Home >> News >> Data (page 654)

Data

Builder Confidence Plunges as Buyers Shy Away

The National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Housing Market Index (HMI), released in partnership with Wells Fargo, posted a 10-point decline to 46 in the group’s latest report. It was the first time since May 2013 that the index measured below 50, the “neutral” point between a market viewed as “good” or “bad.” All four regions reported declines in confidence, with losses ranging from seven points in the South to 14 points in the West.

Read More »

Analytics Expert Discusses QM, ‘Manufacturing Risk’

Although the new qualified mortgage (QM) rules are expected to bring stability to loan manufacturing, the many nuances of compliance have resulted in doubling the cost of loan origination. This assessment was offered by Tom Showalter, chief analytics officer at Digital Risk. In an interview on Mortgage Markets Today, Showalter explained the threat of ""manufacturing risk,"" or the risk that key elements of data defining the loan are either corrupted or misrepresented.

Read More »

Black Knight VP Appointed to Board of MLS Council

New

Marty Reed, VP of business operations at Black Knight Financial Services (BKFS) MLS Solutions division, has been appointed for a three-year term on the board of directors for the Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS), the company announced.

Read More »

Housing Optimism Continues to Climb

A report released by Prudential Real Estate finds that the number of consumers--particularly young ones--who are optimistic about residential real estate took a healthy step higher in December. According to Prudential, 78 percent of consumers (and nearly 90 percent of Millennials) surveyed look favorably toward the residential market in 2014. This is a full 5 percentage points more than the company's third-quarter 2013 results and 15 points more than its end-of-year 2012 results.

Read More »

Consumer Sentiment Withstands Economic Stumble

The University of Michigan/Thomson Reuters Index of Consumer Sentiment stood at a reading of 81.2 in an early-look report released Friday. The index was unchanged from its final January reading. The mid-February reading was affected by deterioration in the gauge measuring perceptions about current conditions, which fell to 94.0 from January's 96.8. That was offset by a pickup in the measure of six-month expectations, which rose to 73.0 from 71.2 previously.

Read More »

MGIC Announces Additions to Sales Team

To help keep up with growing demand for private mortgage insurance, Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation (MGIC) announced the addition of six veteran industry professionals to its sales team.

Read More »

Already Low Inventory Drops Lower in January

Housing inventory declined more than 9 percent over the month of January in the 19 markets in which online real estate brokerage Redfin has a presence, according to the company's Real-Time Price Tracker for January. ""A year ago, we didn't think inventory could go any lower, yet we're beginning 2014 with another disappointment,"" Redfin stated in its January report. With the caveat that ""it is too soon to tell,"" the brokerage did offer some optimism regarding inventory in coming months.

Read More »

Mortgage Rates Up in First Increase of 2014

Freddie Mac released Thursday its weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey, which shows the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) moved up to 4.28 percent (0.7 point) for the week ending February 13. In its own national survey, Bankrate.com recorded the 30-year fixed average at 4.48 percent, while the 15-year fixed rose slightly less at 3.53 percent. Analysts for the finance site said it was Janet Yellen's first testimony as the head of Federal Reserve that provided the week's lift.

Read More »