Tag Archives: Black Knight Financial Services

Black Knight Financial Services' Data and Analytics division announced the selection of Ben Graboske to serve as chief technology officer.

Mortgage loans are aging, particularly loans to borrowers with lower credit scores, according to the latest data from Jacksonville, Florida-based Black Knight Financial Services. In fact, the average loan age is currently at an all-time high of 54 months, according to the firm. The average mortgage loan age has been on the rise for about nine years, although the uptick in loan originations last year brought on a "temporary slowdown," according to Black Knight.

Home price appreciation continues to slow across the country, registering a 0.2 percent increase over the month of July, according to Black Knight Financial Services. The firm's home price index stands at $241,000 as of the end of July.

Payment shock among holders of home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) is a growing concern as 2.5 million HELOCs are scheduled to reset over the next three years, according to the latest Mortgage Monitor Report from Black Knight Financial Services. In fact, the average HELOC holder faces a monthly payment increase of $250 sometime in the next three years as he or she reaches the end-of-draw period.

The S&P/Case-Shiller National Price Index gained 6.2 percent annually in June, according to a report released Tuesday from S&P Dow Jones Indices. That figure was down from a yearly increase of 7.1 percent in May. The narrower 10- and 20-city composite indices each gained 8.1 percent compared to May's improvements of 9.4 percent and 9.3 percent, respectively.

Black Knight Financial Services reported Monday a 5.5 percent annual increase in its Home Price Index (HPI) for June, bringing the index to a value of $241,000 based on transactions throughout the month. June's improvement compares to increases of 5.9 percent, 6.4 percent, and 7.0 percent recorded in May, April, and March, respectively.

Black Knight Financial Services recently announced the integration of two of its core technologies, Closing Insight and Empower, in order to make the mortgage loan closing process smoother for lenders.

The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, released Tuesday, showed house prices gained 9.3 percent across 20 of the country's biggest cities, down substantially from the 10.8 percent increase recorded for April and the slowest growth rate since February 2013. Economists had expected an increase of 9.9 percent for May.

Home prices in May hit a national index value of $239,000, according to Black Knight Financial Services' most recent Home Price Index (HPI) report.

Analyzing data as of the end of May, Black Knight Financial Services reported another gain in monthly prepayment activity—an indicator of refinancing—marking the third straight month of increases. At the same time, long-term fixed mortgage rates fell to 4.19 percent, their lowest level in more than half a year. Meanwhile, Black Knight also found that seasonal purchase origination activity has risen, with approximately 897,000 originations through April.