eRecording--is taking hold as a way to streamline the records process and free up resources at lending and servicing offices, according to Nationwide Title Clearing, Inc. (NTC).

A majority of people applying for mortgage loans online are applying during work hours, according to a recent survey by MortgageMarvel.com.

As home prices rise across the nation with some markets charting double-digit increases, many markets still offer attractive opportunities for investors in single-family homes.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released updated procedures for examinations of financial institutions and mortgage lenders, which will begin taking place in January of next year. The new procedures, which will be published in regulatory manuals, cover a range of topics, including compensation for loan originators, qualification standards for mortgage professionals, consumer rights, arbitration, and appraisals.

Regional prices increased across the nation over the three-month period ending in May, according to Clear Capital's most recent home price report, but metro prices were mixed. According to Alex Villacorta, VP of research and analytics, "the diversity in price performance at the local level is mainly a function of the severity to which a particular housing market was hit during the housing crash." Consistent with this observation, Las Vegas and Phoenix continue to lead the recovery at the metro level.

According to the CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Indexes, some markets experiencing rapid gains may soon see a slowdown or even reversal of recent trends. As homeowners looking to sell are encouraged by rising prices and as new construction picks up, increased inventory will dampen these rapid increases, according to CoreLogic. Also, rising prices will eventually ward off investors, and "it is not clear if demand from first-time and trade-up buyers will immediately fill the void," said David Stiff, chief economist for CoreLogic Case-Shiller.

Freddie Mac is hoping to spread information about a rule that allows people to leverage financial assets such as retirement accounts as qualifying income when applying for mortgage loans. While the rule has been in effect since spring 2011, "word has apparently been slow to spread judging by the calls [the company fields] from inquiring borrowers and housing professionals," according to two executives posting on Freddie Mac's Executive Perspectives Blog.

Home sales declined in March, but demand for mortgage credit increased, according to the US Housing Market Monthly from Capital Economics. Recently, the Fed reported an increase in home purchase applications in April, and credit "loosened a touch," the report stated. The firm maintains an overall positive outlook on the market despite the small decline in March sales and quashes any concerns of another bubble forming. In fact, Capital Economics calculated it could take "until 2017 for housing to return to fair value."

As the housing market experiences a burgeoning recovery with rising prices, an uptick in sales, and an increase in housing starts, Federal Reserve Governor Elizabeth A. Duke points out purchase-originations remain "subdued," especially among individuals with less than stellar credit scores. While originations are down across the board, "[t]he drop in originations has been most pronounced among borrowers with lower credit scores," Duke said at the Housing Policy Executive Council Thursday in Washington, D.C.

Fannie Mae and Dallas-based accounting firm, KPMG agreed to a $153 million settlement with a group of Ohio shareholders last week.