The MReport Webcast: Monday 7/28/2014

Home price growth remained steady at the national level from April to May, while annual growth pulled back again, according to the latest measure for the month. Home prices in May hit a national index of 239,000, according to Black Knight Financial Services’ most recent Home Price Index report. May’s index was up 0.9 percent on a monthly basis, matching April’s own increase. On an annual basis, the index climbed 5.9 percent, retreating once again from April’s reported 6.4 percent growth.

All states posted index gains in May. Rhode Island led the pack with a one and a half percent price increase, followed by Michigan, Connecticut, and Colorado, which hit a new price peak along with Texas. At the low end of the spectrum was Maryland, which experienced a monthly pickup of 0.3 percent.

Credit standards at large lenders appear to be loosening somewhat, while criteria at small and mid-sized lenders appear to be tightening, according to a new survey from Fannie Mae. In its first-ever Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey, Fannie found smaller operators have grown more conservative in their lending standards, with most citing regulatory concerns as their main reason for tightening. With costs of lending on the rise, Fannie Mae chief economist Doug Duncan says smaller firms likely feel more constrained, affecting their willingness to lend.