Tag Archives: HUD

Rising home values in September brought homeowner equity to its highest level since the third quarter of 2008, according to the Obama administration's latest Housing Scorecard. According to the report, homeowner equity increased $406 billion, or 5.9 percent, to $7.3 trillion in the second quarter of 2012. After experiencing a turnaround into growth in the year's first quarter, total equity has grown $863 billion, or 13.5 percent, since the end of 2011.

Tallying new residential sales for August, the latest report conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development showed a 27.7 percent increase in sales on a year-over-year basis. However, July numbers bested findings from August, with sales flagging 0.3 percent month-to-month. By region, results from the survey revealed that the West and the Northeast have experienced the strongest improvements in the number of new homes sold year-to-date as of August.

Single family starts increased 28,000 in August to 535,000, the highest level since April 2010, the Census Bureau and HUD reported jointly Wednesday. Despite the increase total, housing starts improved just 17,000 as multi-family starts fell. Despite the increase total, housing starts improved just 17,000 as multi-family starts fell. Housing permits meanwhile dropped 9,000 to 802,000. Economists had expected total starts to increase to 768,000 and permits to slip to 803,000.

New home sales regained all the ground they lost in June, jumping by 13,000 to an annualized rate of 372,000 in July, the Census Bureau and HUD reported Thursday. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expected the report to show a sales pace of 362,000. Sales for June were revised up to 359,000 from the originally reported 350,000. Both the median and average sales price of a new home though dropped month-over-month and year-over-year according to the report, each falling to the lowest level since January.

Despite continuing improvement in builder confidence, housing starts slipped in July to 746,000 with single-family starts accounting for decline, the Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development reported jointly Thursday. Housing permits though improved to 812,000, the highest level in almost four years. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expected 750,000 starts and 766,000 permits in July. Total housing completions in June rose to 668,000, the highest level since June 2010.

SunTrust PersonalBanking is under investigation by HUD regarding its FHA loan origination practices. HUD made its investigation known to the Atlanta-based bank in late April, and in a recent filing, the bank said, ├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├àÔÇ£The Company is cooperating with the investigation.├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├é┬Ø (At the time of this publication, SunTrust could not be reached for further comment.) According to the filing, HUD├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔÇ×┬ós investigation pertains ├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├àÔÇ£generally to origination practices for FHA loans.├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├é┬Ø Multiple news reports confirmed in June that HUD had issued subpoenas to SunTrust, MetLife, and U.S. Bancorp regarding FHA loan originations.

Though the skies above the housing market appear to be clearing, the July edition of the Obama administration├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔÇ×┬ós Housing Scorecard warns of another storm to come. HUD and Treasury Department released the latest scorecard Friday, providing a look at a market in recovery but threatened by an expected increase in foreclosure activity. According to the report, foreclosure starts and completions both declined in June, painting a picture of continued recovery. However, officials expect foreclosure activity to pick up in coming months as firms lift delays in foreclosure processing.

New home sales fell to 350,000, setting a five-month low in June, the Census Bureau and HUD reported jointly Wednesday. Economists had expected sales to inch up slightly from the preliminary sales report in May. May sales were revised up to 382,000 from the originally reported 369,000. Both the average and median price of a new home fell in June from May. The median price was also down from June 2011 while the average price was up slightly. The average price of a new home fell in June to $273,900.

Housing starts in June soared to their highest level since October 2008, surging 6.9 percent to 760,000, the Census Bureau and HUD reported jointly Wednesday. Housing permits dropped 3.7 percent to 755,000 giving back half of May's gain. At the same time, permits for May were revised up to 784,000 from the originally reported 780,000 and housing starts were revised up for both April and May, to 747,000 and 711,000 respectively from 744,000 and 708,000. Total housing completions in June rose to 622,000.

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan announced Monday a new Spanish-language website for the Making Home Affordable Program, which seeks to stabilize the U.S. housing market by helping homeowners get mortgage relief and avoid foreclosure.