FHA/VA/HUD

"As expected, the annual rate of increase in home prices has slowed dramatically in response to the rapid and significant increase in interest rates," said Doug Duncan, SVP and Chief Economist at Fannie Mae.

With more than 19 million voucher-eligible households in 2021 but fewer than two million vouchers available across the country's metro areas, Zillow notes that the program needs to be improved and better funded to help more of those in need.

To further the Biden Administration’s commitment to addressing the nation’s homelessness crisis, HUD has issued $2.8 billion in Continuum of Care Competition Awards for thousands of local homeless service and housing programs across the U.S.

“With the spring buying season underway, lenders are grappling with the threat of a recession and tighter overall financial conditions following the recent bank failures,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s VP and Deputy Chief Economist.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the commencement of Fair Housing Month 2023, honoring the 55th anniversary of the signing of the Fair Housing Act, as well as modern efforts to advance equity in housing and protect fair housing rights.

“Negative impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be experienced by many communities. HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program partners are uniquely positioned to address the housing discrimination concerns of vulnerable populations,” said Demetria L. McCain, HUD’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.

The American Enterprise Institute and Center for Responsible Lending are jointly warning borrowers that cash-out refinances may worsen their financial stability for years to come by shouldering monthly payments that are significantly higher.

The Five Star Institute presents the first-ever REO Connect event, a gathering of the REO community featuring educational offerings and networking opportunities geared to meet the needs of unique marketplace.

“Single-family housing permits, a leading indicator of future starts, also increased 7.6% compared with the previous month. The uptick in single-family housing permits and starts aligns with the recent increase in homebuilder sentiment,” said First American Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi.

According to the latest Mortgage Bankers Association Builder Application Survey data for February 2023, mortgage applications for new home purchases increased just 1.2% compared to the same time a year ago.