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CalyxSoftware announced that registration is now open for CalyxVision 18, the company’s second national user conference. CalyxVision offers the unique opportunity for lenders and brokers to receive Calyx software training. Attendees will learn practices from Calyx software experts to help increase their company’s productivity and maximize profitability.

Next Friday, the Department of Housing and Urban Development will release their May New Residential Construction Activity report. Last month, new privately owned residential construction permits fell 2.5 percent, from 1,260,000 to 1,229,00. You can see more on this plus what’s to come next week in The Week Ahead.

Local job markets have improved and mortgage rates are at a historic low, however U.S. homeownership rates are stagnant at a 50-year low. The main barriers experts are seeing, according to a recent report, are post-foreclosure stress disorder, mortgage availability, the growing burden of student loan debt, single-family housing affordability, and single-family housing supply shortages. Industry professionals explain what needs to be done in order for this to change.

Recent data hints that the 20 percent downpayment may not be entirely necessary anymore. First-time homebuyers are increasingly pursuing different vehicles to obtain their dream of being a homeowner. They also account for almost half the total homes purchased in the first quarter of 2017, a number which continues to rise.

LoanCare announced that Adam Saab has assumed the role of EVP and COO. Saab had previously held the position of SVP at PNC Mortgage where he was responsible for core servicing for all mortgage and consumer products for the bank, as well as for the home lending integration as PNC combined the mortgage and home equity products onto the Black Knight MSP platform.

U.S. Real Estate Services, Inc. (USRES) announced Monday that Tiffany Malm-Ruiz has joined the USRES Management team. She will be responsible for the oversight and management of the REO Division. Her experience boasts a broad understanding of mortgage servicing, operations, and vendor and asset management.

It is no surprise that the home market has favored the seller this buying season, but what is interesting is how millennials have treaded the challenging and sometimes expensive market. Ellie Mae’s April Millennial Tracker showed steady increases in home loans among the demographic. Certain metropolitan areas saw a larger boom than others.

Two weekly reports show that mortgage rates are down—the lowest they’ve been in seven months, and mortgage application volume is up. Seasonally adjusted, purchase index is on the rise while unadjusted remains down over 10 percent. 10-year treasury yield also fell this week.

JPMorgan Chase COO Matthew Zames will be stepping down from his role after 13 years, the bank announced on Thursday. According to sources, Zames is leaving to start his own business. “I have been in this business almost 25 years. I spent the vast majority of my time running businesses, driving things forward, facing off against clients, taking business risk. But at its core … I want to get back to running the railroad…”

On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed a landmark bill--233 to 186--that, in its current form would dramatically change the future of financial regulation. The Financial CHOICE Act, originally introduced by Representative Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), Chairman of the House Financial Service Committee, on April 26, 2017, significantly amends the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The CHOICE Act is the Republican response to reforms put in place after the 2008 economic collapse.