MBA Newslinks Archive

“While it’s been tough for homebuyers to buoy existing home sales because of low inventory, it looks like there is much potential for new homes sales to run higher.”–Ralph McLaughlin, chief economist with Trulia, San Francisco.

“My hunch is that the next FHA commissioner should buckle his or her chinstrap.”–Former FHA Commissioner Brian Montgomery, now vice chair of the Collingwood Group, Washington, D.C.

“Clients are telling us it’s harder to find a deal that makes sense as rent growth begins to slow. Borrowers don’t want to make a mistake.”–Gregg Gerken, Executive Vice President with TD Bank, Cherry Hill, N.J.

“Nationally, commercial real estate fundamentals and prices remain strong. That overall strength is expected to continue to support active sales and mortgage markets.”–MBA Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Research Jamie Woodwell.

“Today, one in four workers in the United States are millennials. Adopting relevant technology to engage this rapidly growing segment of our population will improve customer service and our business operations and help us recruit and retain good and creative employees.”–MBA Chairman Rodrigo Lopez, CMB.

“We are seeing improvement in terms of servicing expenses. This is good news, as we’d seen strong increases in servicing expenses in recent years. Servicers are doing their jobs better.”–MBA Vice President of Industry Analysis Marina Walsh.

“Now is a great time to be in the servicing business–when we can enter the waters during relative calmness and plan ahead for the rough waters that will inevitably come. Your team is strategically placed for optimum results. Knowing what lies ahead, having a plan for the future is key to success.”–MBA Chairman-Elect J. David Motley, CMB.

“Following several rounds of healthy, peak-season summer growth, winter gains thus far this season have remained relatively healthy across much of the country. And as prices have continued to climb in the long term during the post-housing crash, the large portion of the housing market that has been frozen in negative equity has shrunk significantly–meaning that an increasingly large portion of previously underwater homeowners may now have the option of entering the market.”–Clear Capital Vice President of Research and Analytics Alex Villacorta.

“His experience and deep knowledge of the financial markets will serve him well in this position. Specifically, we are encouraged by Secretary Mnuchin’s willingness to focus on GSE reform, tax reform and rebalancing the mortgage market regulatory framework.”–MBA President and CEO David Stevens, on the Senate’s confirmation last night of Steven Mnuchin as Treasury Secretary.

“The U.S. has shown signs of economic optimism following Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election. The business community generally expects the administration to involve business-friendly policies, like lower tax rates and large infrastructure projects to stimulate economic growth, which could stand to benefit the hospitality industry.”–From a JLL report on hotel industry investment.