Government

On the heels of Fitch Ratings downgrading the GSEs’ senior unsecured debt ratings to 'AA+' from 'AAA,’ Freddie Mac reports the fixed-rate mortgage climbed nine basis points week-over-week, inching closer to the 7%-mark.

New partnership will increase education, outreach, and efforts geared to tackle appraisal bias and discrimination in the housing marketplace.

The MBA reports that overall mortgage application volume fell for the second straight week, with limited housing inventory and rates nearing the 7% mark hampering affordability for many potential buyers.

The bipartisan Neighborhood Homes Investment Act seeks private investments in rural communities to construct affordable homes, and revitalize 500,000 homes for middle- and low-income families.

The Department has announced two new initiatives geared toward building new housing units, and providing tools for preserving and improving affordable housing nationwide.

Continuing our coverage on the Fed’s announcement of a 25-basis point rate hike at the end of their two-day July meeting, more commentary has come through focusing specifically on the real estate market, including sales, defaults, and home prices.

Freddie Mac reports mortgage rates still in excess of the 6.75% mark, as home buyers are increasingly turning to new construction to secure a home, and home builders are responding by picking up the rate of construction.

The Department has announced new protections and funding to build on commitments made by the Biden Administration’s Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights, drafted to increase fairness within the nation’s rental marketplace.

At the conclusion of Fed’s two-day July meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee moved to raise the base interest rate by 25 basis points, with all members voting in favor of the action.

According to a new report from Down Payment Resource, the number of homebuyer assistance programs available to help people finance homes inched forward 0.5%, offering more opportunities to those who remain financially worried about housing costs.