Daily Dose

Wallethub analyzed data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine which states could be considered the best for millennials to live in. North Dakota was the top-ranking state on Wallethub’s overall list, but No. 2 in terms of housing affordability. That rank went to Iowa. At the bottom housing cost list for millennials was Hawaii, with its historically high cost of living.

A newly released forecast predicts home prices to appreciate 3.5 percent across the country over the next year. Denver and Seattle are slated to see the most growth, while Alabama will likely be home to the nation’s worst markets. Parts of the NE, Texas, and Florida will also see growth over the next 12 months as well.

This Wednesday, Lenders One Cooperative will release results from its survey on mortgage lender sentiment. The survey will cover jumbo loans, growth, and foreclosure, and will discuss emerging ...

Surveys show a March slump in consumer confidence after gains in the previous two months. Fannie Mae's Home Purchase Sentiment Index cited concerns about the economy, job status, and income among the factors contributing to the backslide in confidence. Those expecting mortgage rates to rise also rose in a manner comparable to 2013 numbers.

Last year saw nearly $1 trillion in purchase originations, and experts say the market could top that in 2017. Millennials and first-time homebuyers may be the ones to push it over the edge, as will increasing home sales across the nation. Only a handful of states saw sales dip in 2016.

While the unemployment rate dropped in march, so did the number of jobs created in a month. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded the fewest new jobs created in nearly a year last month. But some experts believe winter weather could have just created a temporary blip.

Poor growth in the economy in the first three months of 2017, coupled Federal Open Market Committee’s March meeting minutes just released to spur a drop in mortgage rates. Thirty-year fixed mortgages and 15-year FRM both showed lower rates this week and a steady decline during the first three months of the year. This marks the third consecutive week of reductions.

On Thursday, the National Mortgage Servicers Association held a member meeting in Washington D.C., where some of the nation’s top servicers heard from Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray. This comes on the heels of Wednesday's Five Star Government Forum, where attendees listened to top-level speakers and participated in panel discussions on the economy and the future of the market.

Jumbo and Government loans jumped in March, boosting overall credit availability. However, Conforming loans saw a drop of 2.6 percent in that time, driven by increased home prices and rising interest rates.

According to new data, millennials are entering the housing market in droves. In February, the demo accounted for 86 percent of all closed loans, with most of those being conventional loans. Millennials also saw their time-to-close shorten for the month, reaching its fastest turnaround since March of last year.