Headlines

While home prices continue to decelerate on an annual basis after reaching peak speed in February, price gains did pick up slightly from April to May, according to FNC's latest price index. After rising 0.6 percent over the month in both March and April, national home prices rose 1 percent in May, according to FNC's data, which excludes the sales of distressed properties.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported a 2.6 percent month-over-month rise in existing-home sales last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.04 million. May sales were revised slightly upward to a rate of 4.91 million. June sales were at their highest pace since October 2013, though they remain 2.3 percent down from the 5.16 million pace set a year ago.

The Conference Board's Leading Economic Index (LEI) edged up 0.3 percent last month to 102.2, flattening out slightly after May's 0.7 percent pickup. Conference Board economist Ataman Oxyildirim attributed the increase to ongoing positive trends in the labor market and an improved outlook for new manufacturing orders, which have helped offset some of the weakness observed in housing so far this year.

It's been four years since the Dodd-Frank Act was signed into law, and the Republican members of the House Financial Services Committee marked the occasion with a new report highlighting its flaws, including its failures to end "too big to fail." "In no way, shape or form does the Dodd-Frank Act end 'too big to fail,'" said Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), chairman of the committee. "Instead, Dodd-Frank actually enshrines 'too big to fail' into law."

The housing market overall really is recovering, despite a lackluster so far this year. It's just going to take a lot longer in several markets, according to Zillow. According to the second-quarter Zillow Real Estate Market Report, home values in half of the nation's 100 largest metro areas will not return to their pre-recession peak levels for at least three years. In a few markets, full recovery will take more than a decade.

The California housing market continued on its 2014 trend line in June, picking up from a month prior but remaining subdued compared to last year's more active market. According to real estate data site DataQuick, an estimated 39,254 new and resale homes and condos sold statewide throughout California last month, reflecting a 4.0 percent increase from 37,734 in May.

State and federal regulators announced Friday the closing of a Georgia bank, putting the 2014 national bank failure tally at 13. Georgia's Department of Banking and Finance took possession of Conyers-based Eastside Commercial Bank, appointing FDIC as receiver. While FDIC doesn't make its list of Problem Banks open to the public, Eastside has sat on Calculated Risk's unofficial list since 2009.

Pennsylvania-based Avenue 365 Lender Services announced a new appointment to its national sales team, naming mortgage veteran Linda St. Clair to the position of national account manager.

As the shape of the mortgage industry shifts with a rising number of non-bank entities now selling loans directly to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the supervisor for the GSEs' regulator continues to express concerns about potential risks in these transactions.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment measured 81.3 in its first July reading, falling more than a point from its final June reading of 82.5. Analysts surveyed before Friday's release had predicted the index would climb up slightly to 83.