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Household debt has surpassed recession levels, according to the New York Federal Reserve. Mortgage debt proved to be the highest increasing debt factor, going up went up by $147 billion quarterly and $258 billion annually. Total mortgage debt as of Q1 2017 was $8.63 trillion.

Today’s mortgage servicers are suffering from overly disparate technology solutions, and those disconnected systems are holding businesses back, according to a new report. In response to increased compliance follow the housing crisis, most available mortgage technology has become product-specific, and that’s created a disconnect that requires fractured, inefficient processes that are costly and unwieldy. The report proposes an overlay system to bridge the gaps and provide more consistency.

New data shows that the West—specifically the Northwest—had the top-performing market for Q1 2017. Seattle and Portland had two of the strongest showings in terms of price growth, while the region as a whole saw prices rise 8 percent over the year. The worst market for the quarter was Memphis, Tennessee.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development along with the U.S. Census Bureau released their April New Residential Construction Activity Report on Tuesday. Year-over-year, Permits, Starts and Completions increased 5.7 percent, barely increased 0.7 percent and increased 15.1 percent respectively. However, number shave fallen month-over-month.

Female renters have a harder time buying a home than their male counterparts. According to recent analysis, this is due to several factors, including lower wages, more student loan debt, more risk aversion, and lower credit scores. Closing the wage gap could help, though that isn't projected to happen until 2052.

After a slow first quarter, Fannie Mae expects Q2 to be strong. The GSE certainly has ample precedent to cling to in its predictions. If Fannie’s projections hold true, this will be the fourth consecutive time a Q2 rebound followed a bland Q1.

Both California and Florida housing markets are seeing steady activity despite fluctuations in market conditions, according to two reports released on Monday by each state’s Realtors associations. Because of seasonal price declines and higher household income, California’s housing affordability increased. Meanwhile, Florida Realtors reported higher median sales prices for single-family existing homes.

This week, the National Association of Homebuilders and Wells Fargo will release their latest Housing Market Index (HMI) for May, a measure of market conditions based on three factors, with a range of zero to 100. While the March HMI was unusually high, reaching 71, April stayed steady at 65. All three individual components (present single family sales, next six-month single family sales, and prospective buyer traffic) reported losses month over month, but were still strong.

Findings show that though you may be able to get a 3,500 square foot home in Indiana for $300,000, the same dollar amount will only get you 600 square feet in Washington, D.C. Getting a realistic sense of how many square feet for the dollar can be purchased before shopping will ultimately save your potential homebuyers heartache. Learn the top, and bottom, states where homebuyers can get the most space for their dollar.

Orlando is the single best spot for first-time homebuyers, according to a new analysis. Tampa took the No. 2, followed by other cities in the Southeast and Midwest. The analysis took into account median home value, forecasted values, inventory, and other factors.