Washington Post, Nov. 15, 2015–Samuelson, Robert
The safest course for the White House and Congress has been to save the GSEs and enlist them in the housing recovery. So that’s what they did–and that’s how Fannie and Freddie survived.
Category: Top National News
Why Jeffrey Lacker Is Worried About Inflation
New York Times, Nov. 12, 2015–Applebaum, BinyaminFederal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Jeffrey Lacker, the only policymaker who voted to raise interest rates in September and again in October, has long expressed skepticism about the benefits of the Fed’s stimulus campaign and remains concerned that inflation will begin to rise more quickly as the economy gains strength.
Fannie Mae Offers Added Flexibility to Borrowers
Chicago Tribune, Nov. 12, 2015–Harney, KennethFor thousands of people across the country who thought they’d never qualify for a mortgage to buy a home, next month could be a key turning point.
Mortgage Rates Pushed Upward Following Strong Employment Data
Washington Post, Nov. 12, 2015–Orton, KathyMortgage rates continued to move higher in anticipation of a Federal Reserve rate hike next month, according to the latest data released Thursday by Freddie Mac.
Fannie Mae Economist Questions Affordable Housing Data
Housing Wire, Nov. 15, 2015–Gaffney, Jacob
Fannie Mae economist Nuno Mota asked some pretty pressing questions on the way housing affordability metrics are measured and interpreted.
Canada Has Tools to Cope with Overheated Housing Market: Bernanke
Business News Network (Canada), Nov. 12, 2015–Younglai, Rachelle Former Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke said Canada has tools to deal with an overheated housing market. He said the risk is not so much that house prices will go down and affect jobs, construction and the economy, but the threat is to the financial system.
Report: Lending for Multifamily Could Hit Plateau
Birmingham Business Journal, Nov. 12, 2015–Godwin, Brent
A recent report from Mortgage Bankers Association shows that lending to real estate developers for multifamily apartment projects may begin to even out in the next two years.
Home Sellers Less Worried About Rising Interest Rates: Redfin
National Mortgage News, Nov. 12, 2015–Clozel, Lalita
Homeowners are less and less pushed to sell by market conditions, according to Seattle-based brokerage firm Redfin.
Job Openings in U.S. Increased in September to 5.53 Million
Bloomberg, Nov. 12, 2015–Stilwell, Victoria
Job openings in the U.S. climbed in September to the second-highest on record, a sign the labor market continues to strengthen.
U.S. Jobless Claims Unchanged Last Week
Wall Street Journal, Nov. 12, 2015–Torry, Harriet; Morath, Eric
Initial jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs across the U.S., held steady at a seasonally adjusted 276,000 in the week ended Nov. 7, the Labor Department said Thursday.