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“The overall economic outlook looks brighter but still greatly depends on the course of the virus. Continued job growth and wage gains – especially if they can offset inflation – are key to helping those households that are still facing hardships.”
–Edward Seiler, RIHA Executive Director and MBA Associate Vice President of Housing Economics.

Black Knight: Tappable Equity Surges to Record-High $9.4 Trillion

Black Knight, Jacksonville, Fla., said tappable equity – the amount available for homeowners to access while retaining at least 20% equity in their homes – rose by 32% over the past year, an increase of $2.3 trillion over the past year.

MBA, Trade Groups Urge HUD to Issue ‘Clear Roadmap’ for Servicers in LIBOR Transition

As HUD considers changes to its index for FHA-insured adjustable-rate mortgages away from LIBOR, the Mortgage Bankers Association and other industry trade groups urged the Department to issue a clear roadmap for servicers of FHA-insured ARMs, including specification of a replacement comparable index or indices for existing mortgages, as well as guidance on communications with borrowers.

Fitch: Mortgage Insurers See Consistent Losses, Market Stability in 2022

Fitch Ratings, Chicago, said the operating environment for U.S. mortgage insurers is expected to remain steady in 2022, as economic indicators have generally improved since the low point of the pandemic, with lower than expected losses from the pandemic fallout and continued home price appreciation supportive of credit fundamentals of the rated peer group of private MIs.

RIHA Study: U.S. Household Net Worth Up 17.6% Between 2016-2019

The median net worth of U.S. households increased from $103,000 in 2016 to $127,000 in 2019 – a gain of 17.6% and the highest amount since 2007, according to The Distribution of Wealth in America Since 2016, a new report released Thursday by the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Research Institute for Housing America.

2022 GSE Conforming Loan Limits Rise 18.5% to $647,200

Conforming loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will rise to $647,200 jump in 2022, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said Nov. 30—a jump of nearly $100,000 from 2021’s previous record high.