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In a September National Association of Realtors (NAR) survey related to home appraisals over the past three months, 11 percent of Realtors said a contract was cancelled because a home was appraised at a value below the negotiated price. Another 9 percent said a contract was delayed, and 15 percent said a contract was renegotiated to a lower sale price. One reason for the low values, according to the NAR, is because some appraisers are not taking into account the difference between distressed and non-distressed homes when making comparisons.

Two former Goldman Sachs executives have joined forces to establish Kingsguard Advisors, LP. Announcing the November 1 launch date of their new venture, the co-founders of the company also revealed that they have formed a strategic partnership with Investcorp.

Denver resident, 32-year-old Vicki Dillard Crowe was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release and a restitution payment of $2.4 million for mortgage fraud.

One in eight banks wouldn't be able to maintain adequate capital in a stressed economic environment, according to a Trepp report. Using data from Q2, 784├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔé¼┬Ø12.7 percent├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔé¼┬Øof banks tested failed to meet capital adequacy requirements. For banks that failed the test, Trepp estimates an additional $25 to $27 billion of combined capital would be needed to achieve a passing grade. A test rendered using the increased capital ratio requirements under Basel III yielded more alarming results, with 23.5 percent of banks failing to keep adequate capital.

Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) showed surprisingly little life this week following the better-than-expected jobs report for September. While rates did rise for the week ending October 11, most increases were mild. The 30-year fixed average posted the largest growth, rising to 3.39 percent (0.7 point) from 3.36 percent├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔé¼┬Øa record low├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔé¼┬Øthe week before. Bankrate's survey saw more dramatic increases, with the 30-year fixed hiking up seven basis points to 3.59 percent.

First-time claims for unemployment insurance fell to 339,000├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔé¼┬Øthe lowest level since February 2008├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔé¼┬Øfor the week ended October 6, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The drop was far steeper than market expectations of 370,000 initial claims. In addition, the previous week's report of 367,000 initial claims was revised up to 369,000. The claims filings appeared to lend some credence to the report last week when the nation's unemployment rate had fallen to 7.8 percent, the lowest level since January 2009.

The nation's economy generally expanded modestly from mid-August until the end of September, the Federal Reserve said in its periodic Beige Book report issued Wednesday. The report, the last Beige Book to be issued prior to Election Day, painted a mixed regional picture, with a leveling off of economic activity in New York and a slowing in the pace of growth in Kansas City. Meanwhile, the remaining 10 federal reserve districts reported that "growth continued at a modest pace."

The price premium attached to newly-built homes has fallen over the past six months, Capital Economics observed.

After having a banner week at the end of September, mortgage applications decreased to start October, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported.

Hayden Christensen, most famous for his role in the modern interpretation of the Star Wars films, is selling his Los Angeles abode. The actor's posh pad, located in the Studio City area, sits on three-quarters of an acre and is listed for $2.65 million.