Paul Centopani

Student debt continues to weigh down potential homebuyers, as the share of first-timers decreased for the third-consecutive year, according to the National Association of Realtors.

While the average down payment percentage of purchase price stayed mostly flat, the average dollar amount dropped 10% from the previous quarter, according to LendingTree.

High property values and low mortgage rates pushed commercial and multifamily originations beyond their projected totals in 2017 to a new market peak, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

After falling to its lowest level in over 12 years, servicers expected September's surge in delinquencies following the damage of Hurricane Florence, according to Black Knight.

With home values nearly doubling income growth in the last 20 years, it's now taking homebuyers 7.2 years to put together a down payment, according to Zillow.

Declining home sales and high mortgage rates led to a year-over-year increase in housing stock in September, according to Redfin.

As mortgage rates recently hit their highest point in seven years, closed refinances fell back to their low point of 2018, according to Ellie Mae.

Despite mortgage rates at a seven-year high and rising home prices and low inventory that are keeping consumers from buying homes, rental prices are declining in many markets.

Former Chair Janet Yellen defended the Fed, expressed worry for the economy and gave advice to women on the rise at the MBA Annual Convention this week.

It's a critical time in Washington, with many key institutions in the mortgage and housing industries getting new leaders. At the Mortgage Bankers Association, there's a renewed focus on maintaining effective influence with decision makers on initiatives like housing finance reform, innovation and the evolving needs of home buyers.

From discussing the future of mortgage tech to debating the shifting sands of political policies, here's a preview of the big issues, topics and ideas when the industry gathers in the nation's capital for the Mortgage Bankers Association's Annual Convention & Expo.

Total Expert will use its new $20 million venture capital investment — led by Emergence Capital — to build out its Marketing Operating System, designed for the future of financial services.

While September had a steady yearly rise in home prices, the month-to-month growth is slowing down, according to Quicken Loans.

Destruction from Michael's storm surge and flooding has potential to affect 57,000 homes, with a worst-case total of $13.4 billion in reconstruction cost value, according to CoreLogic's latest estimates.

Delinquencies will be on the rise and Veterans Affairs loans have greater density within FEMA-declared disaster zones from Hurricane Florence, according to Black Knight.

Here's a look at the 12 cities with the biggest gap between the current wages needed to buy a home and the historical average, a sign a housing bubble might be brewing.

While digital expansion of the mortgage application process increases convenience, it inherently comes with the downside of heightened fraud risk.

If California voters approve Proposition 10 in November, the ramifications will be felt on the state's affordable housing, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

As more sellers lower their asking prices and competition eases, the share of homes sold above their listing keeps declining, according to Redfin.

Rising home prices and the depleted housing inventory led to another drop in pending home sales, according to the National Association of Realtors.