannie Mae Just Made it Easier to Get a Mortgage
HousingWire, Aug. 25, 2015–Swanson, Brena
The government is once again expanding access to credit in an effort to capture a wider audience by making homeownership more available through Fannie Mae’s latest update.
Lenders See Edge for FHA in Quest for New Buyers
Origination News, Aug. 25, 2015–Collins, Brian
The Federal Housing Administration’s lower insurance premium – already credited with boosting refinancing and purchase loans – is now seen as giving the agency a possible advantage over competitors in attracting first-time buyers and others with low credit scores.
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Housing World
National Mortgage Professional, Aug. 25, 2015–Hall, Phil
Latest data reports points to a housing world that appears to be going in multiple directions at the same time: Home prices are climbing, but people need to be earning more and more money to afford homes. Furthermore, housing values are declining, yet mortgage bankers are making handsome profits. And it appears that the nation’s healthiest housing markets are primarily concentrated in two states, while Michigan, Ohio and the Northeast have the least healthy housing markets.
Housing Subsidies Reduce Inequality; But Mortgage Tax Breaks Make It Worse
Washington Post, Aug. 25, 2015–Badger, Emily
The primary purpose of housing subsidies is, well, to house people. But by doing so, they serve another end: They effectively boost the incomes of many poor Americans, narrowing inequality.
Five Fed Banks Renew Calls for Discount Rate Hike: Minutes
Reuters, Aug. 25, 2015–Lange, Jason
Five Federal Reserve banks renewed their calls in July for the central bank to raise the rate it charges commercial banks for emergency loans, minutes from the Fed’s discount rate meeting last month showed.
HUD Moves to Officially Revise FHA Lien Pecking Order
HUD announced Monday it intends to require liens created by energy retrofit programs to remain subordinate to loans guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration. MBA President and CEO David Stevens said the move supports efforts to promote renewable energy solutions for FHA insured homes, but protects the lien priority and lien rights of the first mortgage.