National Mortgage News - October#1 2018

As the housing market enters a new era, shifts in the demand for mortgages will ultimately dictate the direction of technology, staffing and GSE reform.

Racial and ethnic discrimination in mortgage lending may be misrepresented by "flawed" denial metrics that suggest a larger gap between the denial rates of racial groups than what actually exists, according to the Urban Institute.

Nearly half of July's millennial homebuyers were single, a sign that they are not waiting for certain milestones like marriage before deciding to become homeowners, according to Ellie Mae.

After home prices soared due to a lack of inventory and a recovering economy, three-quarters of experts believe the shift to a buyer's housing market should come in two years.

The proposal by Reps. Jeb Hensarling and John Delaney is a sign that a bipartisan consensus is building on how to move on from Fannie and Freddie.

More flip-and-fix property buyers seek financing for their purchases as fewer distressed homes come on the market and sales margins narrow, said Attom Data Solutions.

The mortgage delinquency rate dropped to its lowest level in 12 years despite foreclosure starts and active foreclosures both increasing in July, according to Black Knight.

Casey Crawford, CEO of Movement Mortgage, bought First State Bank in Virginia last year. He has since injected more capital into the bank in an effort to reinvent it.

Maybe political winds or another downturn will spark housing finance reform. But 10 years after the conservatorships began, the companies are still in perpetual limbo.

The federal conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was never supposed to be permanent. Leaving the situation unresolved keeps the agencies undercapitalized and taxpayers exposed to their risk.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending Oct. 5.

From Denver to Pittsburgh, here's a look at the top 10 housing markets where homeowners are taking advantage of home improvement loans.