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Mortgage rates continue to drop and recent statistics show that the price of long-term lending is approaching historically low numbers. Results of this week's survey from Freddie Mac show that an unexpected rise in home sales coupled with low rates have brought the cost of borrowing to its second-lowest level ever recorded. Percentages for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage loan fell to 3.98 percent off of 4 percent from the previous week, and the averages for 15-year fixed rate mortgages hit 3.3 percent, down from 3.31 percent.

With the global economy overshadowed by debt crises, fleeing investors keep mortgage rates at record lows, as Zillow reaffirmed Tuesday. The real estate Web site polled its online audience, reporting that the benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit 3.8 percent, the lowest rate in seven weeks. A dearth for the 30-year fixed-rate loan reflects a fall by 10 basis points, down from 3.9 percent last week. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage likewise hovered around 3.16 percent.

Under a final rule, banks with $50 billion or more in assets will need to submit capital plans to the Federal Reserve, which will also begin performing stress tests for the largest financial institutions next year. In accordance with the rule, the Fed will take responsibility for annual evaluations of each institution├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔÇ×┬ós capital adequacy, internal assessment processes, and capital distribution plans, including dividend payments and stock repurchases.

Balance sheets improved steadily for commercial and savings financial institutions over the third quarter, according to the FDIC, with those insured by the federal agency offering $35.3 billion in profit margins. Loan portfolios snagged an updraft over the third quarter, posting an increase for the second consecutive quarter as loans and leases went up by $21.8 billion. Residential mortgage loan balances climbed by $23.7 billion. Notably, the FDIC's "Problems List" contracted for the second consecutive quarter.

If a new bill becomes law, it would establish a central appeals hub for financial institutions with concerns about actions taken by bank examiners, corralling the activities of several regulatory agencies for review. Reps. Shelley Moore Capito and Carolyn Maloney recently co-sponsored the Financial Institutions Examination Fairness and Reform Act, or H.R. 3461, which aims to create an Office of Examination Ombudsman responsible for any complaints from financial institutions about examiners.

Adding a new leadership position to a company division, Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC, has hired Brad Nease as its SVP of capital markets.

Mortgage giant Freddie Mac tied weak homebuyer demand to a drop in consumer expenditures in an outlook it released Monday. The GSE captured a look at the financial mood of consumers by releasing the U.S. Economic and Housing Market Outlook, which makes forecasts according to key economic indicators that it uses. The outlook indexed overall economic health for the nation, finding a small uptick by domestic aggregate demand as it climbed to 3.6 percent ├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔé¼┼ô the second largest gain over the last five years.

Lender Processing Services is under examination from the Nevada Attorney General for issues encompassing specific incidents with the company's document processing and practices. The state's Attorney General recently indicted two employees within LPS on 606 counts of fraud, alleging that the two forged signatures and notarization on mortgage-related paperwork.

Defying forecasts for a slowdown, the national tally for bank failures this year hit 90 as two financial institutions went under in Iowa and Louisiana. State regulators shuttered Johnston, Iowa-based Polk County Bank and Lacombe, Louisiana-based Central Progressive Bank, appointing the FDIC receiver. Grinnell-based Grinnell State Bank and New Orleans-based First NBC Bank scooped up branches, assets, and deposits in purchase-and-assumption agreements. Century-old Polk County closed its doors.

Low-balling appraisals, job loss, and denials for mortgage applications helped scuttle closed contracts over October, which advanced 13.5 percent.