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The pace at which home prices are rising should moderate later this year, according to an analysis from Capital Economics.

Nationally, asking prices increased 9.5 percent year-over-year in May, but in the ten least affordable metros, asking prices spiked 16.3 percent during the same time period.

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) announced the nomination of Quicken Loans CEO Bill Emerson to be its vice chair for the 2014 membership year.

Mortgage Contracting Services (MCS) announced the promotion of Wade Petty and Marie Walters to VP of finance and controller/assistant VP, respectively.

According to Fannie Mae's May 2013 National Housing Survey, Americans expressed record confidence in price gains, with 55 percent--a survey high--saying they believe prices will go up in the next year. Only 7 percent of respondents in the survey expect prices to drop, the lowest level since the survey's inception. In addition, the average 12-month home price chance expectation was 3.9 percent, the highest level in the survey's history and a leap over April's 2.7 percent forecast.

Vericrest Financial, Inc., a financial services company with centers in Texas, Oklahoma, and California, announced it has changed its corporate name to Caliber Home Loans, Inc., effective immediately.

As home prices rise across the nation with some markets charting double-digit increases, many markets still offer attractive opportunities for investors in single-family homes.

Of borrowers who refinanced during Q1, 28 percent shortened their loan term, Freddie Mac reported--up from 27 percent in Q4 2012. The majority (68 percent) elected to keep the same term as the loan they had paid off, while 3 percent chose to lengthen their loan term. The analysis also found that refinancing borrowers "overwhelmingly" opted for the safety of fixed-rate loans, with more than 95 percent taking that route. Of those who previously had a hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), 87 percent chose a fixed-rate loan during the first quarter.

Informative Research, a mortgage information services provider based in Garden Grove, California, appointed Stan Baldwin as COO.

FDIC's failed bank tally rose to 15 as an institution in Las Vegas shut down, the agency announced.