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Lulls in employment and income growth led to a plateau in consumer sentiment in May, according to Fannie Mae├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔÇ×┬ós May 2012 National Housing Survey. The data released by Fannie Mae on Thursday showed that although many consumers (72 percent) believe that now is a good time to purchase a house, the percentage of respondents who said they would buy a house after moving actually dropped for the second consecutive month ├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔé¼┼ô 63 percent in May compared to 64 percent in April and 66 percent in March. Fifteen percent of respondents said now is a good time to sell a home.

The economy expanded at a modest to moderate pace from early April to the end of May the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday in its periodic Beige Book. The assessment reflected a weakening from the report in April when the expansion was characterized as moderate. Activity in the New York, Cleveland, Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, Dallas, and San Francisco Districts was described as moderate, while the Richmond, St. Louis, and Minneapolis Districts noted modest growth. Boston reported steady growth, and the Philadelphia District indicated that the pace of expansion had slowed slightly.

Giving homebuyers a new way to access property information, BluFi Lending has unveiled its Mobile Connect service. The direct lender's smartphone initiative will serve as a marketing and communications platform for those seeking details on the go while surveying a potential property.

First time claims for unemployment insurance fell to 377,000 for the week ended June 2, from the prior week├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔÇ×┬ós upwardly revised 389,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Economists had expected the report would be show 379,000 initial claims. The drop in claims was the first in five weeks.

The Systemic Risk Council, a volunteer group led by former FDIC chair Sheila Bair, will meet in June to monitor and encourage regulatory reform of U.S. capital markets focused on systemic risk. The council, formed by CFA Institute and The Pew Charitable Trusts, is an assembly of experts in investments, capital markets, and securities regulation.

Interthinx has added a public policy expert to its leadership line up. The company recently announced the appointment of Sharee McKenzie Taylor as Interthinx's director of industry relations in Washington, D.C.

Citizens First Wholesale Mortgage Company has welcomed a new president. The Florida-based organization recently announced the appointment of Jonathan L. Woods to the executive role.

Mortgage applications increased 1.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in May, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's latest mortgage application survey released Wednesday. The survey measured application data for the week ending June 1 and included an adjustment for the Memorial Day holiday. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, application rates were not as strong, falling more than 9 percent from the previous week. Refinances continue to make up a large portion of mortgages, taking up 78 percent of activity for the week, up 1 percent from the previous week.

The Office of Mortgage Settlement Oversight continues to evolve as the monitor, a widely respected banking and housing finance chief, takes on new help from accounting and legal firms. Joseph A. Smith, Jr., onetime Federal Housing Finance Agency director-nominee, now responsible for overseeing servicer compliance under the $25 billion settlement, revealed Monday that BDO USA, LLP, would serve as the Raleigh, North Carolina-based office's eyes and ears. He spoke with MReport about the firm Wednesday.

Mortgage giant Fannie Mae announced Tuesday that old hand Timothy Mayopoulos will take over as president and CEO in mid-June. The new chief executive joined Fannie three years ago to serve as EVP, chief administrative officer, and general counsel. He assumes his new role as outgoing CEO Michael Williams takes leave. Before joining Fannie Mae, Mayopolous served as EVP and general counsel of Bank of America. He also functioned in senior management roles at Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse First Boston, and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Inc.