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In a letter addressed to the president as well as the Senate majority and minority leaders, a group of attorneys general representing nine states refer to Edward DeMarco, acting head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as a "direct impediment to our economic recovery" and called for his replacement. The attorneys' general complaint stems from DeMarco's refusal to allow the GSEs to engage in principal reductions for struggling and underwater homeowners.

The Census Bureau and HUD released the results of its new 2012 Rental Housing Finance Survey, revealing that one in five American households live in multifamily rental buildings. The survey, which was conducted in the winter and early spring of 2012, found that there are nearly 2.3 million multifamily rental properties in the United States, 67 percent of which are owned by households or individuals. Among other findings: 1,337, or 59.4 percent, of multifamily rental properties examined in the survey have at least one mortgage.

Mortech, Inc., announced the successful integration of LendingTree's new LoanExplorer product into its suite of marketing and point of sale tools.

If projections hold out, home values will rise 22 percent cumulatively by the end of 2017, according to Zillow's first-quarter Home Price Expectations Survey. On average, the panel forecasts price growth of 4.6 percent in 2013 and 4.2 percent in 2014. More moderate growth is expected after that, with annual appreciation rates between 3.6 percent and 3.8 percent for 2015, 2016, and 2017, leading to an average 4.1 percent growth annually for the next five years.

Builder confidence slipped in March to 44, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported Monday. Economists had expected the Housing Market Index to improve to 47 from February's reading of 46. Tighter inventories had been expected to improve confidence, but builder attitudes have also been weighed down by prices of new single-family homes. With the March report, the total index remained below 50 for the 83rd straight month.

It's been two weeks since the dreaded sequester took effect, and so far, the only casualty has been the White House tour. There actually have been some positives, with both parties presenting budgets. However, both the GOP budget and the Democratic plan have one major similarity: Each is dead on arrival and destined to at best be a one-house budget, which leaves the country back where it was. Setting a target for practical balance would bring us closer to reducing the deficit and with less pain.

A new report from Realtor.com shows listing inventories increased by 1.15 percent month-over-month in February, while median list price rose 1.55 percent.

RE/MAX's latest report shows home sales rose 0.9 percent month-over-month and 2.3 percent year-over-year. The median home price also increased, rising to $160,500--3.5 percent above January and 7.0 percent above February 2012. RE/MAX CEO Margaret Kelly said today's low prices and low interest rates create "an attractive combination that most of us will never see again in our lifetimes." Meanwhile, inventory remains a major concern as the spring selling season dawns.

A longtime provider of mortgage industry outreach services announced it is closing its doors for good. Titanium Solutions, founded in 1999 and based in South Carolina since 2008, said its services aren't as in-demand as they once were with the market now in recovery.

In Georgia, Ocwen Financial Corporation announced that WL Ross & Co.'s chairman and CEO will be joining the Ocwen board of directors. Wilbur L. Ross Jr. has served in numerous roles as principal financial adviser, investor, and director in various companies operating in diverse industries around the world. He currently serves as a director for several publicly traded companies.