Origination

Under the agreement with New York Department of Financial Services, the company will promote the purchase of homes in historically disadvantaged communities in the northern part of the state.

Financial inclusion is the civil rights issue of our generation — and getting more Americans, especially younger and minority families, into decent, affordable housing is a critical step on the ladder to financial capability, writes a board member of the National Credit Union Administration.

Nationally, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller index of property values climbed 14.6% from a year earlier, the biggest gain in data going back to 1988.

Also, Freddie Mac elects a former NY Fed leader to its board, Cenlar hires a servicing veteran and NewDay USA gains a tech officer.

Premiums written increased 45%, while net operating income was up over 65%, the American Land Title Association said.

While purchasing power grew for the 16th straight month in April, surging property values and increased mortgage rate forecasts will keep driving down affordability, according to First American.

The lack of homes for sale is supporting the record values, unlike what happened in the mid-2000s, analysts say.

Fears of a permanent exodus from office life may have been premature, according to a study that finds a majority of businesses plan changes, but no significant downsizing of space.

Also: Critical defects in mortgage files reach highest level in years, interest rates tick up

Even though volumes are expected to taper from 2020’s record highs, lenders plan to take on more employees in 2021, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association and McLagan Data.