August New Home Sales Continue Summer Surge

New home sales topped the one million mark, seasonally adjusted, in August for the first time since 2006, HUD and the Census Bureau reported yesterday.

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“In today’s housing market, if you build it, they will buy it. The accelerated pace is no surprise, given the growing demand for homes and lack of existing homes for sale.” –Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist with First American Financial Corp., Santa Ana, Calif.

MBA Awards $135,000 in Path to Diversity Scholarships

The Mortgage Bankers Association awarded more than $135,000 in scholarships to 166 women and minorities under its Path to Diversity (P2D) Scholarship Program during FY2020. Scholarships recognize existing industry professionals from MBA member companies seeking to advance their careers through MBA Education programs and courses.

MBA Advocacy Spurs Crackdown on Deceptive VA Loan Marketing

The settlements signal a remarkable effort by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to hold lenders accountable for their dealings with the nation’s veterans—and the culmination of advocacy by the Mortgage Bankers Association to protect earned benefits for servicemembers, veterans and surviving spouses.

Atlanta Fed’s Brian Bailey, CRE, Dishes on Commercial Real Estate Risks

With just under two decades wearing different hats in the commercial real estate industry before joining the bank, Bailey is a CRE subject matter expert in the Atlanta Fed’s Supervision, Regulation and Credit division. In addition to previous roles as an appraiser, consultant and property developer, Bailey holds CCIM and CRE designations. MBS Newslink interviewed Bailey to get his perspective on the current environment.

MBA Education Path to Diversity Scholar Profile: Christa Thomas

(One of a continuing series of profiles of participants in the MBA Education Path to Diversity (P2D) Scholarship Program, which enables employees from diverse backgrounds to advance their professional growth and career development.)

RE/MAX: ‘Blistering Hot” Housing Market Sets August Records

The RE/MAX August National Housing Report cited records for lowest inventory as well as highest median sales price. Home sales rose by 4.3% and marked the third-highest total in the report’s 13-year history covering 53 metro markets.