As regulatory institutions provide some clarity to the mortgage market, the National Association of Home Builders insists the market is in need of a sound and functional appraisal system.
Read More »LPS: Prices Flat in December, Up 5.8% in 2012
Home prices in December were mostly flat from the month before, according to the latest Home Price Index (HPI) released by Lender Processing Services (LPS). LPS' index shows prices climbed 0.1 percent in December, staying at a rounded-off $207,000. November's HPI was also reported at $207,000. While December's index was little changed from the prior month, it was up 5.8 percent from $196,000 in December 2011. January 2012's index was also an estimated $196,000, meaning the year-to-date change throughout 2012 was also 5.8 percent.
Read More »Residential Finance Hires Director of Organizational Development
Residential Finance Corporation (RFC), an award-winning mortgage lender headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, hired Sonya Gray as director of organizational development.
Read More »DBRS: Metros with High Fraud Risk to See Home Values Decline
A newsletter from DBRS asserts those states still reporting high levels of mortgage fraud risk may see their home values drop.
Read More »Fannie Mae Approves Equity Loans for Whole Loan Execution
Equity Loans, a residential mortgage industry leader based in Atlanta, Georgia, announced that after a series of tests regarding its staffing, processes, experience, and organization, it has received Fannie Mae's approval as a seller and servicer of one-to-four family first lien mortgages for whole loan execution.
Read More »Quicken Announces Sweepstakes to Pay Consumers’ Monthly Mortgages
Quicken Loans Inc., the largest online mortgage lender and third largest lender in the country, announced the launch of its Bring It Home sweepstakes, in which the company will pay five peoples' monthly mortgage bills each time NASCAR driver Ryan Newman finishes among the top five in a Sprint Cup Series race.
Read More »Housing Affordability Climbs Higher in Q4
Housing affordability rose close 1 percentage point up to 74.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to the NAHB's Housing Opportunity Index.
Read More »LPS Introduces Listing Alerts for Servicers
Lender Processing Services, Inc. (LPS) introduced It's Listed! Alerts as a way to let servicers know when properties in their portfolios show up on MLS.
Read More »Appeals Court Affirms MERS’ Authority to Assign Mortgages
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has affirmed, without hearing, an order dismissing claims against Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS), according to a release from MERSCORP Holdings.
Read More »Inspector: Better Guidance Needed from FHFA on Multifamily Loan Exams
FHFA's inspector general says in a new report that the agency needs to provide better guidance for investigators examining the GSEs' multifamily loan portfolios.
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