Origination

Remax Holdings is focused on "what it does best" with its Motto Mortgage business and in facing off against Zillow's new home buying and selling initiative, a company executive said.

Citizens Bank's $511 million acquisition of Franklin American Mortgage will beef up the bank's servicing portfolio and diversify its origination business at a time when higher interest rates have put a damper on refinance volume.

The value of commercial-property deals rose 6.7% in the first quarter from a year earlier, but higher interest rates and softer demand will weigh on the market, Ten-X Commercial said.

Promontory MortgagePath fills management roles for bank relations, technology and outsourced services opportunities.

There are almost 7 million coastal homes facing more than $1.6 trillion in potential storm-surge reconstruction expenses this year, representing a 6.6% cost increase from last year's hurricane season.

Contract signings to purchase previously owned U.S. homes unexpectedly declined in April, underscoring the housing market's challenge centered around a persistent inventory shortage.

Mortgage rates fell for the first time in four weeks, dropping 10 basis points as investors' concerns over a government crisis in Italy drove bond yields lower.

Single-family home rentals are especially important for families who can't squeeze into a one-bedroom apartment but don't have the money to buy a house.

Portland-area home prices jumped 6.7% in March compared with a year earlier, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller home price index.

While the rate of underwater borrowers continues to decline, many cities still struggle with a deluge of homeowners with so little equity that they have limited incentive or ability to put their homes on the market.