April saw continued growth in American optimism when it comes to housing health, according to results in Fannie Mae's monthly National Housing Survey. More than half of those who took the survey (51 percent, up from 48 percent in March) said they expect home prices to climb in the next year, while 10 percent--flat for the fourth straight month--expect declines. Thirty-five percent expect no changes. April's report marks the first time in survey history that more than half of respondents projected price gains.
Read More »Hiring Down 4.3% in March
Hiring fell 4.3 percent in March, the same month in which payroll job growth plunged, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Tuesday in its monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). Data from the report indicated there were 11.2 unemployed construction workers for every available job in March, up from 9.0 in February. By industry, the number of unemployed persons per job opening also increased in the manufacturing and information sectors.
Read More »Mortgage Credit Eases in Q2 as Demand Increases
The percentage of banks reporting stronger demand for mortgage loans rose in the second quarter, the Federal Reserve reported, with more banks easing lending standards.
Read More »W.J. Bradley Adds Legacy Group Lending Team
W.J. Bradley Mortgage Capital, LLC, a privately held mortgage banking firm headquartered in Centennial, Colorado, announced that it is taking in the principals and employees of Legacy Group Lending, Inc., of Bellevue, Washington.
Read More »ALTA Reminds Consumers of Importance of Title Insurance
As the spring homebuying season moves into full swing, the American Land Title Association (ALTA) is encouraging consumers to consider title insurance to make sure their American dream is protected.
Read More »NAHB Improving Markets Index Tips Down Further in May
According to NAHB, the number of housing markets showing "sustained improvement" fell to 258 from April's 273.
Read More »Capital Economics Predicts Further Drops in Homeownership Rate
In an analysis released in response to the Census Bureau's report that homeownership hit an 18-year low in the first quarter, Capital Economics warns that we may not have seen the bottom yet. The firm predicted last year that the homeownership rate would decline to a low of 64 percent--a forecast it insists will come sometime within the next year. One factor contributing to the downward trend in homeownership is tight lending standards, Capital Economics says.
Read More »Survey: CRE Executives Bullish on Sector’s Recovery
The slow pace of the economic recovery has done little to temper optimism among executives in the commercial real estate (CRE) sector, according to DLA Piper's 2013 State of the Market Survey. Eighty-five percent of executives surveyed described themselves as having a bullish outlook, the survey shows. That's a massive turnaround from the 2011 survey (the most recent previous report), when only 30 percent of respondents characterized themselves as bullish.
Read More »Commentary: Driving With No Speedometer
Imagine if someone removed the speedometer from your car and then put limits on how fast or slow you could drive.
Read More »Sabal Financial Group Expands CMBS Business with New Venture
Sabal Financial Group announced the expansion of its commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) business with the launch of Sabal Commercial Advisors.
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