Tag Archives: HOUSING

Freddie Mac’s latest summary report reveals an increase in both its total mortgage portfolio and its mortgage-related securities. Its mortgage portfolio rose 0.5 percent over the year, while its mortgage-related securities and guarantees jumped by 2.1 percent. The government-sponsored enterprise has funded $127 billion mortgages year-to-date.

On Thursday, both FHFA Director Melvin L. Watt and Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin separately addressed the current state of the GSEs. Though Mnuchin discussed the priority of housing finance and regulatory reform in front of the Senate, at an industry conference Watt described the many successes of the FHFA in the last nine years. Watt warned that reforms made during conservatorship should not be ignored by congress during the reworking of housing finance reform.

Purchase loans are up and refis are down according to a recent report. Refis are down significantly over the past six months, while purchase loans are on the rise. Time to close is also narrowing for the month on both purchase and refi loans, averaging just 41 to 42 days per loan.

Today’s mortgage servicers are suffering from overly disparate technology solutions, and those disconnected systems are holding businesses back, according to a new report. In response to increased compliance follow the housing crisis, most available mortgage technology has become product-specific, and that’s created a disconnect that requires fractured, inefficient processes that are costly and unwieldy. The report proposes an overlay system to bridge the gaps and provide more consistency.

New data shows that the West—specifically the Northwest—had the top-performing market for Q1 2017. Seattle and Portland had two of the strongest showings in terms of price growth, while the region as a whole saw prices rise 8 percent over the year. The worst market for the quarter was Memphis, Tennessee.

Female renters have a harder time buying a home than their male counterparts. According to recent analysis, this is due to several factors, including lower wages, more student loan debt, more risk aversion, and lower credit scores. Closing the wage gap could help, though that isn't projected to happen until 2052.

Housing affordability is finally starting to improve. According to a new index, affordability is up from Q4 of 2016. More than 60 percent of all homes sold in Q1 were affordable for the nation's median income of $68K.

New research reveals the nation's top "sweet spots" for new grads, offering a healthy job market and affordable living. These sweet spots include Detroit; Seattle; Baltimore; Pittsburgh; Dayton, Ohio; and Hartford, Connecticut. The cities with the best market for recent grad jobs are likely out-of-budget for most.

Because of the need to establish this fiscal balance, the road to achieve Trump’s proposals will be long and rocky, and will require the hard work and cooperation of both sides of the aisle. This proposal has also raised many questions about what Trump’s plan would mean for the housing market. Due to the current lack of detail in his proposed outline, it is difficult to accurately predict the impact a tax system overhaul of this magnitude would have on the economy.

According to new analysis, loosening zoning regulations in the nation's most productive cities could help spur economic growth. These regulations are keeping developers from building new housing opportunities. Ultimately, this restricts Americans to more affordable, smaller cities where they're less productive.